Patrik Stolt takes over from Håkan Schroeder: “The meeting between industry and academia is stimulating”

On 1 September, Patrik Stolt will take over as Operations Manager for SLU Partnership Alnarp from Håkan Schroeder. For Patrik, the new role is in many ways a homecoming.

– I’m a former SLU employee who is now back where it all started. I trained as an agricultural manager and completed my PhD at SLU in genetics and plant breeding, says Patrik.

Over the course of his career, he has worked across several parts of the knowledge and innovation system in which Partnership Alnarp operates. He has experience of both research and entrepreneurship, and has also worked on developing start-ups. For the past 20 years, he has worked in the agri-food industry.

– Over the years, I’ve actually been in contact with SLU Partnership Alnarp in several capacities, both as a partner researcher and as a partner from industry, which has been very instructive. Now I get to be part of the partnership organisation.

Patrik also has experience of international research projects within CGIAR, a global research partnership focusing on agriculture, food systems and sustainable development. Through these projects, he has been in contact with organisations such as the World Bank and the United Nations.

A common thread throughout Patrik’s career has been bringing together different stakeholders and turning ideas into reality.

– I like bringing together industry, research and students. It’s incredibly stimulating to make those connections happen.

A common thread through 40 years at SLU

As Patrik looks to the future, a long chapter is now coming to an end. During his time at SLU, Håkan Schroeder has held a range of roles in research and education. Among other things, he helped establish educational programmes such as the Landscape Engineer Programme and held senior positions at both department and faculty level. In recent years, he has been Operations Manager for SLU Partnership Alnarp.

– The common thread and driving force throughout my long time at SLU has been connecting the university with the wider world and exploring how we can make the best possible use of our fantastic university for knowledge development, education and learning, says Håkan. To achieve that, SLU Partnership Alnarp is a great asset, and it has been a great privilege to be part of it.

It is the encounters with people that Håkan highlights when looking back on his time at SLU.

– The best thing is working with engaged people who are passionate about what they do, both in academia and among our members in companies and organisations. Being part of the discussion and the development of knowledge, and seeing the results and solutions that can emerge and be put to practical use.

Being part of SLU, a unique university characterised by people driven to make a difference in society and across their sectors, has also made the work rewarding.

– Of course, it is incredibly stimulating to work on all the exciting issues we deal with and to meet dedicated researchers, students and partners. In such an environment, it is easy to both enjoy your work and feel proud to be part of SLU.

Looking ahead to Partnership 2.0

As Patrik takes over, he wants to build on what has worked well for the partnership since its inception, while also seeing significant opportunities to develop its activities further.

– I’m looking forward to continuing the things that have been successful over the past 22 years, but also to trying to develop this together with colleagues and partners. To see whether we can take the partnership to a 2.0 version.

Part of this involves encouraging industry to engage even more closely with research at Alnarp, while also creating more opportunities for research to be put to use in companies and organisations.

Patrik also sees opportunities to strengthen researchers through collaborations on issues that are important – and sometimes even existential. This can help sharpen research questions and strengthen the translation of knowledge into practice.

– I think there is a great deal of work to be done there. I’m really looking forward to it!

Another group Patrik particularly wants to highlight is the students. More specifically, he wants to explore how collaboration between students, partnership members and researchers can be developed.

– There are international models that seem to work very well. Perhaps we could adopt one of them to create this kind of stimulus? Even though we work locally and regionally, we are part of a wider world, so I would also like to explore whether we could introduce some form of international dimension to enrich the partnership.

Collaboration and greater demand

Looking ahead, Patrik wants to create more opportunities for companies, organisations, students and researchers to meet, with the long-term aim of encouraging stakeholders to seek out the partnership themselves.

– I also want to continue reaching out to stakeholders and build demand so that companies and organisations themselves recognise the value of, and seek out, what is unique about the partnership – in other words, a pull effect.

During the autumn, Patrik plans to attend as many subject group meetings as possible. Partly to get to know the organisation and understand what matters here and now, but also to capture what stakeholders are seeing and looking towards for the future.

And for anyone who wants to get to know the new Operations Manager, there is an easy way in.

– Absolutely. I’m of course available through a number of different channels. You can reach me by email or phone. Why not come by and knock on the door? Then perhaps we can have a coffee.

For Håkan, a completely different chapter now awaits after more than four decades at SLU.

What will he do next?

– I’m going to retire and be in charge of my own time. A large family guarantees that life will continue at full speed. In my role as chair of the Swedish Horticultural Association, I will remain in contact with the green sector.