The 2023 Nordea Scientific Prize goes to Staffan Lundström

Staffan Lundström, Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Head of Subject at Luleå University of Technology, has been awarded the 2023 Nordea Scientific Prize.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award, and it is a recognition of my contributions to research and development. The award is proof of the fact that our research is relevant, and that goal-oriented work pays off; the award inspires continued research with modern tools. We are currently launching a major EU project in pumped hydropower in regulated rivers, and will, within the frames of other projects, connect our methods for flow through porous media to processes – new to us – in industry and society. I look forward to the results of the multidisciplinary projects that we have launched,” says Staffan Lundström.

Researchers who contribute to growth and development

The Nordea Scientific Prize was established in 2006 by Nordea Norrland Foundation and is awarded annually to researchers at Luleå University of Technology who have made outstanding contributions that promote scientific research and development. The prize amount is SEK 100,000.

“Through his research on industrial- and environmental-oriented fluid mechanics, Staffan Lundström has contributed to the green transition and development of industry and society, both locally and globally. The role of hydropower in the green transition is very important as it is the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe and has an unrivalled storage capacity. There are major challenges in responding to an increased demand for electricity, climate change and the EU’s environmental directives. Therefore, it is extremely relevant and valuable to award the Nordea Scientific Prize to Staffan, and I look forward to his continued research with great excitement and curiosity,” says Anna Edin, Head of Business Banking Unit at Nordea in Norrbotten. 

The Award Committee consists of the Head of Business Banking Unit at Nordea, who also is the Chair of the committee, and the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Luleå University of Technology.

The award statement for the winner of the year, Staffan Lundström, reads:

“Professor Staffan Lundström is the head of subject for the research subject Fluid Mechanics at the Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics. Professor Lundström is a distinguished researcher, with a comprehensive list of publications in reputable journals. Through his research on industrial- and environmental-oriented fluid mechanics, energy applications such as hydropower and energy-intensive industrial processes, he has contributed to the green transition and development of industry and society, both locally and globally.

Lundström is a good academic leader and has built a strong research environment within Fluid Mechanics, which today includes around 35 researchers and doctoral students. He has for more than two decades supervised a large number of doctoral students and postdocs/junior researchers. Lundström’s expertise is in great demand, and he has held many honorary tasks in academia, including assessment of more than 50 doctoral theses. Furthermore, he has held positions at universities in twelve countries and been granted research funding from funding bodies in seven countries.

Professor Lundström is director of the Swedish Centre for Sustainable Hydropower, which is the largest competence centre under the Swedish Energy Agency. Luleå University of Technology together with industry, public sector and six other universities have the ambition to conduct interdisciplinary research to strengthen Sweden’s international position in hydropower research and regulated waterways. The vision is a sustainable, safe and optimized hydropower that should work as an enabler for Sweden’s transition to a sustainable energy system while the biological diversity in our waterways is protected.

To sum up, Professor Staffan Lundström is active in a field that is crucial for the green transition and economy of the future, which to a great extent lies in the interest of Nordea”.