engineering, AUTOSAR - Automotive Industries

An aerial view of a model of the Chalmers University complex.
The Johanneberg Science Park works closely with the
Lindholmen Science Park and Sahlgrenska Science Park and
hopes to also cooperate with technology parks in Borås, Skövde
and Trollhättan. The focus of the latest science park is firmly on
creating new jobs. “In the first stage, from now until 2014, the
goal is to create 1,500 new jobs in trade and industry. Over the
long term, these figures will rise to 5,000-10,000. Lindholmen
had a goal of ten thousand jobs and they’re already almost there,
despite the recession,“ says Bergh.
Automotive Industries (AI) asked Bergh to tell us why
Johanneberg Science Park focuses on the development
of urban environments, materials science and energy
technology, transportation and communication issues?
bergh: We will primarily focus on these areas because they
are defined, on a national level, as strategic development
areas and also in alignment with the subjects that Chalmers
University of Technology has chosen as profile areas at
Campus Johanneberg.
AI: How many companies have set up shop in the one
year since the Johanneberg Science Park opened?
bergh: Today about 700 people in about 80 high-tech
companies are working in the science park.
AI: How many automotive companies do you have in the
science park?
bergh: Volvo Technology AB, Powercell and Chalmers
Industriteknik.
AI: What makes the Johanneberg Science Park a good
location for automotive companies?
bergh: From a technical point of view, it is the proximity to
the combination of advanced automotive and energy research
and education and it’s connection to hybrid technology. We
also put future transportation solutions in the context of
urban development.
AI: Tell us about the kind of work that has or will be done
in the fields of electric vehicles and hybrid technologies in
the Johanneberg Science Park.
bergh: Together with Lindholmen Science Park, we have
opportunities for developing future transport concepts and
demonstrators. We will work closely with industry to develop
suitable technologies for community development. To implement
electrified vehicles in society, we need to go through the hybrid
phase in order to deploy these technologies in a reasonable
timeframe.
AI: Quite a few automotive companies have set up
operations in the Lindholmen Science Park – what edge
does Johanneberg Science Park have over Lindholmen?
bergh: Johanneberg Science Park will put the vehicle
technologies developed at Lindholmen Science Park into a
broader context in the sense of community development. We will
also address technology issues not yet covered by the activities
at Lindholmen Science Park. Johanneberg Science Park is also
located more or less at the heart of Chalmers, meaning a closer
connection to substantial science and technology research within
energy and community development.
AI: Tell us about the relationship between your park and
the engineering and science institutes/universities in the
region – how do you hope to see these relationships evolve?
bergh: We have well established and close relations with
universities and research institutes in the region. To be a driving
force in efforts to establish cooperation between society, industry
and academia, it is essential to continually work together and
participate in activities with universities and institutes. We also
aim at creating close relations with science and technology parks
abroad since the opportunities to implement new technologies
on various markets are quite different and we need to have local
market knowledge. AI
Automotive Industries 37