120 companies have received help so far – now the researchers want to meet even more

"We started Business Innovation Day so that good ideas can meet and be supported by research and lead to products and development that are beneficial to society and business. Another goal is that it should be easy to get help from us, even when you don't know who to turn to. The fact that we have been able to give 120 companies a helping hand is very gratifying, but we are looking for more," says Mattias O'Nils, center director at Mid Sweden University's research center STC and founder of Business Innovation Day.

During the ten years that Business Innovation Day has taken place, 139 challenges have been presented to hand-picked researchers from Mid Sweden University and experts from the innovation environments RISE, BIZMaker, Bron Innovation, Peak Innovation and Propell. Together, they represent the regions of Västernorrland, Jämtland-Härjedalen and Gävleborg.

One of those who participated is Anders Olsson at the consulting company EqLab, who in his previous position at the railway maintenance company Pandrol, came to Business Innovation Day. He brought with him an idea of how to use a smart camera and AI to detect if there is a problem with the clip that attaches the railway tracks together. The idea of a robust and relatively simple surveillance system that could handle the outdoor environment aroused interest, and researchers began to investigate and test how it could become a reality. Today, a prototype has been developed that can detect deficiencies and facilitate track maintenance.

"Thanks to Business Innovation Day, we had the opportunity to present our development idea, which researchers then tested and developed. It is incredibly rewarding to have this contact with researchers and be part of the process when a product is developed. More companies should take that opportunity," says Anders Olsson.

On 12 November, the next Business Innovation Day will be arranged. The STC and FSCN research centres want more companies and innovators to take advantage of the opportunity to meet researchers to develop and test their ideas.

"We meet many companies and know that there are plenty of both ideas and development needs, not least to cope with the green transition. So we look forward to more companies using Business Innovation Day to meet our researchers and take part of their expert knowledge. Here we know that there are, for example, development needs linked to renewable and sustainable products and processes," says Birgitta Engberg, centre director for the FSCN research centre.

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Facts: Business Innovation Day in numbers

During the ten years that Mid Sweden University's research center STC and FSCN have organized Business Innovation Day, the following have been the case:

• 20 events have been arranged where companies met researchers and experts.
• 120 companies have received support.
• 139 challenges have been presented.

The goal is to contribute knowledge and research that gives companies new knowledge to solve their challenge. In several cases, the meeting has also led to collaborations where researchers have carried out feasibility studies and research projects that have developed the company's innovation idea.  

In some cases, the challenges faced by companies have also led to students taking on the assignment through degree projects and student projects in collaboration with the company and supervisors at the university.

For interview and more info:

Mattias O'Nils, centre director at Mid Sweden University's research centre STC, mattias.onils@miun.se, tel 010-142 87 80
Birgitta Engberg, centre director at Mid Sweden University's research centre FSCN, birgitta.engberg@miun.se, tel 010-142 88 97
Anders Olsson, CEO of Eqlab, anders@eqlab.se, tel 070-663 54 52