Niklas Törnå

About me

I have a deep and genuine passion for meeting new people and building networks. For me, the person next to me on a flight or train could be a key in a future project. I love communication, both in writing and visually, and enjoy spending hours pondering how a research project can be packaged to better reach its audience.

In my free time, I am passionate about gardening, everything from vegetables to apple trees. I am captivated by the journey of a plant, from sowing a tiny seed into the earth to seeing its growth into a plant or tree. Nature is indeed astonishing, and this process frequently serves as a source of inspiration for me, especially during my engagements with university students and their educational development.

I began my time at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) in 2013, initially as a student in Civil Engineering (specializing in structural mechanics) and then as a PhD student. After making it halfway through my PhD, I took a one-and-a-half-year break and worked at Swedish municipalities and regions (SKR). My research focuses on dialogue processes in municipal land allocation, and my time at SKR provided a valuable practical lesson. Now, I am back at LTU and work with the university's third mission, to spread our research to the public, recruit new students and advertise SBNs programs. But most important: to continue my research.

Research interests

In an era of rapid urbanization, the intricate dance between urban development and sustainability goals becomes increasingly vital. My research zeroes in on the nuanced process of setting and achieving sustainability objectives within the realm of municipal urban development, with a spotlight on the competitive dialogue process. This process embodies a collaborative platform where municipalities and building actors converge to fulfill sustainability ambitions. The challenge, however, lies in navigating the delicate balance between these aspirations and the pragmatic realms of urban planning and construction. My aim is to unravel the coordination dynamics that govern this process, illuminating how municipalities can more effectively guide urban development towards sustainability. Through a deep dive into this competitive dialogue process, I seek to offer insights that not only advance our understanding of municipal coordination but also pave the way for more sustainable urban futures.

My objectives are to

• Map the coordination mechanisms within a competitive dialogue process to identify how municipalities and building actors can effectively collaborate
• Analyze the impact of mandatory and optional activities within the competitive dialogue process on the achievement of sustainability goals

Professional expertise

• Land allocation processes
• Organizational management
• Marketing and advertising
• Policy making
• Communication
• Graphic design