The UU Innovation team grows stronger

2022-09-15

Mathias Blob graduated as a Master of Divinity from Lund University and went on to become an
investor in innovation in Uppsala. He is taking on the role of business advisor at UU Innovation.
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.

Hello, Mathias Blob! As of 1 September 2022, you are a business advisor at UU Innovation.

What will you be working on?
“It’s all about helping students, researchers and other members of staff to go from an idea or research result to a useful and sustainable solution to a genuine need, such as a new product, service or method. My particular focus will be on supporting innovative developments from the humanities and social sciences.”

In your opinion, what makes you the right person for this role?
“Naturally, relevant experience and networks are a factor but, in my opinion, my greatest asset is my ability to see opportunities in meetings with ideas and their bearers. Aside from a strong interest in packaging ideas, I find it fairly easy to complete the jigsaw that takes an idea out of someone’s head and turns it into a solution to someone else’s real problem.”

What can you tell us about your background and previous positions?
“I’ve spent my working life in a number of different sectors and areas and I’ve always been drawn to the borderlands between the university and surrounding community. For the last five years, I’ve been working as a consultant and investor in exactly this exciting landscape. I’ve had privilege of working in several new spin-off companies from Uppsala University, via both my own company and the investment company Karolina Ventures, which I cofounded.”

“But I’m also familiar with academia from the inside in a number of ways. I was a research assistant at the University of Copenhagen for four years in the early 2000s, where I was involved in extensive health studies and action research concerning the situation of newly arrived migrants. From 2011 to 2017, I worked as a business developer at the Division for Contract Education at Uppsala University. In between, I worked on inquiries and evaluations in the welfare sector, both as an employee and for my own company.”

What are you most looking forward to?
“Loads of things, not least meeting people with exciting ideas and research. And not having to say no! That was one of the worst aspects of being an investor. Here, I can help to see the opportunities and act as a coach, and it will be great to gain that perspective. I am also curious to see what the new investment in a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) will mean for the University and society at large. Generally speaking, there are many gains to be made for both the individual, Sweden and the world by ensuring that more research is put to use.”

Text: Sara Gredemark

ASK UU INNOVATION TO HELP YOU TEST YOUR IDEA!

Do you have an idea or a new research result that you believe might be useful to others? Would you like help to explore the potential? If so, please get in touch with UU Innovation! Support is free of charge and open to all students, researchers and other staff employed by the University.

Please contact Mathias Blob or email UU Innovation.

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Last modified: 2023-05-12