NEWS In the centre of Umeå Arts Campus, during the month of April, a new enterprise has opened its doors. Sliperiet is a melting pot of research, development and innovation across various different disciplines and spheres of interest.
"The Sliperiet initiative is unique," says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Agneta Marell. "The environment will be accessible to the whole university – it will be an open and flexible venue. Researchers and external partners can meet through interdisciplinary research projects and instructors can meet to develop new teaching methods. Furthermore, students and researchers can come here with their business ideas, and companies and organisations can get help with their problems and be inspired at Sliperiet."
Since April, the building's three floors have started to become filled with people and activity. Kalle Hardell, the CEO of the incubator Uminova Expression, has moved in. Kulturverket, Joyn Service Design and the Interactice Institute are some of the companies that have chosen to establish their operations at Sliperiet and who are moving in during the spring. In the autumn, Sweden's first Fab Lab – an ultramodern laboratory with advanced technology – will be inaugurated. This will enable the creation of models and prototypes using 3D printers, portal milling cutters, and laser and water cutters. There are also meeting rooms, conference spaces and a café at Sliperiet.
"We expect the majority of things to be in place by the third week of September. We will then officially inaugurate Sliperiet," says its manager, Tapio Alakörkkö. "There will be a week of seminars, hands-on activities, presentations and workshops.
At Sliperiet there will also be equipment and spaces for different types of film and sound production, and for working with textiles and the digitisation of movement."
Umeå Municipality is one of Sliperiet's collaborative partners. The goal is to work together with Umeå University to help establish creative and knowledge-intensive companies in the city.
"Sliperiet is an important part of Umeå's development, and this explains the Municipality's involvement in the reconstruction of Sliperiet and its co-ownership of Uminova Expression. Sliperiet may also interest other companies to establish new operations in Umeå," says Roland Carlsson, Head of Industry and Commerce at Umeå Municipality.
Photo caption: Linnéa Therese Dimitriou from Sliperiet held a lecture on Friday April 25 that was organised by Sliperiet at Umeå University, Umeå Industry Services and Umeå's marketing association.
Please contact Linnéa Therese Dimitriou : linnea.dimitriou@umu.se
Please contact Jennie Vänman: jennie.vanman@umu.se
Caption: Linnéa Therese Dimitriou from Sliperiet held a lecture at on Friday April 25 that was organised by Sliperiet at Umeå University, Umeå Industry Services and Umeå's marketing association.
Photo: Johan Gunséus
Editor: Petra Käck