Charlotta Mellander, Professor Economics at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) and Emil Danielsson, CEO of Klimator, who previously worked at JU.

Charlotta Mellander, Professor Economics at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), is the initiator of the conference "Framkant Sverige", which will be held on 7 May. She is preparing the conference together with Emil Danielsson, CEO of Klimator, who previously worked at JU.

Social issues in focus at new conference

On 7 May, the new conference "Framkant Sverige" (Sweden at the forefront) will be held at Jönköping University (JU), where current and important issues such as defence and preparedness, integration, AI and the environment will be discussed.

Among the speakers are Joakim Paasikivi, Lieutenant Colonel in the Swedish Armed Forces, and Diamant Salihu, journalist and author. The moderator for the day is Anna Hedenmo, known from the Swedish television programmes "Agenda" and "Min Sanning" (My Truth).

"Framkant Sverige" is being held for the first time and is organised by Jönköping International Business School (JIBS).

"Sweden is facing exciting but also challenging times that require knowledge and cooperation. We are all affected by geopolitical changes, integration policies, gang crime, climate change and the rapid development of AI. These are issues that affect us all, and that is why we are gathering experts in these areas for a joint day," says Charlotta Mellander, Professor of Economics at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) and initiator of "Framkant Sverige", where she is playing a central role.

Important issues with a big impact

In addition to Joakim Paasikivi and Diamant Salihu, digitalization expert Claudia Olsson and statistician Ola Rosling will also lecture at "Framkant Sverige", led by Anna Hedenmo.

"I think we have put together a fantastic list of names and that would never have been possible without generous contributions from our partners (se facts). They have all been positive about the event and this is a great way to collaborate on important issues that have a significant impact on us," says Charlotta Mellander.

"I want to help us learn more"

JIBS is organising the conference, which is being held for the first time. If it is successful, Charlotta Mellander would like it to continue. The idea was born over a cup of coffee last spring when she was talking to some colleagues at JIBS about how researchers and teachers are often expected to be able to comment on major social issues, but do not have all the answers.

"That was the starting point for me, that I wanted to be involved and help us all learn more. We see this as a kind of training day where the lecturers talk about their areas of expertise and we gain a greater understanding of the major challenges we face," says Charlotta Mellander.

She has planned the conference together with Emil Danielsson, currently CEO of Klimator, with whom she started the research blog "Vertikals" at JU 2013.

"A well-invested day"

"Framkant Sverige" takes place in the JU auditorium at the School of Education and Communication at Jönköping University on 7 May at 10:00-17:00. Everyone is welcome and the cost is 625 SEK including lunch. Registration is open.

"We have reduced the price so that as many people as possible can take part in the conference and learn about important issues. I am convinced that it is a well-invested day for everyone. Businesses and the public sector can see it as a skills development day for their staff. I also think that a ticket can be a nice Christmas present and I myself am very much looking forward to this," says Charlotta Mellander.

The day is planned to end with the day's moderator, Anna Hedenmo, leading a round table discussion with the speakers.

Facts

"Framkant Sverige" is organized by JIBS in collaboration with Swedbank through Sparbanksstiftelsen Alfa, Länsförsäkringar Jönköping, Region Jönköping County and Destination Jönköping. Please note that the programme will be entirely in Swedish.