With a passion for ideas that can solve climate issues
Mats Wiktorsson is a business and innovation advisor at SLU Holding. He has extensive experience in marketing and business development and is passionate about climate issues - this is a global challenge that researchers at SLU can contribute to with knowledge that helps to achieve the UN sustainability goals. The work that Mats and his colleagues at SLU Holding are particularly engaged in is the finding of ways to build on the results of research.
Mats Wiktorsson is a business and innovation advisor at SLU Holding. He has extensive experience in marketing and business development and is passionate about climate issues - this is a global challenge that researchers at SLU can contribute to with knowledge that helps to achieve the UN sustainability goals. The work that Mats and his colleagues at SLU Holding are particularly engaged in is the finding of ways to build on the results of research.
Researchers at the forefront
- The UN's 17 global goals address important issues that affect people’s ability to develop and live a good life. One challenge is how we can make food last. Compared to today, for example, we need 70% more arable land. This is a challenge that researchers at SLU are working on and where research has already resulted in innovations that can contribute to the work on achieving the goals, says Mats Wiktorsson, business and innovation advisor, SLU Holding.
Taking the research further and making knowledge useful in society has always been important. The challenges we are now facing means that this is more important than ever.
- With new knowledge we can develop new products and services. Many researchers are encouraged by the opportunity to take their research further into society. Others are curious and would like to, but have been busy with their research. Often, other types of competence are also needed to get a research result out into society. A winning concept for success has proven to be to surround yourself with a team with different skills. We at SLU Holding can be a part of that competence together with other people.
Mission - to utilise research
Mats is affiliated with SLU Holding in Skara, he is an economist specialising in marketing and has experience from working as a marketing manager in several large companies and as the owner and managing director of an advertising agency.
- I am driven by ideas. I want to see ideas realised. Getting to meet exciting researchers and contributing to their ideas being developed and put to use gives me a kick. My colleagues and I at SLU Holding have a good understanding of what is needed to take an idea further. This can include patent issues, business development, the composition and competence in the team and sometimes, the adding of experience from similar projects in other parts of the world.
Meetings that change and refine
As important as it is to contribute knowledge and demonstrate opportunities in development work, Mats sees that it is also important to create and encourage an entrepreneurial culture around SLU's campus areas.
- It is important that researchers, organisations and the industry are in contact with each other. Both in order to understand each other and to hear the reasoning behind the development work of various parties. Meeting is also a good way to find potential partners and to get the outside world interested in current research.
An example of such broad collaboration is the seminar series The Digital Animal arranged by the organisations on the SLU Skara campus in 2019. See the article from the June 2019 newsletter.
Three pieces of advice for when you take your research further
The research profile areas at SLU Skara are animal husbandry, animal welfare, precision cultivation and advice. The projects run for a long time and two current projects both dealing with precision cultivation, CropSat and Global Soil Data Manager, made it onto IVA's 100 list 2019 along with Matomatic.
- It is fun and inspiring that our researchers are receiving attention and getting the opportunity to showcase their research in new contexts. Getting the research out into society is necessary to solve the challenges we face, says Mats Wiktorsson who is happy to share three pieces of advice for those who want to take their research or idea further.
- You are not alone - add competence and create a team with different skills.
- Write an agreement early - if you wait too long it can be difficult to clarify who did what.
- SLU Holding – please contact us.
If you would like to discuss an idea or research project in the green industries, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Read more about the United Nations’ 17 global sustainable development goals.
