New graduate school to strengthen industry's green transition

REEDEAM IGS - a new industrial graduate school focusing on climate-neutral production, electrification, digitalisation and automation - is now starting. Through collaboration between MDU, Luleå University of Technology and Örebro University, as well as several industrial partners, the graduate school will train the experts of the future and contribute to new knowledge that future-proofs Swedish industry. A total of SEK 79 million is invested in the initiative.

Swedish industry is facing one of its biggest transitions ever. To remain competitive while meeting climate targets, major advances are needed in climate-smart production, digitalisation and automation. This is why the REEDEAM Industrial Graduate School (IGS) is now starting, with support from the Knowledge Foundation's Industrial Graduate Schools programme with SEK 32 million and SEK 34 million from industry.

"The green transition of industry requires new knowledge and expertise. REEDEAM is therefore a well-timed and valuable investment that strengthens Swedish industry's ability to both grow and compete in the long term," says Eva Schelin, CEO of the Knowledge Foundation.

The next generation of industrial specialists

The Graduate School will contribute to closing the knowledge gap between academia and industry by training the next generation of industrial researchers and specialists.

"Within REEDEAM IGS, 15 PhD students will be trained to become the technical leaders of the future, with knowledge in automation, digitalisation, metallurgy and energy technology. The goal is for the graduate school to lay the foundation for a new area of excellence that will help Swedish heavy industry reduce its carbon emissions," says Konstantinos Kyprianidis, Professor in Energy Engineering at MDU, who is leading the initiative.

REEDEAM IGS is a collaboration between MDU, Örebro University and Luleå University of Technology. The training is carried out in collaboration with ten companies and other organisations, including Epiroc, LKAB Minerals, Bosch Rexroth, Kanthal and RISE.

"The doctoral programme builds on the strengths and previous collaborations between the three universities. Together we are creating a strong and cohesive environment for research and education, with the Future Energy Centre at MDU as the hub", says Konstantinos Kyprianidis.

Focus on three technology areas

The Graduate School builds on the existing REEDEAM Competence Development Project (REEDEAM CDP), and with REEDEAM IGS, the collaboration is now being further developed with a focus on postgraduate training and long-term knowledge building.

"The initiative will strengthen the link between research, education and industry, while contributing to increased research production. The ambition is to continue to collaborate with our PhD graduates as they take on leading roles in industry and academia after graduation. Therefore, the long-term impact for the three universities will extend well beyond a decade," says Konstantinos Kyprianidis.

REEDEAM IGS focuses on three overarching technology areas:

• Carbon-free metallurgy and resilient energy systems
• AI and automation in the green transition
• Efficient and effective circular industry