Awarded for contributions to Swedish business history
Mats Larsson. Photo: Private.
Mats Larsson, emeritus professor at the Department of Economic History, receives the 2024 Business History Award.
‘Very few people in the country have done more for business history as a field of research than Mats Larsson’ according to Lennart Francke, jury chair for the Business History Award, as stated on the website of the Centre for Business History in Stockholm.
“Of course, I’m both glad and honoured. It’s acknowledgement that I’ve contributed to developing the research in this field, which is important for the future too,” says Mats Larsson.
The motivation for the award states that Mats Larsson ‘in his role as head of research has guided and created a solid foundation for new generations of economic historians’.
“Over the years, many excellent theses have been published in the field of business history, which is always something to be glad for. It is also gratifying that so many of my doctoral students have chosen to remain in academia and make it their career,” says Mats Larsson.
Initiated the Uppsala Centre for Business History
On Mats Larsson’s initiative, the Uppsala Centre for Business History was established in 2008 as an interdisciplinary node for business history research in Sweden.
“Much of my research has been done on behalf of or in collaboration with various companies. It’s been inspiring and I’ve learned a lot from those collaborations. It’s also an important part of the University’s third stream activities. Another positive effect of the establishment of the Uppsala Centre for Business History has been that, as a group, we have had greater impact internationally. Our Business History research group is currently one of the biggest in Europe,” he says.
The award will be presented on 6 November at Operaterassen in Stockholm, in conjunction with the Centre for Business History in Stockholm – which initiated the Business History Award – celebrating its 50th anniversary. The award sum is SEK 100,000.
How do you plan to use the award money?
“Some of it will be used to finance expenses related to my research, but I also hope to be able to use the money to visit industrial environments that I’ve not yet had the chance to see. There are several industrial areas along the coast of Norrland for example that would be exciting to visit,” he concludes.
Johan Ahlenius
Fakta
From the motivation for the award
Mats Larsson is receiving the award for the achievement in his long academic career in economic history and business history. For decades – in monographs, textbooks, journal articles and biographies covering industries, companies and business executives – he has shown students, researchers and the general public how companies contribute to societal development.
Particular weight was given to his research, teaching and writing in Swedish financial history. On his initiative, the Uppsala Centre for Business History was established in 2008 as an interdisciplinary node for business history research in Sweden.
In his role as head of research, Mats has supervised an impressive number of doctoral students. His extensive production shows how an academic with a pedagogical mindset can make historical processes accessible to a wider readership.
About the award
The Business History Award is given by the Centre for Business History to a person, group or company who have made significant contributions to highlighting Swedish business history, thereby demonstrating the contribution of Swedish companies to societal development.