Industry met research during Industry Day+

The Industry Day is a recurring national event held in various places in Sweden that brings together industry, companies and decision-makers on issues of innovation, sustainability and Swedish competitiveness. This year, Sundsvall was hosted, with the Swedish Industry Council, SCA and Sundsvall Municipality as organizers. The Industry Day began at Södra berget and was followed by a second day of study visits around Sundsvall – where Mid Sweden University's research center FSCN and Bizmaker were one of the stops.

"It is an important context where we can show how research and business can work together to meet the major societal challenges," says Birgitta Engberg, centre director of the FSCN Research Centre.

Research with a clear link to the needs of industry

Around 20 participants took part in the study visit, which began with a presentation of how Bizmaker and FSCN collaborate to support companies and innovations – from early ideas to applied research.

Visitors were then given the opportunity to take part in current research in areas such as cellulose and new sustainable materials. Examples were presented of how non-fossil materials can be developed, how energy can be extracted through so-called energy harvesting, and how triboelectric filters can contribute to more energy-efficient particle capture by utilizing static electricity.

"We want to show that the forest and the resources we have in the region can play a key role in the transition to a more sustainable society," says Birgitta Engberg.

Insight into research environments and industry collaborations

The participants also got to visit MILAB, FSCN Research Centre's lab environment for advanced materials characterization. They gained an insight into the goal of opening up the lab for increased collaboration and enabling joint use with both small and large companies in the region. It demonstrated how academia and companies together can drive innovation and strengthen competitiveness.

Another part of the visit focused on research linked to the pulp industry's processes, with the aim of making them more resource-efficient and reducing both emissions and energy use.

The participants were divided into smaller groups and rotated between different stations, which created good opportunities for dialogue and discussions with the researchers.

"It will be very valuable when we get to meet like this, in smaller groups, and can discuss challenges and opportunities together," says Birgitta Engberg.

Collaboration in focus during Industry Day

The Industry Day highlighted several of the issues that also characterize research at Mid Sweden University – such as skills supply, technology development, sustainable transition and the need for stronger collaboration between different actors.

In this way, the study visit to Mid Sweden University and FSCN became a concrete continuation of the discussions that began on the first day of the Industry Day.