Renewed focus on collaboration Blue Centre Gotland

In 2017, Uppsala University, Region Gotland and the County Administrative Board of Gotland jointly launched a collaborative project on marine and water-related issues. The parties have now agreed on a new agreement. The project will be established as a centre of excellence.

"I think everyone involved should be extremely proud that the university has decided to establish Blått Centrum Gotland as a centre rather than a project. Universities have reduced funds to work with, so the fact that the university has chosen to invest in and develop Blått Centrum Gotland says a lot about how important the activity is", says Jenny Helin, Vice-Chancellor at Campus Gotland.

Blått Centrum Gotland was formed in 2017 following a dialogue between Uppsala University, Region Gotland and the County Administrative Board of Gotland on the need to collaborate on Baltic Sea-related issues. The centre's activities have generated many research and development projects and networks. Gotland has been the focus, but work has also been carried out nationally and internationally. Funding has been shared between the parties, but in recent years the centre has attracted more external funding.

The collaboration is now being renewed for a three-year period (2026-2028). The decision was preceded by an investigation in the spring of 2025 and a workshop in 2024 with key figures in the marine and water sector at each organisation.

Continued focus on the sea, coast and water

Blått Centrum Gotland is being established as a collaborative centre. Organisationally, the activities will be based at the Department of Earth Sciences, within the field of science for technology and natural sciences.

The aim is to ‘strengthen and develop research, collaboration and knowledge in sustainable water management, coastal and marine environments’, ‘contribute to regional social benefits’ and ‘serve as a knowledge centre for water issues in a broad sense’. Efforts will also be made to implement Gotland's regional development strategy (RUS).

In connection with the establishment of the centre, the Faculty Board of Science and Technology has appointed Patrik Rönnbäck, Professor of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, as its new director. He succeeds Gunilla Rosenqvist, who developed and led the centre's activities from the outset in collaboration with Region Gotland and the County Administrative Board of Gotland.

In addition to the director, the centre will be governed by a board and an advisory council.

The full news article (only in Swedish): Förnyad satsning på samverkan Blått Centrum Gotland