NEWS Umeå has long been identified as a key actor within life science innovation and will soon be highlighted in an exciting new documentary project. Journalist and documentary filmmaker Luis Jachmann visited North Sweden to document Umeå's role as a life science hub. This marked one holding point in the year-long documentary project, which aims to explore innovative initiatives across Europe and their connection to an integrated European continent.
Video interview with Mats Falck, SOLH and Peter Jacobsson, UBI for the documentary
Image Jenny KarlssonThe project focuses on how collaboration and funding by the European Union empower groundbreaking research and development.
”During my research I got the impression that this Northern European town is closely linked to the idea of a strong, integrated EU,” says Luis Jachmann.
The documentary will feature Support Office for Life Science & Health (SOLH) and Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI) as important enablers of innovation in the region. An interview with Mats Falck, SOLH and Peter Jacobsson, UBI delved into how the project and the incubator function as launchpads for new project initiatives, fostering collaboration and driving progress.
Jachmann’s four-day visit captured a wide array of interviews, activities and facilities, showcasing Umeå’s dynamic Life Science Ecosystem. This included an interview with Fredrik Almqvist, director of the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), an engaging ice-skating session and interview in Tavelsjö with Emil Byström, CEO of SpinChem, and a visit at Lipum for a session with Susanne Lindquist and Pernilla Abrahamsson. A central question for the interviews was: What is the main goal of the initiatives, and how does European funding contribute to achieving it? Jachmann also got to tour the life science facilities at Umeå University and UBI, which featured advanced laboratories, instruments, and microscopes.
“Those few days gave me a precise insight of how life science research is a key branch in Umeå. I got an idea of how emerging companies are closely linked with high-quality research that is done at Umeå university. So these strong ties between academic world and business ideas can have, and are probably going to have, a strong impact on economic and demographic effects for the whole region. And by the end Europe benefits from the innovations that are born in Sweden's North,” says Jachmann.
We eagerly anticipate the final documentary and look forward to seeing how Life Science Umeå is featured as part of a broader European narrative. Watch a short preview of the video material, the video below displays a sample from the ice skating in Tavelsjö.
Video by Luis Jachmann