An overview of the research and education around sustainability at the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Karlskrona, Sweden.

1. Sustainability Innovation
at Blekinge Tekniska
Högskola (BTH): School
of Engineering
Tamara Connell
MSLS Programme Director
October 15, 2009

2. Presentation Overview
 Introduction to BTH
 Related research within School of Engineering
 Real Change Programme
 SPIRIT Programme
 Related education within School of Engineering
 Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
 Sustainable Product-Service System Innovation
 Distance Education
 Industry Courses

3. Blekinge Tekniska Högskola
 One of the country’s most distinctly profiled institutes of
technology
 Vision/Profile of BTH: Applied Information Technology and
Innovation for Sustainable Growth (2008)
 ‘ProVision’ (Applied IT, Sustainability, Innovation) awarded
a ‘KK Profile Grant’ from the Knowledge Foundation

4. BTH: Walking the Talk
BTH shall from September 2008 be climate neutral.
This will first and foremost be realized by proactive measures in
BTH’s household’s and actor’s roles that successively reduce
our own contribution to the climate problem. We will also use
our unique education, research, collaboration and
communication competence within our profile to generate
climate-smart innovations and to remove, in the long-term,
structural barrier against a climate neutral BTH, and a climate
neutral society. Our contribution to the climate problem that
we cannot eliminate, due to factors that in the short-term are
beyond are influence, will be compensated for by purchase
of certificates/emission rights.
Board of Director’s meeting 2008-08-29

5. Sustainability Innovation Research

6. Sustainability Innovation Research
Real Change
represented a
completely new
funding model:
5 funding
agencies working
together

7. Sustainability Innovation Research
CORE SPIRIT
BTH/LU/
BTH
TNS

8. Sustainability Innovation Research

9. Sustainability Innovation Research
 Ph.D. awarded to Sophie Hallstedt (2008)
A Foundation for Sustainable Product Development:
How to inform a traditional product-service cycle using the Framework for
Strategic Sustainable Development
 Ph.D. awarded to Henrik Ny (2009)
Strategic Life-Cycle Modeling and Simulation for Sustainable Product Innovation
The aim of this thesis is to study how a Framework for Strategic Sustainable
Development can guide the use and improvement of detailed methods and
tools, in particular to support sustainable product innovation (SPI)
 Several other Ph.D.s awarded in 2009 in the fields of mechanical
engineering

10. Sustainability Innovation Education
10 years ago:
 Integrating environmental aspects into
Mechanical Engineering
 Educated staff about sustainable development
 A mandatory basic course in sustainable
development was developed and give to all
students at Mechanical Engineering.
 Build-up research field “Sustainable Product
Innovation”

11. Recognition of our Sustainability
Education
 Report published in May
2009
 Ranked BTH #1 in Sweden
and #3 in Europe for
engineering education for
Sustainable Development

12. Sustainability Innovation Educational
Programmes
 Swedish Spatial Planning (Fysisk Planering)
 European Spatial Planning and Regional
Development (International 1-year)
 Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
(International 1-year)
 Sustainable Product-Service System
Innovation (International 2-year)

13. Master’s in Strategic Leadership
towards Sustainabililty (MSLS)
"The question of
reaching sustainability
is not about if we will
have enough energy,
enough food, or other
tangible resources -
those we have. The
question is: will there
be enough leaders in
time?"
- Dr. Göran Broman and Dr. Karl-
Henrik Robèrt, programme
founders

14. Master’s in Strategic Leadership
towards Sustainabililty (MSLS)
 First programme offering in 2004/2005
 Now beginning our 6th year of studies
 ~ 60 students per year, 15-20 countries
 Very active at BTH and in Karlskrona
 Significant media coverage, locally and
globally
 Many alumni accepting excellent
positions after graduating
 First alumni reunion/conference
undertaken February 2009 in Australia

15. Master’s in Strategic Leadership
towards Sustainabililty (MSLS)
Two integrated themes
A Framework Ability to
for Strategic ENERGIZE
Sustainable change (org.
Development learning and
(FSSD) leadership)
… primarily content … primarily process
We need both to adequately affect change!

16. MSLS Collaboration Opportunities
 Strategic Managment for Sustainability Course
 Thesis Projects (some great examples include)
 Collaboration with Canadian Bioenergy Corporation:
Opportunities and Challenges of the Biofuels Industry
 From Clean Development to Strategic Sustainable
Development: Strategic planning for the Clean
Development Mechanism
 Enhancing planning for local energy systems by the
strategic sustainable development framework
 Planning for a Sustainable Nexus of Urban Land Use,
Transport and Energy
 Principles-based Comparison Framework for Renewable
Electricity Options

17. Master’s in Sustainable Product-
Service-System Innovation (MSPI)
Innovation
Strategic
Sustainable
Development Innovation

18. Master’s in Sustainable Product-
Service-System Innovation (MSPI)
 First programme will be offered in 2010
 2 year programme – Master of Science degree
 Approximately 30 students per year, hopefully from a variety
of different cultures and backgrounds
 Will appeal to Engineers, Industrial and Product Designers, and
Industrial Economists

19. Sustainability Distance Education
• Currently 3 Sustainability
Courses developed
• Excellent success rate,
especially with Master’s
level course
• For more information,
please see:
www.bth.se/sustainability

20. Industry Courses
 Aimed at the Professionals within one industry
 Mixture of distance education plus in-person workshops
 Run in collaboration with The Natural Step (International NGO)

21. Short, Professional Courses
 Now offering
customised short
courses (1-week, 2-
week)
 Topics surround the
basics of Sustainability
and how your
organization can
contribute to
sustainable
development

22. Thank you for your attention
 Please feel free to contact us for more information!
 Contact information:
 Real Change Programme, SPIRIT Programme:
Goran.Broman@BTH.se
 Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability Programme:
Tamara.Connell@BTH.se
www.bth.se/msls
 Master’s in Sustainable Product-Service-System Innovation:
Sophie.Hallstedt@BTH.se
www.bth.se/mspi
 Industry Courses, Distance Course, and Short Courses:
Tamara.Connell@BTH.se
www.bth.se/sustainability