Leadership change in the Compel battery initiative
Daniel Brandell and Kristina Edström, Ångström Advanced Battery Center. Photo: Tobias Sterner.
Sweden has world-class battery research. In Uppsala, Daniel Brandell is now stepping forward as the new coordinator for Uppsala University's part of Compel, a government assignment and collaboration project in which Kristina Edström has played a significant role.
Daniel Brandell. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
Kristina Edström. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
Within Compel, Uppsala University, Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology are collaborating with Swedish industry on research and education in battery technology and the battery value chain, in order to provide expertise for the green transition of the transport sector.
– Compel is based on a major societal need. Kristina was the perfect person to represent a responsive academic community and collaborate with both decision-makers and industry, while also guaranteeing research excellence, says Daniel Brandell, professor at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström.
Daniel Brandell believes that Kristina Edström's international platform created a sense of security among both the government and industry representatives. Also within academia, Kristina is perceived as so confident in her own research and research leadership that it was easy to get other universities on board during the start-up phase. Now KTH and Luleå are also joining the Compel collaboration.
– The most important thing in my new role is to ensure that we have good collaboration across university boundaries. Kristina often says that it is extremely important for us at Uppsala University that Chalmers’ battery research, for example, is successful. This mentality has also applied within Compel. We can't do everything ourselves, but the best way to achieve the highest possible quality is to have good neighbours, Daniel continues.
Until this year, Kristina Edström was also the leader of the European battery collaboration Battery 2030+, a responsibility that was taken over on 1 March by professor Patrik Johansson – formerly at Chalmers but now at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström in Uppsala.
– Kristina has a knack for connecting with people at all levels, from the Japanese emperor to new students, and seems totally at ease doing it. The respect she has earned from both reshaping Swedish battery research and taking the lead on the European stage is unique. This has had a ripple effect that we can see today in practice in, for example, Compel, which everyone in the Swedish battery sector sees as a great opportunity to really make a difference, says Patrik Johansson.
Both Daniel Brandell and Patrik Johansson emphasise the importance of Sweden having a long-term education and research initiative that can match developments in an emerging European battery industry. More countries need to become more self-sufficient in strategically important products such as batteries.
– At Compel, I want to bring Kristina’s reliability and transparency in decision-making with me. I also hope that I can come close to her ability to highlight what others do well. When I got my first research grant approved, Kristina was happier than I was. I think that kind of generosity is significant for good research leadership, says Daniel Brandell.
Each university within Compel has its own coordinator who represents its own activities. The new UU coordinator wants to highlight all the strengths within Uppsala University, so that research drive and interest in battery-related issues have the opportunity to flourish.
– If there’s one thing I’ve inherited from Kristina, it’s that it’s much more fun to say yes to far too many requests. That has been the absolute strength of this research environment. Even though there is a downside to it, it’s something I’m very much looking forward to repeating, concludes Daniel.