"Together with the area of advance managers I hope to create a powerful environment, one that gives the right preconditions for building up strong strategic platforms linked to the scientific research being conducted at Chalmers. I also hope to strengthen cooperation with educational institutes and the business sector. It will be a challenge to use our areas of advance as a means of securing an international profile, helping Chalmers to stand out from the crowd."

What is most exciting about the job?
"It is a privilege to work with so many excellent scientists and to have the chance to join forces to formulate the new concepts that will lead our areas of advance ahead. It will also be interesting to work with development of Chalmers in the new executive management group."

Chalmers´ description of its areas of advance is good and is worth repeating:
"The areas of advance are responsible for the subject-overriding integration of Chalmers´ research, education and innovation within the eight theme areas defined as Chalmers´ areas of advance. The driving forces behind this development are Sustainable Development and Innovation & Entrepreneurial Spirit, which must characterize all operations. All work also relies on and obtains its results and inspiration from the fundamental sciences.

Within the selected areas of advance, the aim in conjunction with other players is for:
Chalmers to coordinate, gather together and spotlight as well as communicate its operations; Chalmers to further develop and integrate its leading research, education and innovation so as to achieve the desired results in society;
Chalmers to work so that new cross-border meeting-places are created both within Chalmers and with the world outside;
Chalmers to expand its resources both through increased inflow of funding and through interlinking of existing operations — those within Chalmers and also those with operations outside Chalmers, such as other educational institutes, research institutes and the business sector.

What is the biggest advantage of these areas of advance?
"Coordination of our areas of advance can lead to new contact interfaces between researchers, the business sector and, not least, students and academia. If we succeed, our areas of advance will become strong both as a result of coordinated research within each area and also because of the synergies and exchange of experience between the areas. This will make possible new opportunities for exchange and resource enhancement in the national and international arenas."

What is your foremost strength?
"Others will be better able to answer that question, but my dedication and ability to think strategically have always been a significant strength in previous contexts. When I do something, I am generally firmly focused, and this applies both to work and to recreation. I´m also good at picking out patterns in complex structures," Hermansson concludes

Source/read more: Chalmers newsletter