Two new honorary doctors at the University of Borås

“It is very gratifying to be able to announce that we have appointed two honorary doctors this year. They are people who have meant and mean a lot to the university's development,” said Vice-Chancellor Mats Tinnsten.

Andreas Gundberg has played a crucial role in the development of new fungus-based processes for better utilisation of residual material in industry. In his previous role as Project and Innovation Manager at Lantmännen Agroetanol, he has collaborated with the research environment Resource Recovery since the beginning of the 2010s. Andreas Gundberg's contributions are emphasised as one of the contributing factors to the fact that research on fungi has gone from involving a single doctoral student with a focus on ethanol production to its current status, in which research on fungi is one of the most important specialisations in Resource Recovery. Within the research group Biotechnology, new potential end products from fungi are being developed, such as feed, food, ethanol, and fibres.

Andreas Gundberg has been instrumental in scaling up a fungus-based process, which has shown the possibilities of using the processes on an industrial scale.

"Bridge between research and industry"

Mohammad Taherzadeh, Professor of Biotechnology at the University of Borås, highlights Andreas Gundberg's vision and knowledge when it comes to developing innovations. “Our university is probably among the leaders in the world in research on industrial applications of fungi. Andreas played a significant role in getting us to where we are today and in developing the collaboration between Lantmännen and the University of Borås.”

Andreas Gundberg says that he was surprised and overwhelmed by the announcement. “It is a great honour to receive a recognition such as this one and it is wonderful to highlight to this type of collaboration between academia and industry. Both basic research and applied development with an understanding of business are needed, and I feel that I have been able to be a bridge between research and industry,” said Andreas Gundberg.

Develops sustainable energy

Fredrik Johansson is Business Developer at FOV Fabrics, which manufactures various advanced textiles including textile bioreactors, to use in converting organic waste into biogas. He has participated in several of the university's projects. Mohammad Taherzadeh said, “Fredrik Johansson has an eye for possibilities and sees opportunities to seek and implement collaborations in different subject areas and with different disciplines. A good example is the development of textile bioreactors that replace stainless steel or concrete. Today, these are a commercial product on the market.”

Fredrik Johansson has significantly contributed to the development of new production systems for biogas through unique designs and internationalisation of the knowledge about biogas production that has been developed at the University of Borås. The new production systems have been introduced in a number of countries such as Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India. In areas with poor access to electricity, the bioreactors can function as a complement to solar energy and a sustainable alternative to diesel generators. In a current example with 130 installations in India, the reactors have saved about 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Fredrik Johansson says that he was first quite surprised by the news that he had been named an honorary doctor. “When it sank in, I was very happy and honoured that the work I have done has been noticed. Collaboration with the university has worked very well. We have pushed the textile-based biogas system forward, put it on the market, and are now further developing it,” said Fredrik Johansson.

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About the Resource Recovery field

Academic Ceremony

Previous honorary doctors

Clare Johnston, 2017

Romulo Enmark, 2020