Launch of collaborative industry fundraising campaign
NEWS
Umeå University is launching a new campaign that aims to promote and develop dialogue and collaboration between the university and industry. The campaign title translates to "Ahead with Umeå University."
Another objective of the campaign is to fund collaborative projects within research and development. Göran Sandberg's aim is that the campaign will result in several new collaborative projects before he steps down as vice-chancellor at the end of June this year.
"The government appropriations and grants from the research councils is our main source of funding. Through increasing the private financing of research at Umeå University, we can strengthen our competitiveness and further raise our aspirations. We also want to emphasise what the mutual benefits of cooperation with the university can lead to," says Göran Sandberg.
The aim of the campaign is to establish partnerships that are beneficial to both parties, rather than obtaining unqualified donations.
Umeå University is highlighting six areas in the campaign:
Green technology
Industrial IT
Medicine for patient benefit
Design, architecture and culture
Sami research
Sustainable economy
"It includes areas that we have declared as important for the university’s development, but there are also areas where we hope and believe that research can be of great benefit to industry and society," says Ulf Edlund, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations and Chairman of the campaign's steering committee.
Göran Sandberg has appointed Professor Sigbrit Franke, former Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University, to chair the campaign committee.
"Umeå University seeks to be responsive to the needs of society and businesses. We hope that companies and other stakeholders will collaborate with us, thereby strengthening research and development both in Sweden and in the region," says Sigbrit Franke.
The campaign is targeted towards business and industry, organisations, foundations and private individuals. The campaign will run for four years and concludes in 2013.
In addition to Sigbrit Franke, the campaign committee consists of the following members: Eva Bonnier, PublisherChris Heister, County Governor of VästerbottenGöran Johnsson, former Chairman of IF MetalPeter Kopelman, former GM of Microsoft Sweden Daniel Sachs, Chief Executive Officer, Proventus
For further information, contact:Åsa Rudehäll, Campaign Head E-mail: asa.rudehall@adm.umu.se Phone: + 46 (0)90-786 99 93
