2026-10-01

Sandberg Development welcomes its first industrial doctoral student to advance research on the cleaning methods of the future

Sandberg Development continues to deepen its commitment within its focus area of water and is now welcoming the Group’s first industrial doctoral student. Caroline Svensson Nilsson is embarking on a five-year research collaboration with Malmö University to explore how future cleaning processes can become less dependent on chemicals.

- I have the opportunity to immerse myself in research while also seeing how it can be applied in practice. This allows me to ask questions that are relevant both to academia and to industry, says Caroline Svensson Nilsson.

The research project, conducted at the Biofilms Research Centre for Biointerfaces (BRCB) and the Water Science Lab, is currently titled Mechanisms for Sustainable Cleaning. Its aim is to increase understanding of how chemical-intensive cleaning processes can be replaced or complemented by physical and hybrid methods. The work is expected to result in five scientific publications and a doctoral thesis. The project is supervised by Associate Professor Krister Thuresson (principal supervisor) and Professor Johan Engblom, both at Malmö University.

- This doctoral position represents a continued investment in Sandberg Development’s long-term knowledge building within the water area. The collaboration strengthens our connection with one of the region’s leading universities. I am convinced that Caroline’s research will create real value, both for us as a group and for academia, says Stefan Persson, CEO and President of Sandberg Development.

The industrial doctoral position combines academic research with industrial application. Caroline Svensson Nilsson will devote 80 percent of her time to doctoral studies and 20 percent to operational responsibilities within the Group, with a particular focus on Rescue Intellitech, a company that develops decontamination solutions designed to reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens. She holds a degree in chemistry and has worked at Rescue Intellitech since 2023.

- Industrial doctoral programmes are an excellent model for combining academic excellence with industrial relevance. We look forward to a close and productive collaboration with Sandberg Development over the next five years, says Sebastian Björklund, Professor and Director of the Biofilms Research Centre for Biointerfaces, Malmö University.

Within the focus area of water, Sandberg Development invests in research, innovation, and companies that contribute to minimizing water consumption, enabling reuse, improving purification processes, and enhancing the monitoring of water quality and water systems.