1 June 2022

Catarina Sahlberg appointed new programme director for Big Science Sweden

Catarina Sahlberg, currently research advisor at Uppsala University, will take up the position of programme director at Big Science Sweden in mid-August 2022. Anna Hall, who has held this position since the organisation was set up, is moving to a new challenge at Alfa Laval, working with international sustainability.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Catarina to Big Science Sweden. She’s joining an organisation that, under Anna Hall’s leadership, has become firmly established as a key actor in the Big Science ecosystem,” says Kjell Möller, Chairman of the Board, Big Science Sweden.

“We’re convinced that Catarina is the right person to take over the controls and continue the journey, by strengthening collaboration between Swedish actors and the research organisations and by promoting Swedish industry, enabling our companies to win more contracts.

“At the same time, the board wishes to thank Anna, now leaving for new challenges after five years. Her endless commitment and drive have played a major part in Big Science Sweden’s remarkable progress, and we wish her every success in the future.”

Catarina Sahlberg has an MSc from Uppsala University and a PhD in Physics from the University of Otago, New Zealand. As research secretary at the Swedish Research Council, Catarina worked for six years with funding of large-scale research infrastructure in astronomy and sub-atomic physics, both in Sweden and internationally.

She moves to Big Science Sweden from her position as research advisor at Uppsala University. She worked closely with the university management, mainly on strategic matters concerning external funding, including large-scale research infrastructures.

“This is an incredibly exciting and important position, and I’m looking forward to contributing my experience to the Big Science Sweden team. Swedish industry and research are at the forefront of technology. I will be continuing the work to increase opportunities for collaboration on technological development and research and to strengthen the national Big Science infrastructure, with the Malmö/Lund region as the engine,” says Catarina Sahlberg.

For more information, please contact:

Kjell Möller, Chairman of the Board, Big Science Sweden.
+46 70-514 81 32, kjell.moller@kminternational.se

Catarina Sahlberg
+46 729 99 92 91, catarina.sahlberg@uu.se

We are Sweden’s Industrial Liaison Office (ILO), forming the link between Swedish industry, academia, research institutes and Big Science research organisations in which Sweden is a member state. Our mission is to support Sweden’s engagement in Big Science. We focus on high-tech contributions that drive innovation, and we promote collaboration and generate business opportunities for Sweden.

Big Science Sweden is led by a consortium comprising the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries (Teknikföretagen), the industrial development centre Industrikluster IUC Syd, Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, Luleå University of Technology, Uppsala University, RISE, and Region Skåne.

Big Science Sweden is funded by Vinnova (Sweden’s Innovation Agency) and The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet).