10 years of research support celebrated at Mid Sweden University
On Tuesday 14 October, researchers and representatives from authorities, organisations, municipalities, regions and the business community gathered at Mid Sweden University to draw attention to the Rolf and Gunilla Enström Foundation for Research and Development.
The National Winter Sports Centre and the Sports Tech Research Centre hosted an all-day event that celebrated the foundation's long-standing contribution to research and innovation.
Over the past ten years, the Rolf and Gunilla Enström Foundation for Research and Development has supported research at Mid Sweden University with just over ten million kronor, funds that have made it possible to run outstanding projects in both sports science and technical development.
Glenn Björklund, Maria Åberg and Mikael Bäckström at the start of the day.
The day began with words of welcome from centre directors Glenn Björklund and Mikael Bäckström as well as Mid Sweden University's new fundraising director Maria Åberg. Rolf Enström then spoke about the background to the foundation's creation and why he and his wife Gunilla have chosen to invest private funds in the local university – an investment that has resulted in more than forty research projects at the two Östersund-based research centres.
Rolf Enström talks about his upbringing, professional background and the chance meeting with researcher Mikael Bäckström that led to the founding of the Rolf and Gunilla Enström Foundation for Research and Development.
Research in sports and technology in focus
The morning was devoted to research at the National Winter Sports Centre, where Kerry McGawley presented her work on female athletes, Marie Ohlsson spoke about physical activity for people with disabilities and Erik Andersson described his studies in sports physiology, performance and speed control strategies in endurance sports. The participants also had the opportunity to visit the laboratories at the research centre and in connection with the tour, Helen Hanstock's presented her research on metabolomics, asthma and athletes' health, which was initiated with the support of the foundation in 2017.
After lunch, the researchers at the Sports Tech Research Centre took over. Julius Lidar talked about speed keeping strategies in endurance sports and modeling of para-cross-country skis, Judith Waller presented her project on sustainability measurement of products, while centre director Mikael Bäckström presented current research on the use of recycled polymers and non-fossil polymers in the manufacture of products related to head safety and eyewear. The day's research presentations ended with Lars-Erik Rännar and Carlos Botero, who showed, among other things, the latest advances in additive manufacturing. This was followed by a study visit to the material testing lab, the additive lab and the wind tunnel.
During the day, some of the more than forty research projects that have received funding from the Rolf and Gunilla Enström Foundation for Research and Development were presented.
From an unexpected meeting to ten years of research support
The foundation's creation begins with an unexpected meeting. Just over ten years ago, Rolf Enström met researcher Mikael Bäckström at a Rotary event, where Mikael Bäckström talked about the new possibilities of 3D printing, including how the technology could be used to manufacture artificial collarbones. The meeting was the start of a long-term commitment to research and development in the region, where the foundation has contributed just over SEK 5 million over a ten-year period to each research centre.
"I don't regret a day that I invested in this," Rolf Enström said at the end of the day when the last researchers presented their projects and he reflected on the results.