Kim Laane, Ph.D. in Human Work Science; Linda Sandgren, Ph.D. in Mechanical Design; Erik Lund postdoctoral researcher in Human Work Science, talk about Circular Arctic Sweden.
29 September 2026
Seeking Creative Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
Creaternity is a future-oriented initiative at Luleå University of Technology that aims to use digital technology to achieve circular use of materials and efficient energy consumption. On September 17, the participants met to review current projects and plan future activities.
“We would love to see more collaborations with various external stakeholders from the business community, as well as the public and nonprofit sectors, who are working on sustainability issues and circular solutions,” says Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, professor of product innovation and science and education coordinator for Creaternity.
To develop its collaboration with the surrounding community, Creaternity has a strategic council with representatives from various sectors of the business community.
Encouraging Creativity
The name “Creaternity” is a combination of the words “Connectivity” and “Re-eternity”—that is, a connected circular economy designed for infinite reuse—but it also plays on the word “creativity.”
“We really want to encourage innovation and creativity. The foundation of our research environment is Creaternity’s graduate school. With our young stars at the forefront, along with their advisors and other established researchers, we cross-pollinate research topics, inspire one another, and challenge ourselves to think outside the box. Now we’re also eagerly looking forward to seeing how we can collaborate with our new Deputy vice-chancellor for Creativity,” says Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck.
The day began with Anna Krook-Riekkola, a Professor of Energy Engineering, painting a future scenario—in the form of a story—of what Sweden’s energy system might look like and how it might function in the year 2100. After her presentation, the participants discussed her vision of the future and the importance of imagining and exploring different futures.
“It’s fascinating that different people react to different things and that many find it hard to see that we can change how we live, work, and go about our daily lives—even over as long a time horizon as in this story”, says Anna Krook-Riekkola.
Collaborating with Tekniksprånget
Creaternity also benefits greatly from Luleå University of Technology’s participation in Tekniksprånget, which is the Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA)’s internship program for 18- to 21-year-olds. During the day, the six Tekniksprånget participants organised a creativity workshop where attendees were asked to sketch what a colony on Mars might look like.
“The problem with the green transition isn’t a lack of technical expertise or solid research. The challenge is rather that we can’t collaborate at the level required. We need to get better at understanding each other’s fields and finding ways to work together. That was also the starting point for our assignment. We wanted the participants to first consider how their own expertise could contribute to different aspects of a sustainable and circular society. Then they discussed how these different areas of expertise could be combined to find new solutions and ideas,” says Isabelle Hedin, one of the participants in Teknisprånget.
Improving Waste Management
One of many projects being carried out within the framework of Creaternity is Circular Arctic Sweden (CAS). The project aims to improve circularity in waste management in Norrbotten. This is being done, among other things, by mapping out both how the municipalities in Norrbotten organise their waste management and what the flows and logistics for materials, energy, and waste look like in the region. The project is interdisciplinary.
Erik Lund, a postdoctoral researcher in Human Work Science and one of the participants, emphasises the value of researchers from different disciplines examining the issue from various perspectives. The project is being carried out in collaboration with, among others, the municipalities of Norrbotten and Region Norrbotten.
“An important part of the project is to coordinate and facilitate an increased exchange of knowledge between the municipalities and other stakeholders in the waste management system,” says Erik Lund.
Creaternity Impact Days
Once a year, Creaternity organises a conference where ongoing research is presented. Creaternity Impact Days, as the conference is called, also aims to serve as a meeting place where academia, industry, the public sector, and nonprofit organisations can exchange experiences and ideas with one another.
The next Creaternity Impact Days will take place in Luleå on March 8–9, 2027. A central theme this time will be the recycling systems of the future and future scenarios.
“What is one person’s waste can become another’s resource. There is incredible potential in a well-functioning recycling system, which can generate benefits for both the environment and the business community. I cannot emphasize enough how welcome all external stakeholders are to participate in Creaternity Impact Days. It is by collaborating with one another that we can find new solutions. Stay tuned to our channels online and on LinkedIn,” says Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck.
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