Charlotte Platzer Björkman: "We have a budget – Uppsala University Future Institutes is underway"

The budget has been approved, and the operational plan is on the drawing board. UUniFI, along with its underlying thematic research institutes, is beginning to take shape.

"AI, the green energy transition, migration, within sustainability transformations, and precision health. Even though the focus areas for the new thematic research institutes were decided a while ago, they only feel more and more relevant," says Charlotte Platzer Björkman, Vice-Rector of the Faculty of Science and Technology and Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Not the first, but different

It is not that Charlotte Platzer Björkman suggests this is the first time Uppsala University has created cross-university meeting places. On the contrary.

"We have successful examples from the past. But UUniFI is different," she says.

A major difference, according to Platzer Björkman, is the scale of the initiative and the fact that the University is now gathering several themes under one roof.

"There have been centres of excellence and other initiatives where people have worked across the University. Now we have several research themes that will work both in parallel and together. I see a strength in the fact that none of the institutes or directors has to stand alone. The directors lead their own fields, but through UUniFI, they are part of a larger whole and can benefit from each other’s working methods. That is unique in itself," she says.

The same will apply to the researchers involved in UUniFI and its underlying institutes.

"You will naturally meet research colleagues from the other institutes as well."

More to come

Another strength is that Circus—which since 2018 has developed evidence-based methods to strengthen cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary research within the Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences—is now included under the umbrella.

"It adds an extra dimension that I think will be exciting to see develop," says Charlotte Platzer Björkman.

"We will communicate how and when researchers can become part of this work."

However, she admits there is still work to be done. The plan is for operations to be fully underway by the official inauguration in October.

"During the spring, we are developing the tools the institutes will use. After that, towards the autumn, we will communicate how and when researchers can become part of this work," says Platzer Björkman.

It is something she is already receiving many questions about.

"So far, I don’t have many answers, but I promise that UUniFI will release clear information by the autumn, so that researchers with an idea know when it will find its place within the new institutes."

Researchers' ties to their departments will not change

A few details are already settled. For instance, researchers working through UUniFI will remain employed by a department and affiliated with UUniFI.

"It is at the departments that researchers have their links to teaching, for example. That is a vital bond that we do not want to change," she says.

It's six months left until the inauguration; will it all be ready on time?

"There is a lot to be done, but it feels so right that the University is making this investment right now. I believe everyone on the board is looking forward to doing the work, and we have committed directors with whom we work closely."

Soft-launches an initial call

Activities within the institutes are already soft-launching with an initial call for applications based on Circus’s previous work.

The support, provided via a financial grant, is intended to help project groups free up time to develop cross-disciplinary research ideas and, through seminars and discussions, contribute expertise in writing major cross-disciplinary research applications.