It is the harmless black and yellow-striped hoverfly that is the focus of Paul Becher and Guillermo Rehermann's research. They see a new and expanded role for the hoverfly to solve three major challenges in crop production. Their discovery won them first prize when SLU Alnarp and Sparbanken Skåne's Innovation Prize was awarded this year for the first time.
ThermoSeed Global AB, a company in which Lantmännen is the principal owner, can now look forward to long-term collaboration with the Swiss agricultural cooperative Fenaco. After evaluation and following development of the ThermoSeed process in several countries, Fenaco has purchased a seed-treatment machine.
The IMP project focuses on creating the best conditions for knowledge and results that are created at Swedish universities to have an impact in society. The aim is to give researchers different opportunities for applying their research. Sixteen universities, SISP and PRV are participating in the project.
Axel Ljudén and Albin Nyström are studying to become certified foresters and are this year’s winners in Venture Cup Nord’s regional finals. In the autumn, the award-winning business concept will continue to compete in the autumn national finals, but the beta version of their new app has already undergone beta testing this summer with the help of validation funds from SLU Holding.
SLU Holding is now broadening its expertise on the Board of Directors with three new members, Christina Kusoffsky Hillesöy, Göran Lundwall and Birgitta Wikmark Carlsson. With broad experience from business, fund management and academia, all three are exciting additions to the board.
Victor Håkansson is an agricultural technologist from SLU Alnarp and founder of the IT start-up company Green Adviser – which has developed a digital remote tool for agricultural advisers. The business idea was born, took off and grew during his years at university. The service is now being launched and Victor is back in Alnarp, sharing in operation of VentureLab@SLU at SLU Holding.
One of the world's most successful business incubators is UIC, Uppsala Innovation Centre. SLU Holding is a partner in the incubator that provides support to researchers who want to take their ideas further. Support that several SLU researchers have used and that Patric Karlsson, new program manager at UIC, hopes more will test.
Right now, we are facing new challenges all round the world. By combining our forces, we can work for a sustainable future. Through our validation funding, you can apply for financing to make practical use of your idea or research findings.
For Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel, it is important to offer students world-class research-based teaching. Equally important is the university's ability to utilise research results that can advance society. An area in which the Vice-Chancellor wants to see increased cooperation with important partners such as SLU Holding and Green Innovation Park.
In association with Sparbanken Skåne, SLU Alnarp this year awards ideas that carries the potential to change the green industry. The awards, worth a total of SEK 150,000 (one of 100,000 and two “growth awards” of 25,000) are personal and awarded with the goal of contributing to an innovation-promoting culture and enable more of the university’s overall knowledge to be utilized in groundbreaking innovations for both the industry and our society.
SciIns breeds house crickets that are guaranteed to be free of densoviruses and other parasites. Properties that are strongly expected to contribute to increase the profitability of those who breed crickets for food and livestock production. SLU Holding is investing in the company, which we believe has a unique offering in a rapidly growing global market.
Green Innovation Park brings together innovators, exciting start-ups, academia and established companies that share the same challenge - to develop new knowledge, innovations, products and services for a sustainable future.
Within Prototype 2030, researchers from SLU and the University of Skövde collaborate with SLU Holding to take a common approach to current issues related to food, the environment and climate.
Maria Klintenäs is a business and innovation adviser at SLU Holding. Her remit is to contribute to the startup of new research-based companies – a remit that involves progressing expertise, ideas, services and solutions that can provide a more sustainable level of food production and can combat climate change.
Digital technology has been used for several years in the agricultural sector. The development is fast and from initially being used in ventilation, feeding and animal environments, the technology is now entering the animals via microchips and sensors.
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.
In the Plant Protein Factory the aim is to become a raw-material supplier of plant proteins. The first stage involves extracting proteins from plant tops, plant parts and other green plant material that is not currently used but remains in the fields after the harvest. The technology exists. The challenge is to scale up and develop the process – and make it profitable.
With a focus on innovations in the green industries and exciting transdisciplinary collaborations, VentureLab@SLU creates prerequisites for students wishing to start their own companies or develop their own businesses and ideas whilst still studying.