Jeandri Robertson (left) and Io Antonopoulou, both Associate Professors at Luleå University of Technology, have been awarded the 2025 Prize for Young Outstanding Researchers by the Kungl. Skyttean Samfundet.
27 October 2025
Award to outstanding young researchers by the Royal Swedish Skyttean Society
Jeandri Robertson and Io Antonopoulou from Luleå University of Technology have been awarded the Kungl. Skyttean Society’s 2025 Prize for Young Outstanding Researchers. The prize honours two researchers each year – one in social sciences and economics, and one in natural sciences and technology.
Jeandri Robertson, Associate Professor of Industrial Marketing, receives the award in social sciences and economics for her research on how digitalisation and technological change transform our understanding of what it means to be human – and how value and responsibility are redefined in an age of AI and innovation.
“I study how technology is transforming what it means to be human – from how we interpret information and make judgments to how we express emotions and build trust – all of which are increasingly mediated by technology. As digitalisation and AI change the way we communicate and innovate, the sources of value and who benefits from them also shift,” says Jeandri Robertson, Associate Professor at Luleå University of Technology.
She emphasises that the award is also a recognition of the broader role of research in society.
“The Skyttean award reminds us that marketing and management research doesn’t have to focus only on sales or material growth but can also aim to understand and guide change to build systems that reflect the society we want to live in. It’s encouraging to see research on these issues gaining recognition because they sit at the core of how we navigate progress responsibly,” says Jeandri Robertson.
Io Antonopoulou, Associate Professor of Biochemical Process Engineering, is awarded the prize in natural sciences and technology for her outstanding research profile in green chemistry and biotechnology, contributing to the green transition and net zero emissions.
“Through bio-inspired transformations of renewable materials, my work aims to bridge biotechnology and sustainability — turning nature’s catalysts into tools for a greener industry. The research we do matters because it empowers us to rethink how we make the things we rely on every day — fuels, materials, and chemicals. It’s about transforming renewable resources into sustainable solutions for a planet that urgently needs them,” says Io Antonopoulou, Associate Professor at Luleå University of Technology.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award – it inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable research and innovation,” she says.
The Kungl. Skyttean Society is one of Sweden’s royal academies, founded in 1956 to promote scientific and cultural development in northern Sweden. Each year, it awards prizes to support research excellence and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue.
About the prize
The Royal Skyttean Society is one of Sweden's Royal Academies, founded in 1956 to promote scientific and cultural development in northern Sweden. The Society awards prizes annually to support excellence in research and encourage interdisciplinary dialog.
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