New adjunct professor combines sports and technology

Sports scientist Hans-Christer Holmberg has been appointed adjunct professor in Machine Elements at Luleå University of Technology. With a background in physiology, biomechanics, and elite Olympic sports, he aims to deepen the connection between the human body and technical systems.

Hans-Christer Holmberg, often called H-C, has long combined his academic career with hands-on development work in elite sports. After earning a PhD in medical science from Karolinska Institutet, he spent many years working on performance development for the Swedish Olympic Committee.
"I’ve had the privilege of working both in the lab and in the field, analyzing and optimizing athletes’ performance," says Hans-Christer Holmberg.
"That work has often required advanced measurement equipment and has led to the development of new gear – from specially designed skis to the new supershoes that have revolutionized long-distance running."

His practical focus on technology sparked an early interest in machine elements – components that must function with high precision when performance is on the line.
"When you're building or adapting measuring equipment, mechanical reliability is key. That’s when the importance of machine elements becomes clear. Tribology – the science of friction and wear – has also become an area of interest. In winter sports, you can instantly see how the interaction between equipment and surface affects performance," he says.

Ski Tracks Meet High-Tech Engineering

At Luleå University of Technology, H-C Holmberg is involved in the Ski and Snow Lab, a test environment where researchers collaborate with the Swedish national ski teams to study how equipment performs under real-world conditions. It’s a place where practical sports and technical research intersect.
"The lab shows how machine elements matter in two ways: both in the test equipment itself and in the products we evaluate and help develop, such as skis and bindings. Both require technical precision and durability."

The new center for performance and sports technology is another example of how research and real-world application are being linked. It brings together materials development, mechanical precision, and the needs of athletes – from lab settings to ski trails, with the potential to develop venues like Ormberget and Luleå Energi Arena.

Technology in Tune with the Body

As an adjunct professor, his role is to bring a new perspective to machine elements research.
"I want to contribute a human-in-the-loop perspective. That means studying how machine elements function under real loads and movements – for example, during a sprint start or while working out in a gym," explains Hans-Christer Holmberg.

By combining biomechanics, physiology, and mechanical engineering, he sees new opportunities for technical solutions and research projects. These could include custom-fit equipment, AI-based motion analysis, or smart materials that adapt to the user.
"What works for elite athletes can often be scaled up and benefit many more people. The intersection of sports and technology holds great potential – for both academia and society at large."

• Machine elements