Dean's letter from Margareta Emanuelson

Margareta Emanuelson Senior Lecturer at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management and Vice-dean responsible for collaboration within the field of farm animals at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, SLU

Now, the process of selecting the best 10 projects has started. The application deadline has passed, and we received 30 applications, which is great. It shows that our collaboration partners are very interested.

Now, the process of selecting the best 10 projects has started. The application deadline has passed, and we received 30 applications, which is great. It shows that our collaboration partners are very interested. An external expert group made the first selection last week. On 6 December 1–4pm, a pitch event will take place where about 20 of the applying organisations have been invited to present their research ideas. The event is open to everyone and will be streamed on the web (in Swedish). More information on the externally employed doctoral student programme can be found here.

Last week, Erik Fahlbeck, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Collaboration, gathered “SLU partners” from various categories. Henrik and I were there to represent the faculty’s operations together with other partners at VH, i.e. both collaboration specialists and representatives from collaborative centres. The aim of the meeting was to discuss how SLU will continue to collaborate with society. The meeting was initiated as part of the process of reviewing SLU’s collaboration specialists. Erik’s objective is that SLU will establish new and clear collaboration activity objectives during the spring of 2018. The meeting showed that SLU has a broad range of different collaboration forms. We need to clarify the various functions, both internally and to society. It also became clear that we need to make strategic choices; we can’t be strong within every field, and there need to be mechanisms for reconsidering difficult decisions. 

In addition to all collaboration assignments, I am personally busy with a government assignment within the framework of the food strategy. This assignment was given to SLU in the autumn. We are to submit “proposals on how the spread of new knowledge and ideas relating to the agricultural and horticultural sector can be developed with existing resources”. The main focus is on production issues and other areas that include competitiveness. We must also submit proposals on how collaboration and collaboration forms between research and advisory service organisations can be developed. It is an extensive assignment, and it must be reported to the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation as early as February 2018. A project group with representatives from both SLU and other advisory organisations are now working intensely on it. I would be very grateful to receive suggestions for measures and working methods, as well as other types of input for this important assignment. Please contact me if you want more information on the assignment and who is working on it.

Working with food issues at SLU is great fun. Erik Fahlbeck’s initiative to start a group focusing on collaboration within food (SIL) is a good starting point for continued collaboration. All the faculties want to work closely together and utilise what is being done in Sweden.

Lastly, a small reminder: apply for a “samverkanscheck” (collaboration cheque) if you have a new idea you would like to try. Read more (in Swedish).