Meet our researchers in operation and maintenance engineering

Uday Kumar: “We are not just developing tools, technology and management solutions for maintenance–we are defining its future.”

Professor Uday Kumar has been working at Luleå University of Technology for 35 years and has built the Division of Operation and Maintenance Engineering to what it is today. Later this spring he will take on the role as Professor and Senior Advisor, passing the torch to the next chair.

What have you done during your 35 years at the university?
– I started my journey as a PhD student, later becoming a lecturer and then a professor in mechanical engineering. I also spent some years teaching in Norway before returning to Luleå University of Technology (LTU) with a vision—to establish maintenance as a scientific research discipline.

At the time, maintenance was not acknowledged as a formal discipline. I proposed the idea to LTU management, which laid the foundation for what would become one of the university’s most successful research areas. In 2001, we started a research group from scratch. By 2018, it had grown to be the largest at LTU.

Our goal was to create a multi- and cross-disciplinary field combining engineering, management, economics, and IT, computer science, etc. Over time, we not only developed practical tools and methods but helped define maintenance as a science.

How has the subject area developed over the years?
– The railway sector offered many challenges, which attracted the interest of external partners such as the Swedish Transport Administration and LKAB. In 2001, the Luleå Railway Research Center (JVTC) was given a focus on operations and maintenance technology, and I became its director. The work was both challenging and stimulating.

In 2006, we established the Centre for Maintenance and Industrial Services (CMIS) which later became Centre of Intelligent Asset Management (CIAM). This brought major industry players like Vattenfall Vattenkraft, LKAB, SSAB, Scania and Boliden on board. However, as the senior personnel retired or changed positions, interest diminished somewhat, and the centre didn’t develop as much as we had expected.

In 2009, I was nominated to be part of the National Working Group on Transport 2030 as representative of researchers which deepened our engagement on national issues.

A major milestone came when the SKF Condition Monitoring Centre was established in Luleå. This significantly elevated our international profile and positioned Luleå as a hub for condition monitoring and maintenance research.

What have been the biggest challenges?
– There are two core challenges that continue to shape our field.

The first is establishing stable, long-term financial support for fundamental research. Much of our work requires sustained funding, which is difficult to secure in a competitive and shifting funding landscape.

The second is establishing maintenance as a cohesive scientific discipline. The field’s inherent complexity—spanning engineering, economics logistics, and management which makes it inherently complex. Integrating these disciplines into a unified academic discipline requires deep interdisciplinary collaboration.

What has been most memorable?
– There have been many memorable moments, but one that stands out was being invited to speak during a nationally televised hearing in Swedish Parliament. The session, hosted by the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, focused on how to improve the reliability and robustness of the Swedish railway system. It was a moment of great pride and recognition—not just for me, but for the research community I represent.

What are some of the highlights over the years?
– Our division has achieved a great deal:

• We have graduated 55 PhD students.
• Built world-class labs, many financed internally.
• Secured patents and hosted several international conferences.
• Authored one textbook and eight reference books on maintenance
• Launched and established the International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, published by Springer.
• Established ourselves university’s flagship divisions, winning numerous awards and earning international recognition.

In just two decades a short period in the life span of an academic discipline, we’ve come a very long way—from a humble beginning to being leaders in the field.

Any final thoughts?
– We are not just developing tools, technology and management solutions for maintenance—we are defining its future.

Ramin Karim: "Leadership means teamwork, commitment and dedication"

Professor Ramin Karim is Chair and Professor of Operations and Maintenance Engineering with specialisation in Industrial AI and Asset Management at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). He makes significant contributions to the university's undergraduate programme, as a teacher and supervisor, and has supervised a large number of PhD students to graduation. Thanks to his innovative supervision and pedagogical merits, Professor Karim was awarded the prestigious award “Supervisor of the Year”, 2023, by the Student Union for Engineers and PhD students.

Professor Karim is also the Director of the Centre for Intelligent Asset Management (CIAM), a prominent research environment that serves as a central node for academia-industry collaboration in asset management. During his academic career, he has continued to build an extensive international network in both academia and industry, resulting in a large number of successful collaborations.

Professor Karim has helped to establish research in operations and maintenance engineering and industrial AI at Luleå University of Technology into one of Sweden's most prominent research groups, by obtaining significant research grants from public and industrial actors. These actors include organisations such as Vinnova, Formas, European Research Frameworks, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Kempe Foundations, as well as industries such as Saab, LKAB, Trafikverket, Boliden, Epiroc, Zinkgruvan, Newmont Mining, Vale, the Swedish Armed Forces, SSAB, Smurfit Westrock, Vattenfall, SJ, Transitio, TiB, Västtrafik and SL.

Professor Karim's industrial research has contributed to LTU's goal of promoting societal development in Sweden through cutting-edge research and education. His research focuses on AI-driven digital transformation, particularly in the construction and industrial sectors, and has resulted in innovative tools, technologies and methods. One of his most notable contributions is the development of the AI Factory platform, a pioneering industrial AI platform that has received significant research funding and enabled extensive innovations in the field. Professor Karim is the lead author of the book “AI Factory - Theories, Applications, and Use Cases”.

Not only does Professor Karim have an extensive scientific output, he is also one of the editors of the International Journal of System Assurance and Engineering Management, a respected publication published by Springer Nature. He is the lead author of the book AI Factory (2023), a comprehensive reference book dealing with the implementation of AI, and his work has been recognised by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Both AI Factory and the ePilot project have been listed on the IVA 100 list of Sweden's most promising research initiatives.

At LTU, Professor Karim has been a driving force in the establishment of two important research laboratories, the eMaintenance Lab and the Battery Lab, located in Luleå and Kiruna. These labs support research, education and innovation in their respective fields and contribute significantly to the development of the university and the region. He has been commissioned to prepare a white paper on data-driven infrastructure maintenance. This policy paper is being developed by the Transport Professional Board of the OECD and is addressed to member countries.

In addition to his academic endeavours, Professor Karim has made significant progress in translating research results into practical societal benefits. He is the co-founder of Predge AB, a spin-off company from LTU founded in 2013, which has twice been recognised on Ny Teknik's 33 list of Sweden's most promising startups. This achievement underlines his ability to successfully link academia and industry and contribute to the development of SMEs in the region. Professor Karim's research and innovations have had a significant impact on societal development, particularly through key collaborations with actors in the transport, construction, defence, energy and mining sectors. His work continues to shape and improve these industries by providing cutting-edge solutions and strategies for future development.

We caught up with him recently to congratulate him on his recent appointment as Chair Professor and Head of Subject for the Division of Opernation and Maintenance and to ask him a few questions.

What drew you to this role, and what excites you most about leading the division?
— What really drew me in was the chance to shape research that bridges science and industry, turning great ideas into practical solutions. Leading this division means I get to build on my own research interests while helping the team grow, explore new directions, and contribute to something larger than ourselves. That mix of discovery and impact is what excites me most.

If you had to describe your leadership approach in just three words, what would they be—and why?— Teamwork is the foundation. Whether in academia or industry, nothing meaningful happens without collaboration. Commitment means sticking to our goals, even when the path isn’t easy. Dedication is what elevates our work to delivering high quality results. These are the main ingredients to achieve excellence in research.

What’s one big idea or initiative you hope to introduce in your first year?
— We’re putting a strong focus on supporting the green transition, starting with battery life-cycle management. That’s why we’re launching a new Battery Lab and building a dedicated task force around it. At the same time, we’re pushing into quantum technology, which opens up powerful new tools for enhanced analytics for asset management, operation and maintenance. These are the areas where we want to lead.

Every leader leaves their mark—what do you hope your legacy will be here?
—I want us to look to the future, to define the future and to utilise appropriate technologies to get there. I want us to think ahead, act early, and set the pace in our field. If we can look back and say we drove meaningful change, that we didn’t wait for someone else to go first, then I’ll consider that a success. It's about building a team that’s known for doing things differently and doing them well.

Collaboration is key in academia. How do you plan to bring people together and spark new ideas?
—It starts with culture. If we create a space where trust is the norm and people feel safe to take risks, new ideas will follow. We also need to be honest about incentives—people should see that their efforts matter and are recognized. When we put the team first and make success visible, collaboration becomes second nature.

If you could tell students and faculty one thing about your vision for the division, what would it be?
—Students are the most valuable source for the subject’s survival and for our existence. They are at the core of what we do. Students are not just here to learn, they’re part of shaping the future. Our main mission is to not only educate them, but to equip them with the tools, knowledge, and mindset to lead us into the future. If we stay focused on curiosity, quality, and connection to real-world challenges, this division will keep evolving and stay relevant.

Veronica Jägare: "We welcome you to get in touch–let’s talk ideas and explore opportunities to collaborate."

Veronica brings a wealth of experience, passion, and vision to her new role as Director of the Luleå Railway Research Center (JVTC) at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). With a strong background in industrial engineering, a decade in consultancy, and a PhD focused on digital solutions for railway maintenance, she has played a key role in shaping the center’s development over the years. As of August, she will also take on the role of Head of Division, marking a new chapter in her leadership journey. In this interview, we get to know Veronica, her priorities, and her vision for the future of railway research and innovation.

• Luleå Railway Research Center
  Swedish: Järnvägstekniskt centrum (JVTC)
  

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to the role as Director of JVTC?
– I’m a former LTU student who studied industrial engineering and ergonomics. After I graduated, I worked for 10 years as a business consultant and later I became the deputy director at LTU for both JVTC and CIAM – that was 2010. JVTC was growing a lot at the time, so I decided to focus on the growth of JVTC. In 2013, I took on the role of project leader for a big project called ePilot which was working with the maintenance of the railway system and digital solutions. This project was really interesting, so I decided to do my PhD work based on the project and the issues that needed to be solved. In 2022, I got my PhD degree and have continuously worked with building JVTC to what it is today together with professor Uday Kumar. Now as Uday is retiring, taking on the role a director felt like a natural next step.

What excites you most about leading JVTC at this time?
– It’s exciting to progress into new areas of development for the railway industry since the railway is the preferred mode of transport when it comes to sustainability. It has to work in society in times of crisis and it’s also important for the northern part of Sweden that are expanding into the green industries to also have a reliable way to transport heavy goods. I’m also excited to see what the emerging technologies of AI can bring in improving the operation and maintenance of the railway.

What are your top priorities for the center in the coming year?
– My priority is to network with the railway industry to attract more partners for JVTC and to expand the awareness within the university to make everyone aware of our railway research. I also want to make sure that JVTC is a recognized partner on the European arena and in the world in order to create opportunities for more research.

How do you see the center contributing to innovation and collaboration within the university and beyond?
– Within the university, I’d like to see more collaboration between researchers from different subjects in order to stimulate innovation. Outside the university, it’s important to be updated on the needs in industry and to be able to match our research efforts to find solutions to real-world challenges.

What advice do you have for industry professionals looking to engage with the center’s work?
– They are welcome to contact us to talk about ideas and collaboration opportunities.

As you prepare to take on the role of Head of Division starting August 1, how do you envision balancing your responsibilities across both leadership positions, and what synergies do you hope to create between them?
– I am both honoured and energized by the opportunity to contribute to the continued development of our division. Balancing this new responsibility alongside my current leadership role will require a strategic and collaborative approach that emphasizes alignment, inclusiveness, and shared growth.

My vision is to foster strong synergies between the two roles by ensuring that our strategies and goals are not only clearly defined but also mutually reinforcing. Ultimately, my goal is to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and collective achievement—where we grow together, support one another, and remain focused on delivering excellence in everything we do.