Meet the Grants Office: Christer

Hej Christer! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hej! I was born and raised in Malmö, but have spent a lot of time in France, where I have family, and also in Chile, the US and Canada. This international experience has proved helpful in my career, especially when it comes to navigating large European projects.

My background is in the tourism sector, with international projects and service management as important parts. But I started what I like to call my “new working life” about 26 years ago. I realised that there was a need for specialised project management and coordination for EU projects. That led me to start my own company, CB EuropaConsult, before I came to work at SLU.

Since 2002, I have been involved in a variety of European programmes, including the Framework Programmes and their successors Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, Interreg, and LIFE. Over the years, I have worn many different hats. This has allowed me to build a diverse skillset: I’ve acted as a financial advisor, administrative coordinator, and project manager. I also spent a year working for the European Commission to monitor and follow up on Life projects - which was really interesting, and involved a lot of travel. I have also built up a broad international network. All of these experiences are fundamental to the work I do at SLU.

What does your role as a Research Advisor at SLU include?

My role has evolved over the years I’ve been at the Grants Office. In the beginning, I worked a lot with applications as with well as coordination. Not to mention financial administration – I developed processes and templates for budget and audit efficiency and quality. I’ve been involved with SLU’s financial network, and creating connections between different parts of Sweden.

These days, I mainly work with the coordination of large EU projects with international partners. Right now, I am involved in project managing three different projects - Resdinet, EcoReFibre and CEForestry - all in different research areas. I also recently project managed NEXTFOOD, with 21 international partners, which I felt was a positive: Europe is, in some senses, rather small, and we need a global approach to solve global problems.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Project management is fulfilling – I feel that it allows both me and the researchers I work with to develop our different skill sets. Initial project meetings, or kick-offs, are another important and enjoyable aspect of my work. You learn valuable information that can be useful later in the project, and you get to know the people involved. When you work with a diverse group from all over the world, you soon learn that true cooperation involves both words and actions.

Do you have a favourite success story from your time in the Grants Office?

It’s difficult to choose just one! It’s always nice to receive positive feedback from the European Commission on the management of a project. I am proud of my part in creating a network of universities in Chile and Sweden. This resulted in the Universidad de Chile joining a large Horizon project I was involved with.

What is your best piece of advice for people running projects?

Active project management is fundamental to project success. It allows researchers to focus more on research and actively participate in impact and implementation. It is more efficient to let the project manager handle the practical running of things because they can draw on a wealth of financial and administrative experience. Ideally, there will be cooperation between the coordinator, the project manager, and the researchers. Multi-partner EU projects are a brilliant way for researchers to build a bigger and better international research network, which benefits everyone involved and SLU.

Finally, what is life like for you outside of work?

I enjoy playing sports in my spare time. I played soccer for many years and still enjoy a game of tennis or a round of golf. You can sometimes find me networking with some of my SLU colleagues on the golf course - it’s a great way to connect!