Henrik Henriksson's visions form course at KTH
In 2021, former Scania CEO Henrik Henriksson initiated a course at KTH in Sustainable Industry. Following the success of the course in the spring of 2023, which featured influential business leaders as guest lecturers, KTH aims to enhance its collaboration with the industry in planning the next course period.
Scania's former CEO Henrik Henriksson, has founded a course at KTH with a high profile and a clear foothold in the business world. In 2021, he received KTH's prize for industrial collaboration, which not only means honor and a gold medal; the prize also includes a collaboration-related initiative that the prize winner and KTH develop together. Preferably in a subject that the winner is passionate about - which in Henrik Henriksson's case is that industry must think more sustainably.
“Circular thinking must move from being something that is optional to something that is mandatory. This should run like a red thread through both the academy's work and when running companies," says Henrik Henriksson.
”His” course – ”Sustainable industry - building resilient production systems and value chains” – focuses on materials, value chains and challenges in the process industry. Although both INDEK and the Department of Materials Science have contributed, the content and focus are Henrik Henriksson's idea.
“I have also influenced how the interaction between KTH and industry representatives would work. That there would be interactive and discussions / workshops where all participants can contribute with their perspectives. And that the PhD students were a particularly important group to participate and drive change through the course.”
The course, which took place for the first time in spring 2023, began with a two-day conference open to participants from industry and KTH doctoral students. Andreas Feldmann from INDEK is responsible for the course and is impressed with the event:
“Henrik pulled strings in his network, and we had a fantastic list of speakers: Peter Carlsson - CEO of Northvolt, Mikael Hannus, Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas, and Per Tunell, Vice President of Wallenius, among others.”
The industry leaders talked about their challenges, such as how to build a giant plant in Skellefteå or how companies solve the skills supply.
Looking ahead to the 2025 course, Feldmann plans to not only have industry leaders deliver lectures but also deepen collaboration and include more academics in the lineup.
Henrik Henriksson, who currently leads H2 Green Steel, looks forward to contributing to the next round of courses and is still honored by the collaboration award:
“It is a wonderful recognition for the work I did together with all of Scania's employees in Södertälje and internationally.”
Text: Anna Gullers
Read more about the course (Swedish only): FME3549 Hållbar industri - bygga resilienta produktionssystem och värdekedjor 4,5 hp