Photo: Håkan Lindgren/KTH
Research infrastructures are an investment for society as a whole and help to create innovative solutions to our societal challenges in collaboration with both the public and private sectors. It is crucial that infrastructures are seen from this broad perspective and not just as an academic concern.
Although SwedenBIO’s member companies see a fantastic potential in the infrastructures, many see them as an inaccessible resource. SwedenBIO’s response to the consultation states that a long-term system perspective on research is needed that includes both academic and industrial research and research infrastructures. Collaboration between academia and business is seen as particularly important and needs to be strengthened.
“Today, the interface between companies and infrastructures is perceived as bureaucratic and difficult to access, not least for smaller companies”, says Frida Lawenius, acting CEO of SwedenBIO. CEO of SwedenBIO.
“Businesses simply do not have the access they need and want. There is a need for a more fit-for-purpose organization that is more flexible and accessible to non-academic stakeholders,” she says.
One of the research infrastructures involved, which is a sought-after but not always easily accessible resource for companies, is SciLifeLab, which through the InfraLife collaboration with MAXIV and ESS is also one of SwedenBIO’s members.
Sandra Falck, acting vice head of operations and external relations officer at SciLifeLab also sees a need for change: “From SciLifeLab’s perspective, we see that the role of research infrastructures is changing and moving towards being more dynamic and better integrated with research, education and innovation. We see that cross-sector collaboration with academia, industry, and health care on infrastructure is key to meeting future challenges.”
“To enable smooth collaboration and increased accessibility, however, clearer assignments, mandates and incentives are needed for research infrastructures – and the universities as principals – to prioritize this work, which is not directly within the framework of the universities’ main tasks in general,” says Sandra Falck.
SciLifeLab’s organizational form with four host universities constituting different legal entities is complex, and a solution must be established to enable optimal use of the infrastructure.
SwedenBIO is in favor of KTH having an increased and clearer responsibility as a principal, but also wants to see concrete proposals on how to solve the problems with SciLifeLab not being able to conclude agreements or enter into partnerships. This is a crucial issue for companies’ access to infrastructure and for the possibilities of collaborative research.
Read SwedenBIO’s response in full here.
