Our honorary doctors

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Science and Technology at Luleå University of Technology appoint honorary doctors every year. It is a dignity that the faculties bestow upon individuals whom they wish to particularly honor and connect with the research community.

According to tradition, it is usually individuals who have not chosen the academic path but have otherwise contributed to research and earned the dignity associated with a doctoral title. This is part of the university's commitment to openness and connections beyond the traditional research community. An academician who has significantly contributed to research or education within the faculty can also be appointed as an honorary doctor.

Luleå University of Technology has been appointing honorary doctors since 1981. The honorary doctors are conferred during the Academic Ceremony held in November each year.

2024

Stefan Forsberg, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

Stefan Forsberg came to Konserthuset Stockholm in 2003 as Executive and Artistic Director of the Stockholm Concert Hall Foundation and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. A pivotal idea in the leadership of Stefan has been to reach a new audience and new target groups. Under his leadership, there has been an increase in the number of concerts and exhibitions. He has also implemented significant educational initiatives.

One obvious example is the successful and talked-about Orchestra Academy, running in close collaboration between the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the School of Music at Luleå University of Technology since 2016. The Orchestra Academy is a one-year cutting-edge Master’s programme, targeting international students. Stefan’s leadership was a crucial factor to enable the implementation and continuous development of the Orchestra Academy, which has led to higher music education at Luleå University of Technology achieving both a good name and high status.

Stefan Forsberg is renowned within the cultural field and has made significant contributions to promote the development of the School of Music at Luleå University of Technology.

Access Stefan Forsberg's honorary doctoral lecture (in Swedish).

Lars Gyllenhaal, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

Lars Gyllenhaal is an author with deep knowledge of Swedish and international military history. In his latest book, he explores the role of Sweden during the Second World War.

Through his works, Lars has contributed greatly to our understanding of the history of the Second World War in the arctic part of the Fennoscandia and particularly in the Norrbotten County and Västerbotten County in Sweden. In his research, he has focused on the important role that Swedish actors played in the efforts of the Allied forces to conquer the occupying power of Nazi Germany in Norway, by means of operations carried out from northern Swedish territory. His work has given us valuable facts of local residents’ roles – not least the initiatives of the Sámi community.

The mastery of Lars Gyllenhaal to highlight the significance of the local community offers important insights of our time, especially when tension increases in the Cap of the North due to international conflicts.

Access Lars Gyllenhaal's honorary doctoral lecture (in Swedish).

Elin Anna Labba, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

Elin Anna Labba made her debut as an author in 2020 with the award-winning documentary prose work The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow - The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi. The work uses stories, photos, letters and yoik texts to portray the forced migrations of Sámi people in the early 1900s. In the year 2024, Elin published the novel The home of the Drowned, which illustrates how the expansion of hydroelectric power influences the life and livelihood of people in Sápmi. Through her portraits of historical events, she raises questions about what happens to people and societies in transition.

As journalist, Elin has written for Samefolket, one of the oldest indigenous-people publications, and has been the chief editor for Nuorat, the Sámi youth journal.

Elin Anna Labba engages readers from both literary and popular education contexts, and her audience are found within and outside the northern region. She has raised her voice for and initiated dialogues on matters of great importance to people, nature, industry and civil society in northern Sweden.

Access Elin Anna Labba's honorary doctoral lecture (in Swedish).

Karin Bodin, Honorary Doctor of Technology

Karin Bodin is the fifth generation of the family business Polarbröd Group. As CEO, Karin leads the company's continuing investment in the arctic town of Älvsbyn and improves at the same time the food production in the northern region of Sweden. She is actively involved in the development of small enterprises and supports the environmental movement and biodiversity. For many years, the company has invested in its own wind power production and efficient use of energy.

Working together with Luleå University of Technology, mainly in a project about resilient and sustainable production, Karin has very generously shared her knowledge and experience. All this in the midst of the turbulent period for the company after a devastating fire in 2020.

Karin Bodin excels as an accomplished corporate manager with grocery trade products in a highly competitive sector and is also a great inspirer and an outstanding communicator and storyteller. She has a strong personal commitment for innovation and sustainability together with close ties to industry in north Sweden.

Access Karin Bodin's honorary doctoral lecture (in Swedish).

2023

• Staffan Göthe, Playwright, director and actor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Peter Englund, Historian and author, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Alice Kempe, Chair of the Kempestiftelserna, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Jan Moström, CEO LKAB, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2022

• Peter Carlsson, CEO and co-founder of Northvolt, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology
• Lisbeth Löpare-Johansson, Coordinator at the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Christopher Weible, Professor at University of Colorado Denver, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2021

• Sara Arnia, Actor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Sofia Jannok, Artist, singer and songwriter, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Anders Sundström, Business leader, former politician and minister, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2020

• Charlotte Kalla, Cross-country skier and Olympian, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Jessica Meir, Astronaut at NASA, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Dean A Shepherd, Professor at Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2019

• Pär Lärkeryd, President and CEO of Norra Skogsägarna, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Thomas Öström, CEO Climeon, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2018

• Lilian Ryd, Author and cultural historian, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Gertrud Åström, Business and organisational leader and expert on gender equality issues, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology
• Lars Martinson, Group CEO at Martinsons, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2017

• Jan Lexell, Professor at Lund University, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Jenny B Osuldsen, Architect, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Geoffrey Vining, Professor at Virginia Tech, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2016

• Gerda Helena Lindskog, Author, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Svante Lindqvist, Musician, playwright and author, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Elisabeth Nilsson, County Governor, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2015

• Katarina Kieri, Author, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Sara Mazur, Head of Research, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Hans Hansson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Birgitta Olofsson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2014

• Alan Begg, Director of Research and Development, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Russell Lansbury, Professor Emeritus, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Per-Erik Lindvall, Director, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology
• Peter Mattei, Opera Singer, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2013

• Stina Honkamaa, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Ulf Marklund, Head of Strategy and Business Development, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Karl Petersen, Local Councillor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2012

• Benny Andersson, Musician and composer, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Eva Karlsson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Margareta Kempe, Author, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Tore Lundmark, Chief Engineer, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2011

• Per-Ola Eriksson, County Governor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Malin Frenning, Business Area Manager, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Martin Jonsson, Head of Development and Research, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Elisabeth Holmgren, Director of the County Council, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2010

• Karin Mamma Andersson, Artist, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Björn Paulsson, Senior Adviser, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2009

• Ross Large, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Erik Lindbäck, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Bengt Liljedahl, Head of Development, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Leyland Pitt, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2008

• Lorentz Andersson, Former County Governor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Harald Vogel, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Margareta Jonsson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2007

• Börje Justrell, Archivist, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Lars-Eric Aaro, Technical Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Albert Ruehli, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Erling Johansson, Artist, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2006

• Jiri Marsalek, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Panos Plegas, Senior Vice President, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Kjell Sundvall, Film Director, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy

2005

• Elinor Ostrom, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Anna Sierpinska, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2004

• Kari Marklund, Former County Governor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Birgitta Svendén, Opera singer, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Joseph Juran, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Carl-Henric Svanberg, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology

2003

• Hans Leygraf, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Leif Östling, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Gunnar Liljedahl, Director, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2002

• Staffan Westerberg, Acting Director, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Carl Bennet, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Sam Nilsson, Director, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2001

• Bruce Swedien, Music Producer, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Douglas W Fuerstenau, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Yngve Bergqvist, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Technology

2000

• Bo Nilsson, Composer, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Thomas Nilsson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Jan Martinsson, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1998

• Folke Isaksson, Author, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• John E Tilton, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy
• Vinton G Cerf, Senior Vice President, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Christer Löfgren, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Ivar Sundström, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1996

• Ingvar Carlsson, Former Prime Minister, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Evelyn Fox Keller, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Sture Johansson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Carl Kempe, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Samme Lindmark, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1994

• Birgit Erngren, Director General, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Michel Lucius, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Arne Wittlöf, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1993

• Per-Olof Eriksson, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Anders Grönlund, Organ Builder, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Bengt Hultqvist, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1991

• Bengt Andersson, Education Consultant, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Ann-Marie Israelsson, Head of Teknikens Hus, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Martin Lundberg, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Markku Mannerkoski, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Björn Wahlström, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1989

• Rune Andersson, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• John E Field, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Lennart Lubeck, Professor, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1986

• Ulf Langefors, CEO, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Einar Lundström, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Sverker Sjöström, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1984

• Sten G A Bergman, Doctor of Technology, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Arne S Lundberg, Envoy, Honorary Doctor of Technology

1981

• Lars Granar, Division Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Gösta Hägglund, Director, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Ragnar Lassinantti, County Governor, Honorary Doctor of Technology
• Lars Nordström, Director General, Honorary Doctor of Technology