The project focuses on how collaboration and funding by the European Union empower groundbreaking research and development.
”During my research I got the impression that this Northern European town is closely linked to the idea of a strong, integrated EU,” says Luis Jachmann.
The documentary will feature Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) and Support Office for Life Science & Health (SOLH) as important enablers of innovation in the region. An interview with Peter Jacobsson, UBI, and Mats Falck, SOLH, delved into how the project and the incubator function as launchpads for new project initiatives, fostering collaboration and driving progress.
The Life Science Ecosystem in Umeå
Jachmann’s four-day visit captured a wide array of interviews, activities and facilities, showcasing Umeå’s dynamic Life Science Ecosystem. This included an interview with Fredrik Almqvist, director of the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), an engaging ice-skating session and interview in Tavelsjö with Emil Byström, CEO of SpinChem, and a visit at Lipum for a session with Susanne Lindquist and Pernilla Abrahamsson.
A central question for the interviews was: What is the main goal of the initiatives, and how does European funding contribute to achieving it? Jachmann also got to tour the life science facilities at Umeå University and UBI, which featured advanced laboratories, instruments, and microscopes.
“Those few days gave me a precise insight of how life science research is a key branch in Umeå. I got an idea of how emerging companies are closely linked with high-quality research that is done at Umeå University. So these strong ties between academic world and business ideas can have, and are probably going to have, a strong impact on the region’s economic and demographic effects. And by the end Europe benefits from the innovations born in Sweden’s North,” says Jachmann.
Watch a sample video
We eagerly anticipate the final documentary and look forward to seeing how Life Science Umeå is featured in a broader European narrative. Watch a short preview of the video material. The video below displays a sample from ice skating in Tavelsjö.
Text: Jenny Karlsson/Umeå University