Karolinska Institutet holds the chair of Stockholm Trio

What is the alliance focusing on right now?

“Stockholm Trio is concentrating mainly on six areas in which we’ve found common synergies: education, sustainable development, research infrastructure, representation in the EU, campus development and internationalisation.”

“We’re currently levelling up our engagement in the EU. To my mind, we need more activities that can help researchers and other staff at our universities to be more informed about the EU and to participate in EU contexts. As universities, it’s our mission to make sure that the education and research we oversee is put to use in the community, and it’s in the EU that many decisions are taken. We therefore have an office in Brussels that is co-located with the Stockholm Region EU Office.”

“The Brussels office keeps us closely connected to the EU policy agenda, and we are actively contributing to the next framework programme for research and innovation that’s on its way. In our discussions, we’ve made a particular point of raising pillar 2 in the current framework programme Horizon Europe. This pillar is about tackling societal challenges through collaboration with companies and organisations. It’s important that the EU continues to invest in this in the forthcoming framework programme to meet global challenges and strengthen European industrial competitiveness.”

How do you think the University Alliance can strengthen research and education in the Stockholm region?

“The aim of the University Alliance is to provide added value for all three universities and contribute what each individual institution is unable to create single-handedly. We’re focusing our efforts on areas in which we can grow together, such as new, shared research environments in the Stockholm region.” 

“One opportunity currently on the table is the possibility of building a shared radiological science centre. There’d be a great deal to gain from this. All three universities have research and education in the field and such a joint venture will make us an attractive partner for both the industrial and healthcare sectors.”

You previously worked on education. Any project you’re particularly proud of?

“Yes, I’m proud of the new Master’s programme in biostatistics and data science that grew out of the partnership. It’s harder than one might think to draw up a programme and I’m happy that all the work we put into it has paid off.” 

“Our university administrations have done their utmost to remove administrative obstacles in the educational field and that work is continuing. The fact that we also had so many applicants from day one was unusual and gratifying. We have another Master’s programme in molecular techniques in life sciences. And who knows, maybe there’ll be others.”