Great exchange when the research school met at JTH
The research school Smart Industry Sweden had its first seminar on 7-8 December at the School of Engineering (JTH), Jönköping University (JU). The purpose was for the doctoral students and other participants in the initiative to meet up, exchange experiences and create new collaborations.
Peter Thorvald, director of the research school, thinks the two-day seminar at Jönköping University produced many rewarding discussions about individual doctoral projects and how the students can work together to make Smart Industry Sweden even better.
“The seminar has been great and personally it was fantastic fun for me to finally be able to put faces on all names within the research school,” he says.
Smart Industry Sweden consists of: Halmstad University, Skövde University, University West, Jönköping University and Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall.
Important meeting space
Peter Thorvald sees the challenge in creating a research school that is spread across five different universities. Therefore it is important to create spaces for the doctoral students, supervisors and company representatives to meet.
”I think that the seminar confirms the importance of the participants in the research school being able to meet and feel that they are part of a larger context,” he says.
During the seminar the doctoral students presented their research projects, meetings were held and the participants were able to identify strengths, opportunities and much morein connection with the research school. The first night of the seminar was devoted to dinner and disco bowling.
"The goal we had has been achieved"
Jenny Bäckstrand, local project manager for the reserach school at Jönköping University, was also pleased with the seminar.
“I think that the goal we had, that everyone should get to know each other better and that any collaborations between doctoral projects could be identified, has been achieved. In addition to this, it was really nice to meet everyone in real life and despite varied results, I think everyone appreciated the disco bowling on Tuesday night,” says Jenny Bäckstrand.
A golden opportunity
Viktor Döhlen, Mid Sweden University, is doing his doctorate at Sollefteåforsen's power plant and his research is on power electronics as a support service for the electricity grid. He sees his doctoral student position as a golden opportunity to learn more about the subject of his research and to get paid while he studies.
He thought that the seminar was great and during the two days in Jönköping received several new contacts and networking tips for his research.
“It was fun to meet the other doctoral students and get an insight into their research. We are a bit like classmates, but in different fields,” says Viktor Döhlen.
"Valuable"
Gabriel Sebastian, doctoral student at University West, is employed at Volvo Group's main concept lab in Gothenburg. His research focuses on creating a digital module as a planning tool for reconfigurable production. He also thought it was valuable to meet the other doctoral students and said that he gained new knowledge for his own research.
“Smart Industry Sweden is a perfect platform for me because my research focuses on smart industry,” says Gabriel Sebastian.
Read more about the reserach school Smart Industry Sweden here