@scitech uppsala

Welcome to SWeden and UppSala UniverSity. Uppsala University is not only ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. It is also the home institution of eight Nobel Prize laureates.

Numerous internationally well-known brands have their roots in Sweden, for example ABB, Astra-

Zeneca, Ericsson, Electrolux, H&M, IKEA, SAAB-Scania, Skype, and Volvo. Uppsala is a hotspot for

many high-tech companies in fields such as energy, IT, and biotechnology. Almost all of them sprung

out of research carried out at the University. One crucial factor for success is the long-standing

connections between the University and industries in and around Uppsala; another is the long

tradition of basic research and training of successful team players carried out at the University.

esearch at the Faculty of Science

and Technology ranges from

curiosity-driven basic research to needs-

directed and industry-related projects.

Education and research often bring together

technology and science in innovative,

interdisciplinary campus settings.

According to multiple assessments and

international rankings of the University, the

quality of both research and education is

excellent.

R

the nobel prize Sweden is the home of the Nobel Prize. Alfred Nobel was a

Swedish inventor and businessman. Every year the new laureates visit Uppsala and hold

open lectures at the university. Uppsala University scientists have won a total of eight

Nobel Prizes and this has helped make the University known throughout the world.

Mathematics has helped me not only in my profession but also in curling. That logical thinking also applies to curling. It helps me solve problems, cope with new situations, and make decisions about how much risk I should take. It makes me a strong team player.ANETTE NorbErg, multiple Olympic gold medallist in curling and Uppsala University alumna.

JoSEPh NordgrENVice Rector and professor of soft x-ray physics

UPPSAlA UNivErSiTy: Science and technology

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QUality at all levelS. The Faculty of Science and Technology makes up about a third of Uppsala University, based

on economic and other measures. The Faculty is renowned for its work with quality at all

levels. In the quality-assurance system students play an important part; for example, in all of

the Faculty’s decision-making bodies students take an active role. Science and Technology

at Uppsala University boasts an international environment with excellent facilities; modern

labs, advanced technology, extensive library collections, and a relaxed environment.

edUcation for fUtUre challengeS.Uppsala students are in touch with the very latest research findings. At the same time they

are part of a living cultural environment that harks back many centuries. A growing array

of master programmes designed to challenge traditional boundaries between subject areas

attract students from Sweden and abroad. Most of our master and ph.D. programmes are

taught in English.

World-claSS reSearch.Research at the Faculty of Science and Technology ranges from basic research to applied

science with close connections to industry. This research encompasses biology, chemistry,

earth sciences, engineering sciences, physics, mathematics, and computer science. Areas of

strength include energy, materials science, biological diversity and evolutionary biology,

information technology, and biotechnology. Some of these areas are highlighted in the

following pages.

The facilities at Ångström and BMC laboratory bring together researchers from the university but also from large and small companies in the fields of nanoscience and bio-medical sciences. This mix creates an innovating environment which is stimulating to be a part of.

Juliaan Meijboom from the Netherlands is pursuing the Master Programme in Applied Biotechnology.

The discovery of fossil footprints from early backboned land animals in Poland leads to the sensational conclusion that our ancestors left the water at least 18 million years earlier than previously thought. ”These results force us to reconsider our whole picture of the transition from fish to land animals”, says Per Ahlberg of Uppsala University, one of the two leaders of the study.

UPPSAlA UNivErSiTy: Science and technology

Basic research Ever since the days of Carl Linnaeus and Anders Celsius, basic research has been the foundationstone of Uppsala University. The basic research carried out today at the Faculty targets almost all aspects of the natural sciences, and many groups are world leaders.

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rESEArch: energyOcean waves contain huge amounts of energy. With suitable technical solutions, wave powerwill be able to compete with today’s largest renewable source of energy, water power.

Wave power project lysekilThe purpose is to test a new concept for generating electricity from the movement of waves under realistic conditions and over an extended period. The concept is based on a system of direct-drive linear electri-city generators. The linear generator stands protected at the bottom of the sea and is driven, via a wire, by a buoy on the surface.The generators are linked together in groups via standard cables on the ocean floor.

ocean WaveS — oUr neW electricity SUpplier.Uppsala researchers have developed an entirely unique energy technology that is adapted to the slow movements of waves. Now this technology is to be deployed in the world’s first commercial wave power array.

”The future looks very bright. It’s gratifying to be able to say that our concept – which is based on simple and robust technology – actually works”, says Mats leijon, professor of electricity at Uppsala University, whose research team developed the technology.

What is special about this wave power facility is that it is driven by a so-called linear generator, to which a buoy is attached with a wire. A traditional generator converts rotation energy to electricity and needs to spin at more than a thousand revolutions per minute to be efficient, but the linear generator can produce electricity from the slow movements of the buoy as it rides the waves, up and down. The technology has been tested in an experimental facility outside of lysekil on the west coast of Sweden and then been further developed by the spin-out company Seabased, with support from several energy companies, among others.

”The system is inexpensive, extremely environmentally friendly, and can cope with the tremendous strains of the sea environment”, says Jan Sundberg, coordinator of the lysekil project.

Now the energy company Fortum wants to use the technology to expand its green electricity production with a commercial wave power array on the west coast. It will be the first wave power station in the world to supply electricity to private individuals.

”It’s calculated that Swedish wave power should be able to provide about ten percent of Sweden’s energy needs, and along the Atlantic coast the conditions are much better. If wave power was developed along the Norwegian coast, it would be able to supply all the electricity needs of all of northern Europe”, says Jan Sundberg.

Kic innoenergy Designated by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, the KIC InnoEnergy programme has developed a strategy to tackle the weaknesses of the European innovation landscape and aims to be the leading motor for innovation in the field of sustainable energy. Uppsala University is one of four main Swedish partners. With a budget of more than 600 million Euros, InnoEnergy means job opportunities, new inventions and an increase in exports.

energy research Our energy research is multi-disciplinary in perspective, including environmental and securityaspects in generating, storing and using energy. Such a holistic approach is necessary if the outcome is to be able to helpus attain sustainable development. Today’s work include experimental and theoretical programmes, from the study of theproperties of single atoms and molecules to the design of functional energy-related materials.

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Example of aggregation of the protein alpha synuclein, involved in dementia diseases, captured by an atomic force microscope.

rESEArch: materialS Science

high-tech reSearch yieldS Better UnderStanding of Severe diSeaSeS.collaboration with the biotechnology and drug industries is helping scientists at Uppsala University better understand and alleviate neurological disorders. The focus is now foremost on Alzheimer’s disease and chronic pain.

Research at Uppsala Berzelii Technology centre for Neurodiagnostics addresses neurological disorders, and a major portion of the research targets Alzheimer’s disease. The centre’s researchers are devising new types of sensitive analytical methods for use in studying proteins in detail.

“It’s advanced basic research that makes use of nanotechnology, for instance, that is of interest to participating companies. It enables them to develop methods for early diagnosis and more targeted drugs”, says Fredrik Nikolajeff, who is a researcher at Ångström laboratory and director of the centre.

Thanks to collaboration with Uppsala University Hospital, researchers also have access to samples from patients. Technological development is paired up with clinical activities, in order to more rapidly verify or reject various hypotheses.

“Our work on the evolution and anatomy of vertebrate tissues has indirect but powerful medical relevance. Insight into normal developmental processes is essential to understanding disease conditions resulting from abnormal development of these same structures”, says per Ahlberg, professor of Evolutionary Organismal Biology.

The scientists are also attempting to understand the mechanisms behind chronic pain, which is a complex and thus relatively little researched disease. A patient can have chronic pain even though an injury has healed. One possible explanation is that the brain has been set to signal pain.

“We haven’t yet found any clear patterns in protein changes, so we don’t have much to go by. But thanks to our collaboration with the pain clinic at University Hospital, we have built up a biobank that is being screened with the help of our new methods, and the hope is that we will find candidates for biomarkers in the near future”, says Fredrik Nikolajeff.

Uppsala Berzelii technology centre for neurodiagnostics is structured so that three sectors (public, academia, and industry) collaborate in a so-called triple helix fashion. Today the Centre includes eight academic research groups, representing six different departments at Uppsala University, ten industrial partners, and Uppsala University Hospital.

”Nanotechnology can impact all our daily lives because it can be used to help shape and custom design materials at the macroscopic level. This can involve construction materials, medicines, and electronics. The potential is enormous!”

Maria Strömme, professor of Nanotechnology at the Department of Engineering Sciences.

materials Science Uppsala University has Sweden’s largest concentrated environment for materials research,centring on the ultra-modern and well-equipped Ångström Laboratory. Advanced functional materials are designedhere. Prominent research fields include materials and surface layering with specific properties for electronics, IT,microsystems engineering, and space engineering.

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rESEArch: information technology

Sensors will be placed in rivers and brooks if pollution is suspected.in just ten years, Per gunningberg believes, we will be surrounded by more wireless sensors than we can imagine, probably up to a hundredper person.

WiSenet is a new research centre for Wireless Sensor Networks. It is funded by VINNOVA, Uppsala University, SICS, and industrial partners for the years 2007—2017. It is located at Uppsala University. To succeed, a multidisciplinary research approach is necessary, combining expertise in networking, operating systems, sensor devices, micro-systems, and wireless communication.

Information Technology Research. In many cases the research is at the international front line. Apart from basic research we take part in a large number of cooperative projects with various branches of learning in business and the public sector. A number of peer evaluations in the last few years identify our research as being of high quality and having significant international impact. The research has been evaluated as world class or world leading in several areas.

WireleSS SenSorS – Soon in USe nearly everyWhere?Tiny, cheap, reliable and smart wireless sensors open up unimagined potential. In the near future we will have sensors that can measure pollution in nature, monitor patients without them being in a hospital, or meter allergen levels in buildings. Just for starters...

Wireless sensor networks consisting of hundreds or perhaps thousands of tiny linked units can be rapidly deployed anywhere, as no wires are needed. But these sensors have to be sufficiently inexpensive, reliable, and invulnerable to outside attacks.

“We have several projects underway, some of them in collaboration with industry”, says per Gunningberg, professor of computer communication and director of WISENET, Uppsala Vinn Excellence centre for Wireless Sensor Networks at Uppsala University. In just ten years, he believes, we will be surrounded by more wireless sensors than we can imagine, probably up to a hundred per person. There may be sensors inside machines to monitor wear, or sensors that balance air conditioning and heating systems to minimize energy use. Sensors will also be placed in rivers and brooks if pollution is suspected.

There is also tremendous potential for health and medical care. Sensors can be operated into the body to keep constant tabs on the oxygen content of the blood. Intestinal examinations will be facilitated by tiny sensors that the patient swallows.

A growing area of research at the Faculty is natural-disaster science. In the future we might make use of sensors continually monitoring rivers, the atmosphere, and land areas. The challenge to predict, mitigate, or even prevent natural disasters requires a combined research effort including social, earth, and engineering sciences.

WISENET has started collaborations with several industrial companies that have shown an interest in the technology.

“It’s exciting to combine the short perspective of industry with the long horizon of research”Per Gunningberg, professor of computer communication and director of WISENET.

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EdUcATioN: internationalization

the World comeS together in UppSala.Swedish higher education is rapidly being internationalized. In the last ten years the number of international free-movers has multiplied dramatically. From 2011 Sweden, as other countries in Europe, is introducing tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA. In this way Sweden wishes to compete with quality and not with free education. As before, tuition is free for students from Sweden, the EU, and the EEA.

The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education has identified Uppsala University as the higher education institution that works most effectively with internationalization. The University has exchange agreements with more than 500 universities around the world.

maSter programmeS in engliSh.Today the Faculty of Science and Technology offers 12 master programmes conducted in English in everything from computational science to biology. Several of these have specialisation options. The programmes bring together students from all over the world, including Sweden. programmes starting at the basic level, that is, bachelor programmes in science and engineering, are conducted in Swedish.

SUStainaBle development.One programme that attracts students from all corners of the earth is the Master programme in Sustainable Development. The programme is interdisciplinary and is one of those receiving the most applicants. Sustainable development is a collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SlU) and with the Faculty of Social Sciences, where most of the courses are given.

“New demands from a more and more environmentally conscious market and from the government mean that industries need to change their fundamental approach and focus”, says programme Director Brita Svensson.

traditions. Uppsala University boasts a large number of ancient traditions, symbols, and festivities that have survived as a natural part of academic Uppsala today. One example is the Conferment Ceremony for those receiving Ph.D.s during the year.

Uppsala students get a high quality education and access to the very latest research findings. At the same time they areimmersed in a vibrant cultural setting that builds on several centuries of tradition.

Uppsala has tremendous breadth in its programmes, so you meet many different interesting individuals at the student clubs. I feel I’m gaining insights into a great many different fields, which I think will provide me with a stable foundation for the future.

Beatrice Orback from Stockholm is working on a master of engineering degree.

Each year, Uppsala University invites the most prominent scientists, scholars and personalities to lecture, give short courses, etc. You are welcome to listen to and learn from Nobel laureates, writers, politicians and many other guests and friends.

Beatrice orback

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edUcation for life and the fUtUre.Uppsala University has four programmes in biotechnology and bioinformatics, one master of engineering and three master of science programmes. By making use of the University’s breadth and combining different areas of strength, students gain perspectives from several different subjects. Knowledge of biology and biotechnology is combined with computational science, computer science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics. With this foundation students can work with biology and biotechnology with new perspectives. These students are known to be skilled at finding their way in new fields and breaking new ground and are therefore attractive on the job market.

The teachers are active researchers working with molecular biotechnology. Many researchers have ties to industry and research findings are applied in small or major companies. The students often take the opportunity to cut their teeth on real research and development work in the form of internships or project assignments. Thanks to the unique insights in research and the business community from the very first year, students establish contacts with future employers during their studies.

“Our alumni often come back as visiting researchers or teachers. Many have become world leaders in their research fields. The models, methods, and technologies taught here are revolutionizing biology. It’s inspiring to be part of this!” says programme Director Margareta Krabbe.

Multiple perspectives create models and methods that are revolutionizing biology.

Biotechnology in Uppsala Today Uppsala boasts a life-science industry consisting of nearly 200 companies, primarily inbiotech tools, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. The proximity of government authorities is seen in the large number of ContractResearch Organizations (CROs) that operate from Uppsala throughout the world. Some 18 % of Uppsala’s jobs are in life science.

“Since students from molecular biotechnology have broad basic knowledge, they can take on many different roles as researchers, engineers, project leaders, or programmers, for example. Another advantage is that they understand both physics and biology and can therefore work with biological applications.”

Henrik Björkman, Ph.D., Senior Project Manager, Life Sciences R&D, GE Healthcare

creating new species. We are entering a new era in biology where digitized genetic code can be assembled into synthetic genomes, creating new biological systems, processes or organisms.

EdUcATioN: Biotechnology

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In 2009 more than 20 % of Sweden’s hottest technology companies were located in Uppsala, and the majority of them grew out of research at Uppsala University and the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Intellectual property rights Many researchers start their own spin-out companies based on their own research. In Sweden, employers normally own patents and proprietary rights to whatever their employees invent or discover through research. However, an exception is made for intellectual property rights of academic staff, which means that our researchers can commercialize their research findings themselves.

hot technology UppSala. Hundreds of companies have been spun out from the University over the years – here are a few examples:

applied nano Surfaces has a revolutionary new production technique that enables various types of manufacturing companies to easily and cost effectively create durable coatings with extremely low friction.

chromogenics is a world leader in the development and manufacturing of products based on electrochromism.The unique and patented technology enables the production of plastic foils with throughputs of light that can be changed by an electrical voltage.

olink Bioscience develops enabling tools and detection technologies for the life-science research and diagnostics community.

vertical Wind develops and manufactures the next generation of vertical axis wind turbines, where the generator is direct-driven and placed at ground level. The first 200 kW wind turbine went on line and started to deliver energy to the power grid in April 2010.

nanoSpace manufactures Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) so small, light, and robust that they can be used in completely new ways, for aerospace and other applications.

dirac research is a premier R&D company specializing in high-end digital sound optimization, room correction and sound field synthesis. customers include BMW and lear corporation.

rolling optics manufactures holograms in any colour and all sizes. A hologram so flexible, it gives designers the freedom to strengthen brand identity and to make packaging stand out.

Solibro (under its new brand Q-cells) will shortly put a second production line for thin-film modules into operation and is set to have the highest cIGS solar cells production capacity worldwide.

Q-linea develops systems for detection and identification of bacteria, spores, viruses, and toxins. Single molecule detection technology enables the detection of very low amounts of agents within a short time frame.

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eBc Evolutionary biology centre. A great deal of Uppsala University research and

education in biology takes place at Ebc. The research is largely based on genetics and

targets an understanding of the evolutionary origins of the characteristics of organisms.

The Museum of Evolution and the biology library are also found here.

Ångström laboratory one of Europe’s most advanced laboratories for research

and education in mathematics, physics, and materials science. research here is on the

international cutting edge with atomic-level design of functional materials for applications

in electronics, solar cells, batteries, and sensors, for example. Also found here is energy

research with applications like wave power and vertical wind power. you can get a glimpse

of this field on page 6.

Bmc Uppsala biomedical centre. bMc houses research and education in chemistry

and molecular biology, for example. it is one of Europe’s largest centres for life sciences.

There is a strong concentration of researchers in chemistry, biology, physiology, and

various pharmaceutical disciplines, which provides unique conditions for developing new

drugs. you can get a glimpse of this field on page 14.

earth Sciences centre The Earth Sciences centre pursues research and education

in earth science subjects, including the use of natural resources, environmental risks,

natural-disaster science, climate systems, and evolution.

itc information Technology centre. The renovated regimental buildings house computer

scientists and information technologists. research and doctoral education is pursued in

everything from multidimensional problems to technological applications in automatic

control and software technology. you can get a glimpse of this field on page 10.

he activities of the Faculty of Science and Technology are gathered in five campuses

that are all situated near the centre of town.TUppSala UniverSity Sweden’s best-known university abroad Sweden’s highest-ranked full university Oldest university in the Nordic countries, established in 1477

ranKing 75 Times Higher Education – QS World University Rankings 2009 66 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities 2010.

the facUlty of Science and technology at UppSala UniverSity

Uppsala University is located in central Sweden in the city of Uppsala. It takes just 40 minutes by train to reach the capital city, Stockholm, and only 20 minutes to get to Arlanda International Airport. Uppsala has 185,000 inhabitants and is the fourth largest city in Sweden. It offers small-town charm along with a big-city selection of shops, restaurants, and things to do. You will also find unique cultural treasures and an exciting history to explore.With its 40,000 students and 5,000 employees the University dominates the city.

StaffTotal: 1,060

FinancesTurnover 2009: SEK 1,651 million

StudentsTotal full time equivalents: 5,000

(39 % women)

professors (220)

teachers and researchers (540)

administrative staff (170)

technical staff (130) faculty

funded research

(626)

externally funded research

(700)

education(325)

doctoral level (540)

master level (1,800)

bachelor level (2,660)

friends of Uppsala University

For many centuries Uppsala University has been the institution where Swedish kings, princes, and princesses have been educated. Most recently it was H. R. H. crown princess Victoria.

Japan’s emperor Akihito is an honorary member of Uppsala University. He visited Uppsala University together with Empress Michiko, King carl XVI Gustaf, and Queen Silvia during the linnaeus Tercentenary in 2007.

carl linnaeus brought renown to Uppsala, attracting both scientists and students from other countries and sending his ‘apostles’ around the world.

Anders celsius did not make the first thermometer, but in 1741 he did construct one that was superior in precision. It had a 100° degree scale, with 0° at the boiling point of water and 100° at its freezing point.

Olof Rudbeck made “the first scientific discovery by a Swede”. It was the lymphatic system and its distribution in the human body.

Entrepreneur Anders Wall is an honorary member of Uppsala University. Among other things, he has endowed a professorship in entrepreneurship and a scholarship for students at Uppsala University.

Niklas Zennström, founder of the Internet telephony company Skype, studied engineering physics and business at Uppsala University. He has also donated funding for a professorship in climate science.

edUcation The Faculty of Science and Tehnology trains masters in engineering, bachelors in engineering, and natural scientists in all fields and at all levels.

facUlty

Figures from 2009

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@scitech uppsala

UPPSALA UNIVERSITy, FACULTy OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOgy, BOx 256, S-751 05 UPPSALA, SWEDEN

CONTACT: TEKNAT@UADM.UU.SE