Awarded for Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm

At a ceremony in Wibergsgården, 20 employees received the award ‘"För nit och redlighet i rikets tjänst” (Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm). The award recognises employees who have worked for the Swedish State for at least 30 years.

In 2026, 22 employees at Luleå University of Technology received the "For Diligence and Integrity in the Service of the Nation" award; 20 of them attended the ceremony held in their honour at Wibergsgården. University President Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn and University Director Maria Lundgren were on hand to present the awards. Recipients can choose between a gold medal, a crystal bowl, or a gold wristwatch.

Some of the award recipients were asked how they view their time at Luleå University of Technology:

Tommy Lundberg, Technician

What different positions have you held during your time at LTU?

“I started as a janitor in 1995 at the School of Music in Piteå. After that, I worked as a technician and IT technician in Media Production. I helped launch the Academic Media Center (AMC), where we trained journalists in TV and radio. I worked there as a TV technician until 2010. Since then, I’ve been working at Servicepoint at the School of Music.”

What’s the biggest change you’ve experienced over the years?

“There have been many major changes. For me personally, it’s been nothing but good. It’s given me the opportunity to try new things. I’m a bricklayer by trade, but when the construction industry went into a downturn, I applied to the School of Music. I’ve always been interested in computers and filmmaking. When we were setting up AMC, we hired consultants. I learned a lot from them—everything from working as a studio technician to being a cameraman. Back then, you could learn a trade just by doing it.”

What has been the most fun during your years at LTU?

“What I’m doing now: working at Servicepoint! It’s rewarding to solve problems and help people. You feel that what you do matters to others.”

Marta-Lena Antti, Professor in Engineering Materials

What different positions have you held during your time at LTU?

“I started as a doctoral student in 1995. After defending my dissertation, I was first hired as a researcher, then as a senior lecturer, followed by an associate professor, and finally, in 2016, I was appointed professor and department chair.”

What is the biggest change you’ve experienced over the years?

“The laboratory resources have improved significantly. It’s absolutely incredible what great labs we have now, thanks in part to the Kempe Foundations and WISE! We have state-of-the-art, advanced equipment, which makes us attractive partners for other universities. Among other things, we have a very good scanning electron microscope. Through LTU’s lab fund, the university is working strategically to ensure we are strong on the experimental side of research. For me, this is very positive because materials engineering is an experimental field.”

What has been the most enjoyable part of your time at LTU?

“The most enjoyable part has been the Women’s Graduate School during my doctoral studies. It’s so nice to receive this award today alongside Lena Abrahamsson, Jeaneth Johansson, and Margareta Groth, who were also part of the first cohort of the graduate school. I also appreciate the variety. I worked in industry for five years and thought I would continue in that field. But the university has consistently offered me new and exciting assignments and positions, as well as stimulating interactions with doctoral students and undergraduates. That is what has kept me at the university for 30 years, which in itself is a testament to LTU’s quality.”

Kåre Synnes, Professor in Pervasive and Mobile Computing

What different positions have you held during your time at LTU?

“I started as a computer science student back in 1988 and have held many different positions since then. Today, I am one of the university’s designated teachers of excellence and hold a professorship.”

What is the biggest change you’ve experienced over the years?

“The most noticeable change is probably the development of our campus on Porsön, and I’m glad to have been able to participate in the design of our new learning environments. It’s very important that we have a healthy campus for our students and faculty, even if it will take time and cost a fair amount. The likely biggest change, however, concerns how we educate our students, with distance learning and, above all, the use of AI in education. AI will present very significant challenges for us, with changes for better or worse, but I believe it can lead to more individually tailored courses and programs. Personally, I’m very ambivalent about distance learning; even though it has clear benefits, we face issues with student retention, and government funding for distance learning is likely to decrease. I appreciate the close connection we have at LTU between students and faculty, which relies heavily on in-person interactions—and that was a major reason why I chose to study here myself.”

What has been the most enjoyable part of your time at LTU?

“Interacting with students! It’s rewarding to see them grow in their roles, to watch them develop the skills and courage to take on and solve new challenges. Our students are both talented and motivated—they are our future.”