Umeå-based company donates 100 million SEK to Umeå University
NEWS
The owner of Balticgruppen (The Baltic Group), a real estate company based in Umeå, has donated 100 million Swedish crowns (approx. € 10.5 million) to Umeå University. The donation has not been designated to any specific scientific domain but has been targeted towards research and education in general. The donation is one of the largest ever received by Umeå University.
"I am incredibly happy about this donation," says Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. "It is an unconditional support to research and education at Umeå University."
"This is especially rare since donations are typically targeted towards specific purposes. To the best of my knowledge this is one of the largest undconditional donations ever given to a Swedish university," says Göran Sandberg.
Balticgruppen’s real estate ownership totals approximately 250,000 m² ond mainly consists of commercial properties, properties for Umeå University and residential properties including "comfort living for older-aged Umeå residents" currently under construction. In addition, Balticgruppen supports several of Umeå’s leading cultural institutions such as Norrlands Opera, the Sámi culture through an annual Sámi Week, culinary arts education at Umeå University and the Sculpture Park in the Umedalen neighbourhood of Umeå. The company also gives significant contributions to diabetes research and cardiovascular diseases research.
"We have been successful in our operations and it is something we are both pleased and thankful about," said Krister Olsson, founder and principal owner of Balticgruppen. "We have therefore decided to give a part of the company’s profits back to the community. Umeå University has captured a strong standing in the world within many core areas and we realise that the future of Umeå and Umeå University is within the global arena," continues Krister Olsson.
"I am particularly pleased about the donators’ reasoning that what’s good for Umeå University is good for Umeå and for the industry of Umeå," said Göran Sandberg. "We hope that the donation by Balticgruppen is the first of several contributions from regional business actors that can provide us with the opportunity to develop international research environments that contribute to regional growth in the future," continues an elated Sandberg.
Contact Person: Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University Phone: +46(0)90 786 53 50 Mobile: +46(0)70 318 12 75
