What is your role?
“I am the person responsible for the partnership at Uppsala University. This means that I head the work with the partnership on behalf of the University, chair the steering group and coordinate Uppsala University’s work related to the partnership. Ernesto Gutiérrez at UU Innovation, who serves as a partnership manager, assists me. There are corresponding roles at Hitachi ABB Power Grid.”
Will the collaboration with the newly formed company be different?
“We aim to expand the collaboration, both in depth and breadth. We want to link these two organisations in all relevant ways.”
Does this involve something other than electrical engineering?
“The focus is primarily on the energy area, but Hitachi ABB Power Grid engages in a lot more than electrical technology development, and we are interested in collaboration in as broad a field as possible. This can include finance, project management and personnel issues, for example. The fact that we are a broad-based university is one of our strengths, and we will use that in this collaboration.”
Why should researchers and teachers become involved in this partnership?
“It is a good opportunity to collaborate with the private sector. This provides opportunities for training and research funding for us. For the students, it can involve everything from degree projects to their education expanding their employability. The agreement will make it easier to bring the right people together, which can increase mobility between the University and the private sector, for example with guest lectures.”
What happens now?
“We are in the midst of starting up the collaboration again. As a first step, we will try to identify relevant contact points between the two organisations. We also are reviewing the procedures for collaboration in, for example, degree projects and research to make sure they function as effectively as possible.”