Fast track to better interdisciplinary science

“We have created a contact arena that provides fantastic opportunities for cooperation. Now it’s up to the researchers at KTH and SP to use this arena to see if they take a liking to each other and want to work together,” says Hans Ingvarsson, who works as an advisor to the President of KTH.

The agreement was signed in December by President Peter Gudmundson and Maria Khorsand, President of the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute (SP).

“This will provide new avenues for KTH to increase the success factor when it comes to seeking money in the major international calls for research funds. In cooperation with SP, we can produce more powerful applications in the areas where we are strong. Together we can become stronger, and I believe that one plus one equals more than two in this collaboration,” says Hans Ingvarsson, who developed the agreement with Per-Erik Peterson, vice president of SP.

The agreement is a statement of intent to enhance cooperation on a broad front between KTH and SP. KTH will have access to SP’s key skills in all profile areas, and, particularly, extended lab facilities, concludes Hans Ingvarsson.

SP can offer several interesting laboratory environments, particularly in firing engineering, Hans Ingvarsson points out. For example, there is also a highly advanced laboratory for testing the robustness of embedded electronics in various products, small or large.

This new agreement improves contact channels and interfaces and makes it easier for KTH researchers to initiate collaborations. There already exists a variety of research exchanges between the two parties. Two of SP’s subsidiaries are present on the KTH Campus: The Institute for Surface Chemistry and CBI Betonginstitutet. Trätek is also present on the campus which is a department within the Institute.

”Both KTH and SP are working hard to develop their interdisciplinary approach. Now we can support each other in the work in a completely different way and we can encourage best practice within interdisciplinary projects,” says Hans Ingvarsson.

SP’s profile in research is a good match with the research that forms a part of KTH’s interdisciplinary platforms. The platforms will serve as the door to KTH for the Institute’s researchers. Practical cooperation will then be carried out in the schools and departments at KTH, which SP can find their way to via the platforms’ guidance.

The collaboration agreement also provides legal and other administrative support for those researchers who commence cooperation within the framework.