Published: 02-10-2020 17:37 | Updated: 26-11-2020 14:25

Inauguration of AIMES - a new center bridging medicine and engineering sciences

Presidents from KTH and KI tying knots during inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Presidents from KTH and KI tying knots during the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum. Photo: Erik Flyg

The Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, AIMES, is a collaboration between KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institutet, in partnership with Getinge, with the vision to enhance the exchange of expertise within academia and industry. The center was officially inaugurated on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum, Solna (and via Youtube).

Agneta Richter-Dahlfors at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Professor Agneta Richter-Dahlfors at AIMES' inauguration ceremony in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020. Photo: Erik Flyg

The new center, located in Biomedicum in Solna, is a joint initiative to further education, interdisciplinary research, innovation, implementation and entrepreneurship.

"We create the long-term conditions required, both scientifically and financially, to secure the emergence of younger so-called intrinsically interdisciplinary researchers and students, whose competencies are required to successfully address societal challenges", explains Professor Agneta Richter-Dahlfors, researcher at the Department of Neuroscience, co-founder and Director of AIMES.

President Ole Petter Ottersen, not only embraced the initiative but stressed the need for a "better dialogue between engineering and medicine" and that "interdisciplinarity is the key to progress".

Sigbritt Karlsson, President of KTH, was inspired and overwhelmed by the joint efforts between the two universities. The future of healthcare depends on the development of technology and vice versa, so eventually this initiative will benefit us all.

Carl Bennet, owner of Getinge, talked about the basic and applied research strengthening Sweden's competitiveness at an international scale and how AIMES drives new ways of thinking.

A few members of the team shared snapshots of ongoing research and Pam Fredman, current Chair of AIMES' Steering group and former President of Gothenburg University, reflected on the importance of cooperation with external stakeholders and on acting as a role model for interdisciplinary approach.

After concluding remarks from vice-Director Ulrica Edlund and Director Agneta Richter-Dahlfors, the ceremony ended with a symbolic "tying of knots" between KI, a world leading medical university, and KTH, a world leading university for engineering and technology.

Pam Fredman mingles at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020. People are seen in the background.
Pam Fredman at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020.
Carl Bennet at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Carl Bennet at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Keira Melican at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Keira Melican at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Karl Svennersten at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Karl Svennersten at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Thomas Crouzier at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020
Thomas Crouzier at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020.
Onur Parlak at inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020
Onur Parlak at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020.
Aman Russom talks during the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Aman Russom at the inauguration ceremony of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum.
Ferdinand X Choong speaks at inauguration of AIMES on 30 September 2020, in Biomedicum
Ferdinand X Choong at the inauguration of AIMES in Biomedicum on 30 September 2020.
Pam Fredman speaks at the inauguration of AIMES, in Biomedicum, on 30 September 2020
Pam Fredman at the inauguration of AIMES, in Biomedicum, on 30 September 2020
Ulrica Edlund talks at the inauguration of AIMES on 30 September 2020 in Biomedicum
Ulrica Edlund at the inauguration of AIMES on 30 September 2020 in Biomedicum.