Innovators of the year 2023

The award as student innovator of the year at Luleå University of Technology goes to Adam Gustafsson, who created the digital app concept Prosa. Innovator of the year - employee goes to assistant professor Johan Casselgren for an innovation with the potential to become an important piece of the puzzle for the green transition.

Through the Innovator of the Year award, Luleå University of Technology wants to recognize students and researchers at Luleå University of Technology who have taken an idea further to benefit the surrounding society. The prize is selected by a jury that includes representatives from the university's innovation support system and is awarded by Nordea's Norrlandsstiftelse.

"It's about creative, innovative and entrepreneurial people who have taken a concept from idea to application, developed a new service, product or process, or alternatively contributed to solving important societal challenges", says project manager Anna Marklund at the Collaboration and Innovation Office at Luleå University of Technology.

The student prize 2023 goes to Adam Gustafsson

"Being named innovator of the year at Luleå University of Technology feels fantastically fun and honouring, while at the same time it is hard to digest as a significant part of a transformative autumn", says Adam Gustafsson, who studies digital service development remotely at Luleå University of Technology.

Innovator of the year - employee, 2023 goes to Johan Casselgren, Associate Professor of experimental mechanics at Luleå University of Technology, receives the research prize for an innovation that will solve wind turbines' major problem with ice formation.

"It's great fun to be noticed. I have worked at Luleå University of Technology for 18 years more or less, and to be praised for the work you do after that time is proof that you are still contributing. Sometimes it's good to stop and think about what you're accomplishing and realize that it's actually quite a bit. It is very honorable that several people have thought of me and nominated me for this award", says Johan Casselgren.

Innovator of the Year 2023 - employee

Johan Casselgren, assistant professor and researcher in experimental mechanics with a focus on snow and ice, has been awarded the award as innovator of the year 2023."It's great fun to be recognized. I have worked at Luleå University of Technology for 18 years more or less, and to be praised for the work you do after that time is proof that you are still contributing. Sometimes it's good to stop and think about what you're accomplishing and realize that it's actually quite a bit. It is very honorable that several people have thought of me and nominated me for this award", says Johan Casselgren.

Johan has already developed several ideas based on research in snow and ice. His latest invention is a new product that measures icing on the blades of wind turbines. It is with the help of camera and AI that ice formation can be detected earlier and measures taken, which will be able to increase the efficiency of wind turbines by up to 10% during the winter months.

Ice on the wings is a source of major production losses in northern parts of the world and many attempts to measure ice have failed.
"Ice and snow on wind turbine blades is a problem that affects electricity production. I helped a company investigate the formation of ice on the wings of the wind turbines and we realized quite quickly that with the technology available today you can see the ice when it has already started to ice. I tried my hand a little and realized that you can but with the help of a camera and AI can find the ice at an earlier stage than is possible today. But the innovative thing is also to connect the detection to weather data to be able to build models for predicting ice and snow build-up" says Johan Casselgren.

Motivation of the jury

Johan Casselgren has developed a solution to wind turbines' major problem with ice formation. By combining camera, AI and weather data, he has not only effectively detected icing on the wind turbine blades, but also significantly improved the prediction . With up to ten percent increased efficiency during the winter months, Johan's innovation offers a simple and applicable method to increase the production of green energy in cold climates. Johan Casselgren's research paves the way for green energy in cold climates, which positions him and Luleå University of Technology as a leading force in sustainable technology. Johan is therefore a worthy winner of the Innovator of the Year award.

Planned electricity production

Johan's invention can be applied to all wind turbines and the company has already started to get customers.
"By being able to detect ice and snow and also predict when ice and snow will build up on the wind turbine blades, electricity production and planned electricity production could be improved. Since the electricity is bought up the day before it is to be sold, better ice forecasts can make the trade in electricity more stable, and this is also what my innovation can contribute to. If you know earlier and more reliably when the ice is coming, you can better balance between the different forces".

A large part of Johan's research is about snow and ice, but the research is very broad. It affects everything from wind turbines to self-driving cars.

"The breadth of my research means that I learn new things and get new perspectives from different industries, which means that I can see solutions in one area that, with a few adjustments, can be applied in another. Then I get to meet a lot of people who are inspiring and give me energy - not least students when I teach. They often have many good questions that make you have to think, which in turn can open up new ideas, which is great fun" says Johan Casselgren.

The Innovator of the Year is selected by a jury and the prize is SEK 10,000, which is financed by Nordea's Norrlandsstiftelse.

Innovator of the year 2023 student – Adam Gustafsson

Student Adam Gustafsson, who studies digital service development at Luleå University of Technology, receives the award as innovator of the year for the app concept Prosa that he developed.

His app concept works as an aid to reading paper books, with a technology that makes reading more engaging and interesting, a solution where you don't replace paper books with digital books. Prosa, as the app is called, uses an AI language model to follow the reader through the reading, generating questions and games based on where in the book the reader is.

How did you come up with the idea?

Adam had a strong belief that technology and design can make everyday life a little more fun and a little better for people. The idea came from an interest and commitment to curiosity and learning. He thinks that books are a very good source of both of these.

- I have had thoughts about technology and literature in combination before, says Adam. Based on all of this came the idea of how to enhance the traditional reading experience with the help of technology and that ultimately led to the idea of Prose that enhances both the fun and the education of the traditional reading experience.

Motivation of the jury

With his innovative app concept Prosa , Adam Gustafsson has great potential to change the playing field for reading. Through a user-centered platform that seamlessly integrates AI language models with traditional books, Adam has developed a concept that directly addresses the challenges of reduced literacy facing modern society. Prosa delivers a unique solution by creating games that are tailored to each reader's interests, which stimulate motivation and can contribute to long-term increases in reading skills and creativity. Prose has the opportunity to influence the next generation of readers, and Adam is therefore a worthy winner of the Innovator of the Year award.

Do you have an idea you would like to realize?

Did you know that all students at Luleå University of Technology have access to free advice and business development support (prototypes, customer journeys, focus group surveys and other validation activities) via the university's innovation office. Follow the link below for more information on how you can take advantage of the support, which helps around a hundred students each year.