From this week, students at Luleå Technical University are ready to make a difference as idea and business developers on real cases in the space industry. Space Innovation Summer is an initiative that offers young talents at Luleå University of Technology experience and relationship to future employers. The program is arranged by LTU Business and funded by the regional development project RIT2021.
Each year, LTU Business Summer takes place – a nine-week summer program where 20 students from Luleå University of Technology are given the opportunity to develop ideas in an area that fits their profile. Together with passionate colleagues, the students work as a full-time business developer with real cases in four areas; potential start-ups from the university’s researchers or own ideas, as well as the space and mining / mineral industries. It’s the second year running for the theme space innovation, funded by RIT2021.
Young talents getting a head start
One of the four students participating in Space Innovation Summer is Emma Axebrink, who is studying civil engineering in space engineering, with a focus on space and atmosphere. She looks forward to get the chance to work as a consultant before graduating:
I am very excited to get started and hope to gain experience that will benefit my future career, says space engineering student Emma.
– I’m interested in environmental research and my dream is to one day work with smart technologies and inventions that can help the earth to recover, ”she continues.
Experience in business development
During the nine weeks, experienced business developers coach students through the Innovation Due Diligence® method, developed by LTU Business and used to test the potential of over 300 ideas each year. At the end of the summer, they received training in pitching, doing market research, evaluating business models and markets. The students will work independently but do have a personal business coach from LTU Business to support them.
– The program is important in several ways. For the students, it is an opportunity to prepare their professional career by gaining relevant and practical experience and making contacts with potential employers. For researchers and companies who participate with a case, it provides a push for new products and business ideas while complementing their own experience with young, driven talents, says Karoline Pettersson, project manager at LTU Business.
Farid Akhtar, associate professor at Luleå University of Technology, has founded the company HIPOR Materials, which has one of the cases in the space program.
– LTU Space Innovation Summer benefits not only the students but also the companies that get the chance to have innovative thinkers and creative brains at their disposal. In addition, the program builds relationships between the students and any future employers. I look forward to a summer of exciting input and new ideas, he says.
The students participating in Space Innovation Summer are:
Oskar Havo
Emma Axebrink
Ioana Simona Rosca
Theresa Hestad