Wide range of expertise and experience on the new Mistra SafeChem board

With the second phase of the Mistra SafeChem, the programme board has gained some new members. But the experience remains, not least in the form of the chair.

The chairman from the start, Krister Holmberg, Professor Emeritus at Chalmers with previous experience in industry and institute research, continues in his role. His research has covered surfactant chemistry, reactions in microheterogeneous media, encapsulation technology, nanomaterials and biotechnological surface chemistry.

Helen Håkansson, Professor Emerita at Karolinska Institutet, is a new member. Her expertise in regulatory toxicology focuses on risk and safety assessment sciences connected to chemicals, which challenge the endocrine and metabolic systems. She has coordinated European research and research training projects and has served on international chemicals safety assessment panels.

Nils Hannerz, Director of Industrial Policy at the industry organisation IKEM (Innovation and Chemical Industries in Sweden), joined the board in 2024. One of his goals is to change the investment opportunities for the chemical industry in Sweden, especially when it comes to using renewable and recycled raw materials.

Anna Wiberg, Chief Executive Officer at Celluxtreme, has been a board member since the start of Mistra SafeChem and is a former programme director for the strategic innovation programme Bioinnovation. Celluxtreme is a start-up working on high-performance nanocellulose reinforcement fibres, developed together with KTH, RISE and the Wallenberg Wood Science Center.

Jan Svärd, Chief Executive Officer at EasyMining, is a new member of the board. He has extensive experience from several chemical industries and start-ups and is also chairman of the board of the strategic innovation programme Bioinnovation.

Fredrik Gunnarsson is co-opted as the representative from the financier Mistra, where he is Chief Financial Officer.