Joint focus on skills and growth when the municipality visited Mid Sweden University

Earlier this week, Mid Sweden University received representatives from the Department of Business and Growth in Sundsvall Municipality. The purpose of the visit was to provide a broader picture of the university's research areas, what collaboration with the business community looks like today and how collaboration can be further developed.

Vice-Chancellor Anders Fällström, together with Deputy Vice-Chancellor Anna Olofsson, began the day by welcoming the participants and then gave an overall presentation of Mid Sweden University's mission and strategic direction.

"We see great potential in deepening the dialogue with the municipality. By making our research, education and our collaboration with the business community more visible, we can together contribute to the region's long-term development," says Vice-Chancellor Anders Fällström.

During the visit, the delegation received presentations from the STC Research Centre, FSCN Research Centre and CER, as well as the Miun Innovation and BizMaker activities. Current research projects, ongoing collaborations with companies and examples of how knowledge and innovation are put into practice were presented.

The day ended with a presentation from the student union, which highlighted the student perspective and the importance of close links between studies, working life and regional development.

There is an enormous amount of expertise among both students and researchers that we must become even better at utilising together.

From the municipality's side, the importance of increased knowledge and closer collaboration was emphasized.

"The visit to Mid Sweden University gave us an updated and inspiring picture of the strategic development and the research that is being conducted. For those of us who work with business development and growth, this is absolutely crucial. Skills supply is one of our biggest obstacles to growth, and it requires us to actively connect the business community with the university. There is an enormous amount of expertise among both students and researchers that we must become even better at utilising together. Our close collaboration on larger establishments and the development of new companies, not least in collaboration with BizMaker and Miun Innovation, is an important part of strengthening Sundsvall's development," says Olivia Åsberg, Business Manager, Sundsvall Municipality.

The visit is part of the joint work to strengthen innovation and competitiveness in the region – where academia and the municipality together play a central role.