Balancing Roles – Researchers and Entrepreneurs in the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Date
- 7 November 2025, 14:00–15:30
- Location
- Humanities Theatre
- Type
- Seminar
- Web page
- https://www.uu.se/en/staff/gateway/research/innovation-support
- Organiser
- UU Innovation
- Contact person
- Mathias Blob
What is it like to move from being “just” a researcher to combining the roles of both researcher and entrepreneur? What opportunities does this open up – and what challenges follow? In this panel discussion, five researchers from the humanities and social sciences at Uppsala University share their experiences and reflections on navigating the dual role of academic and entrepreneur.
An increasing number of researchers in the humanities and social sciences are exploring ways of putting their knowledge into practice and generating societal impact in new ways. This sometimes brings with it a new role – that of entrepreneur – raising questions of responsibility, identity and balance.
How can one manage the dual roles of researcher and entrepreneur? When is it important to draw clear boundaries, and when is it precisely the interplay between the two roles that creates value? And how can we build structures that enable societal impact beyond academia while safeguarding academic integrity?
In this seminar, five researchers share their stories of moving from research to application. We will hear their different perspectives on creating societal value and together discuss both the opportunities and the dilemmas that arise.
Programme
- 13:30 – Coffee and drop-in
- 14:00–15:30 – Panel discussion and conversation
- 15:30–16:30 – Informal discussions and networking
Panel participants:
- Elin Bjarnegård, Professor, Department of Government, and founder of BLEC AB
- Katarina Blomkvist, Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Studies, and founder of Daily Innovation AB
- Nazar Akrami, Professor, Department of Psychology, and founder of Mind Intelligence Lab AB
- Karin Johansson, Doctoral Student, Department of Informatics and Media, and founder of Faktasifull AB
- John Ljungkvist, Researcher, Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation, and founder of Disir Productions AB
Registration
Please register no later than 3 November.