About 60 leaders and managers from business, academia and the care sector met this week on ‘Medical Mountain’ in Gothenburg for discussions, mingling and dinner. The event marked the revival of the network Niclas Sahlgrens Vänner.
Niclas Sahlgrens Vänner is an arena for dialogue on innovation, research and internationalisation for both business and society. The network is a joint initiative by the Sahlgrenska Academy and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
‘The point is to plant a seed for future collaborations, to share opinions and perspectives,’ says Olle Larkö, Dean, who in his opening speech likened Gothenburg to an ecosystem where all actors play an important role for each other’s national and international success:
‘In the Gothenburg region there’s this great cooperation between academia and the healthcare sector. It’s unique in the nation. Cooperation is the key to successful research.’
Jan-Olof Jacke, President of AstraZeneca in Sweden, spoke on ‘Research in Sweden – Mission Impossible or a National Requirement?’ He said that a national perspective and cooperation across boundaries have become necessary in order to remain competitive.
‘AstraZeneca has three large strategic research centres in the world, and it’s no accident one of them is located in Mölndal outside Gothenburg. It’s because of the effective networking between hospitals, academia and business. You can’t be successful without it,’ he said.
The network, named after Niclas Sahlgren, a Gothenburg-born merchant whose generous donation laid the foundation for the present Sahlgrenska University Hospital, will convene twice a year.
