And We’re Officially Launched
InspireLab launch at KTH on June 9th
With new perspectives, innovative research, and a shared sense of urgency, the InspireLab launch at KTH on June 9th set the tone for what is to come. Guests mingled and explored how technology can address gender inequality through project presentations, an expert panel, and an eye-opening exhibition.
The official launch of InspireLab gathered around 70 guests from KTH as well as from other organisations and sectors. The guests listened to speeches by KTH President Anders Söderholm, InspireLab Director Pia Höök and Annika Borgenstam, Vice President for research at KTH, as well as an insightful panel conversation between Anders Söderholm, Anna Wahl, Professor of Organization, Leadership and Gender at KTH, and Ericka Johnson, Professor of Gender and Society at University of Linköping.
Also attending were the recipients of research funding from InspireLab’s first research call. Just prior to the launch, three different projects, all led by brilliant KTH researchers, had been selected. The projects focus on a range of technologies—from generative AI to novel ultrasound applications. Each is firmly grounded in a real gender inequality issue that it aims to help address—whether it’s combating gendered violence in the form of deepfake pornography, preventing birth injuries, or enabling AI to better reflect women’s diverse lived experiences. Many guests took the opportunity to chat with the researchers and learn more about their projects.
The event also included the opening of an exhibition on gender and technology. The exhibition remained open for two additional weeks after the event and will return again this autumn to the KTH Library at Osquar's Backe. Be sure to pay it a visit!
Reflecting on the event in retrospect, InspireLab’s Director Pia Höök concludes:
“The launch truly fulfilled the purpose of reinforcing a collective sense of urgency for the need to close the global gender gap, while simultaneously creating curiosity for what’s to come in terms of technology development and innovation. It was also a way for KTH to express our deep gratitude towards our donor, who has made InspireLab possible.”
Read President Anders Söderholm's blog, where he writes about the inauguration: What a breadth – and have a nice summer by the way!
Read the KTH LinkedIn post about the launch.
