Frida Henningson Johnson joins the team at UU Innovation

2022-04-11

Frida Henningson Johnson is a new business advisor at UU Innovation. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.

Research, innovation and communication are close to her heart. Frida Henningson Johnson has now switched back to academia after several years in the business world, joining the UU Innovation team as a new business advisor on 1 April 2022.

“I hope to meet the researchers in a good place,” says Frida about her new role as business advisor with a focus on life sciences.

What she is alluding to is the combination of her experiences from both the research world and the business sector, which has given her an understanding of the conditions in these two different worlds. Another strength is her breadth in life sciences, which spans areas such as biochemistry, molecular genetics, immunology and medical technology.

Frida did her undergraduate and doctoral studies at SLU, after which she continued her research career in immunology and genetics at Uppsala University. After 13 years, she put research and teaching on the shelf, trained as a science journalist, and then spent several years working in project management and strategic and operative communication at places such as the former Uppsala BIO (now STUNS Life Science), both as a freelancer and at an agency. Frida worked most recently at the Uppsala-based company Mercodia, where, she was able to combine her knowledge of research, innovation, communication and business development as product manager and marketing manager.

A good mix of skills and experience for a business advisor at a university as well?

“Yes, obviously,” says Frida happily and continues:

“'I’m really happy to be back at Uppsala University, to be close to research again, and I’m really looking forward to getting involved in different research projects to see how we can help make new smart solutions a reality. Putting research to use is very close to my heart,” she says.

And speaking of utilisation, there is one thing in particular that Frida highlights as important. That is not equating utilisation with entrepreneurship.

“It is not our job to turn researchers into entrepreneurs, and a researcher does not have to be an entrepreneur in order to utilise their results. There are many ways to turn knowledge and results into useful solutions. So, if you are a researcher who is the least bit interested in how to do this, come and talk to us. We will help you determine the conditions specific to your idea.”