23 March 2026
Strong collaboration when LTU gathered industry for future skills
How do we ensure the right skills, in the right place, at the right time? When Luleå University of Technology, together with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Teknikföretagen, brought industry and academia together in Stockholm, there was a strong sense of alignment. The next step is now to translate ideas into concrete initiatives.
The workshop was opened by Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Vice-Chancellor of Luleå University of Technology, together with Anders Söderholm, President of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Pia Sandvik, CEO of Teknikföretagen. Around ten companies were represented, primarily from larger industrial corporations, alongside representatives from academia and funding bodies. Participants included ABB, Boliden, Epiroc, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy, LKAB, SSAB, Saab, Scania, Alstom and AFRY, as well as funders such as Vinnova, the Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen) and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
In her opening remarks, Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn emphasised the importance of rethinking how skills are developed in line with the transformation of industry.
- The transition places new demands on how we approach skills development. It is about creating opportunities for learning throughout working life, and about working together with industry to develop education that meets evolving needs, says Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn.
Engagement throughout the day was high. The issue of skills was described as business-critical, and the need for new ways of working was a recurring theme in discussions. Participants worked both to describe the current situation and to formulate future scenarios for how skills development can function more effectively. The discussions were characterised by openness, curiosity and a clear willingness to find joint solutions, with many also highlighting the value of collaboration across organisational boundaries.
At the same time, the direction forward was clear. The pace needs to increase, and several participants called for concrete pilot projects, faster decision-making and more coordinated efforts to move from dialogue to implementation.
The workshop forms part of LTU’s ongoing work to develop flexible, demand-driven education in close collaboration with industry, with a focus on meeting the needs of professionals mid-career and strengthening opportunities for lifelong learning.
Vice-Chancellor Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Pia Sandvik, CEO of the Swedish Association of Technical Companies and Anders Söderholm, Vice-Chancellor of KTH.
Contact
Pernilla Tingvall
- Samverkansstrateg
- 0920-491920
- pernilla.tingvall@ltu.se
- Pernilla Tingvall
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