Joint commitment to strengthen Scania-KTH partnership

KTH, Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology, and Scania are strengthening their long-standing partnership through an extension of the current agreement.

“KTH and Scania have constantly challenged one another since the first agreement was signed in 2011. This partnership is one of our strongest, and we aim to sustain and develop it in the years to come,” says Henrik Henriksson, President and CEO, Scania.

KTH President Sigbritt Karlsson is of the same opinion: “By further strengthening our collaboration with Scania, together we take another very important step toward creating impact and having an important role in the societal development.”

KTH plays a pivotal role in academically helping Scania prepare for the future, with increasing needs in areas such as connectivity, electrification and digitalisation. By involving PhD-students, not only in technology but also humanities, Scania is gaining a deeper understanding of coming developments. “KTH adds depth to our various activities and helps strengthen employee knowledge and skills. One example is the e-learning course on e-mobility that we have developed together,”says Henriksson.

Act on future challenges

Scania is also examining additional investments at KTH in Södertälje, Scania’s head office and manufacturing centre, to increase the local competence even further. Something that KTH President Sigbritt Karlsson welcomes: “We need to follow and act on the challenges and needs that Scania identifies to keep on developing great assets for the industry.”

Both KTH and Scania agree that more female students are needed in the transport industry. Their numbers have increased at KTH over the years, and today one-third are women. “This is something we have achieved through dedicated and strong efforts over a very long time,” says Karlsson. For Scania, Henriksson says that it is essential to have a long-term perspective. “We can’t wait until students select higher education programmes. Interest in technology needs to be kindled at a much earlier age.”

A relationship based on innovation

To fulfil future needs, Scania and KTH have found a great working model. This relationship is based on innovation, with the aim to ensure that relevant competence for Scania is available. “It’s about identifying and finding innovative solutions on future challenges,” Henriksson concludes. In an ever-changing world, collaboration based on a continuous dialogue is necessary. “We mutually respect one another. We are not placing an order for what we need, rather both parties constantly contribute to this partnership.”