SRA workshop series: Finding opportunities for solving real world problems

The Sustainability Development Goals (SDG's) will increasingly influence funding agency activities, and need to be considered now, by everyone, regardless of the focus of research. How should we formulate research projects and navigate grant calls in the context of the SDG´s? How do we develop transdisciplinary collaborations within and outside academia and create innovative solutions, as opposed to feeling restricted by policy? 

Invited speakers will share their vision and experiences of funding agency and innovation trends and how to establish partnerships and collaborations. The workshop will also include case studies of ongoing projects within the SRA´s, as well as two interactive breakout sessions.

Update 18/10: Registration for in-person participation is now closed. There is possibility to participate via Zoom.

Please sign up here for live streaming of the talks and discussions. - lu-se.zoom.us

Please note that there is limited seating should this event go ahead in person. Priority given to persons belonging to SRA´s. If you need to cancel your participation, please inform Claire [dot] McKay [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se as soon as possible so that another participant can take your place. Thank you!

Preliminary program

9.00 Welcome!

Claire McKay, Research Coordinator, StemTherapy

9.10 Introductory discussion

How to formulate projects for achieving the 2030 Agenda whilst strengthening your research, preparation for grant applications, collaborations and innovation. 

• Murat Samanci, Innovation Specialist, United Nations Office for Project Services
• Martina Kvist Reimer, Executive Vice President of Red Glead Discovery
• Sophie Hydén Picasso, Business Developer, LU Innovation
• Maria Johansson, Project leader, LU Collaboration Office (Samverkan)

9.25 Keynote speaker

The SDG´s as an accelerator for innovation, Max Parknäs, Vinnova. 

9.55 Case studies of SDG projects within the SRA´s

• Green tissue processing for preclinical and clinical histology and immunohistrochemistry, Iran Augusto Silva, PhD student (Wagner group), Lund Stem Cell Center & StemTherapy.
• On the road to life satisfaction in persons with PD: How rehabilitation can ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, Lina Rosengren, PhD student (Lexell group), MultiPark.
• Conducting an interdisciplinary research project: Fighting Insurgency Ruining Environment (FIRE), Pinar Dinc, Researcher, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science and Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies & MECW.

10.30 Break & Coffee

10.45 Interactive breakout sessions

10.45 Breakout session 1: Collaboration and partnerships

11.20 Breakout session 2: Innovation

Both breakout sessions will be in small groups in breakout rooms, chaired by:

• Murat Samanci, Innovation Specialist, United Nations Office for Project Services
• Martina Kvist Reimer, Vice President of Red Glead Discovery
• Sophie Hydén Picasso, Business Developer, LU Innovation
• Max Parknäs, Sustainability Coordinator, Vinnova

11.55 Plenary session

Discussion on breakout outcomes led by invited speakers and chairs. 

12.25 Concluding remarks

12.30 Mingle & Lunch

Lunch will be provided if the workshop takes place in-person.

13.00 End

Target audience

Open to all at LU. Priority given to researchers within SRAs: Principal Investigators, Postdocs, PhD students, Researchers and Engineers, Grant Managers, Coordinators and Administrators.

Goals

• To inspire PI´s and the next generation of young scientists to approach their research with the importance of the SDG´s in mind.
• To offer up to date information on developments in research agendas and raise awareness of sustainability requirements in funding applications.
• To support the formation of collaboration and innovation oriented towards the SDG´s within research proposals.
• To network between SRA´s.
• To strengthen sustainability knowledge, innovation capacity and transdisciplinary potential.

Outcomes

A handout of the main take home messages from the plenary session will be sent to all participants after the workshop in the form of:

• Match-making toolbox: How to find internal and external collaborators, stake-holders, how to tailor one’s research projects to grant calls in the context of sustainability.
• Collaboration check-list: Building partnerships, establishing trust, teamwork and maintaining individuality.
• Innovation check-list: Using current resources innovatively, how innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand, how to make impact and measure it.

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Read about the workshop at stemcellcenter.lu.se

The workshop is arranged in collaboration with the Strategic Research Areas StemTherapy, MultiPark and MECW.

StemTherapy - stemcellcenter.se
MultiPark - multipark.lu.se
MECW - cmes.lu.se

Aim of the workshop series

As the climate and other planetary crises escalate, there is a need to develop the SRA’s to better meet the societal challenges and to find solutions to achieve a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable development worldwide. 

The aim of the workshops is to develop work processes of common interest, exchange experiences and strengthen sustainability collaboration between research areas, as well as to create a broader reflection on sustainability issues at Lund university and in society. The sustainable development goals can in this context function as a common language connecting academic activities with policy goals. 

Workshops will mainly target researchers, doctoral students and research coordinators/administrators from the Strategic Research Areas, but the workshops will be open to all staff within Lund University. 

Read more about the previous workshops at sustainability.lu.se