Unique educational program will secure the competence level in the paper and pulp industry

RISE and KTH is launching an extensive learning program in the wet end chemistry area. The program will run for five years with the main purpose to sharpen the field knowledge within entire organizations within the paper and pulp industry. Pia W?gberg is the project leader that’s been working with the concept together with a team from KTH and RISE.

Over the past years a knowledge gap has become evident in the paper and pulp industry. Competent coworkers with deep knowledge of wet end chemistry are retiring, and companies have difficulties finding people with the right competence to replace them.

Pia W?gberg, Director of Research and Business development, and her manager Magnus Larsson are both working in the department of Pulp, Paper and Packaging at RISE. About a year ago they wanted to find a way to boost RISE’s competence within wet end chemistry and came up with the idea of a collaboration with the department of Fibre and Polymer Technology at Kungliga Tekniska H?gskolan (KTH). At that department Lars W?gberg is working as a professor in Fibre Technology and expert in Paper Chemistry. He was enthused by the idea of working together with RISE.

??“I thought it was an excellent idea that would strengthen the relationships between KTH, RISE and the industry,” says Lars W?gberg.

An educational platform for wet end chemistry

?RISE and KTH soon identified the knowledge gap that the paper and pulp industry was facing and saw that by creating an advanced educational platform for wet end chemistry, they could bring value not only to their own organizations but to the entire industry.

“We saw that options for deeper education within the field was missing and wanted to offer a program that would not only develop the skills of individuals but of entire organizations.” Pia says.

?Start in April

?The result of RISE’s and KTH’s work is the BioFunChem-program that starts in April and continues for five years. It addresses suppliers and producers within the European forestry, paper and pulp industry. Thus far five companies have enrolled but Pia hopes more will see the benefits and join.

?Important parts of the setup are online learning at three different levels, research on green chemicals and processes, and networking possibilities. In addition to the base courses, the program includes a master level and two positions for post doctoral research. One post doc will be hired after summer to start the first research project.

Possibility to work hands-on at RISE’s pilot facilities

?One of RISE’s main offers is providing infrastructure for advanced testing and demonstration within a wide range of research areas. These pilot facilities will be available to use for program participants.

???“The theoretical parts will take place online, but for those who want to, there will once a year be a chance to visit RISE onsite and work hands on at our testbeds.” Pia says. ?

?“The program ensures that knowledge is implemented within the entire organization”

?Pia is convinced that the program will help raising the knowledge level within the industry.

???“The longevity of the program makes it possible for organizations to continuously offer as many employees as they like, to enroll. It ensures that the knowledge is implemented within the entire organization and will stay there independently of individuals quitting.”

?What happens after the five years are completed?

???“That depends on the remaining interest in the industry. We hope that the program will generate further research areas together with the industry. If the results are good there might be other research fields where RISE and KTH can implement similar developing programs.” Pia hopes.

?Lars W?gberg is also very happy about working with the program:

? “For me personally, this project has meant the opportunity to restart my research activities as well as my own brain in this field. I think it’s an excellent example of combining academic research at the university with a tight co-operation with academics at RISE and in the industry.” he says and Pia agrees:

??“RISE and KTH both want to contribute to lifelong learning and this is a great way of doing that.”

Contact

Would you and your organization like to participate in the program? Contact project leader Pia W?gberg .

About the BioFunChem Program

The BioFunChem program is a collaboration between RISE and KTH and offers extensive training within the field of wet end chemistry to employees of participating organizations. It stretches over five years and the lectures and learning material will be available online.

The program consists of three levels; the engineering level, the master level and the research level.

?In addition to the online learning there will once a year be an opportunity for participants to work hands-on at RISE’s sites for test- and demonstration. The program will also arrange yearly physical meetings for networking and sharing knowledge and experience between organizations. Since all lectures and learning materials will be available online anyone can join the program at any time.

??The program is financed solely through money from the participating organizations.