Brief Description of Luleå University of Technology

Luleå University of Technology (LTU) is Scandinavia’s northernmost university of technology. We are a research university closely cooperating with industry and society. LTU has the highest percentage of externally-funded research of any university in Sweden, 61 %. Our research focuses on the renewal of knowledge, innovation and practical benefits. Energy technology and renewable energy, mining engineering and metallurgy and material science are some example of LTU’s technical expertise. We are a diversified technical university with intense collaboration between subjects. The University offers doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and professional degrees. Luleå University of Technology conducts research and education within engineering, economics, health sciences, humanities, social sciences, educational sciences and the arts.

Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of more than EUR 160 million. Today the university has 1,600 employees and 17,000 students. Research conducted within LTU has a turnover of EUR 90 million.

Our strong research and innovation areas help to develop multidisciplinary issues. The most important areas are renewable energy, attractive built environment, effective innovation and organization, future mining, intelligent industrial processes, empowering ICT, smart machines and materials, sustainable transportation systems and cross-border art and technology.

LTU’s strategic research is based on a combination of a strong technological and multidisciplinary research with innovative projects. Two of the areas, green technology and mining and metallurgy, have been identified as strategic areas by the Swedish government.

In mining and metallurgy LTU is unique in the fact that it researches the whole value chain from prospecting to final product including environmental aspects. Research is also carried out in areas concerning the moving of Kiruna, a whole city, caused by an expanding mining industry. Camm (Centre of advanced mining and metallurgy) is established at LTU with strategic funding from the Swedish government.

Bio4Energy is an interdisciplinary partnership with prominent experts in energy and forestry sciences, chemistry, physics and economics with the goal of developing solutions for sustainable production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials. LTU is leading the Swedish research (SFC) which focuses on gasification of biomass for production of green fuels. Renewable energy is a research area where LTU together with industry and stakeholders develop sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly systems and processes.

Sustainable transportation systems research focuses on vehicle technology, maintenance systems, vehicle testing, operation in cold climates, road engineering and space technology. The world’s fifth SKF University Technology Center is established at Luleå University of Technology. The center will work with development of smart technologies within condition monitoring, e-maintenance, tribology and sensor technology.

A national excellence centre, CiiR, Centre for interorganisational innovation research, is established at LTU. The aim is to create new knowledge about developing innovation systems with focus on non- urban areas using the potential within ICT and digital innovation. The combination of innovation development and general knowledge development within innovation is unique in Sweden.

Research within space engineering is focused on developing the understanding of atmosphere and climate systems through data from satellites and cloud measurements.

Intelligent industrial processes are very important in order to maintain and further develop a competitive national process industry. Process IT conducts research in close cooperation with industry and organizations within automations systems with embedded internet systems which integrate production, energy systems and energy use in society to develop effective systems.

Cross-border art and technology is a multidisciplinary research area. A unique concert hall at LTU is the result of research projects within music, audio technology, acoustics and wood science. The purpose is to develop optimal sound environments for music and art performance.

Other interesting research areas are attractive built environment, Empowering ICT and smart machines and materials.

Luleå University of Technology recruits students from all parts of Sweden, as well as from other countries all over the world.

LTU’s close cooperation with companies and organizations gives the students opportunities to solve problems in direct cooperation with industry and society. For example, 13 students at the Space engineering programme have been selected for a sharp test of their proposal on soldering in space. Another project is building the most fuel-efficient car for the Shell Eco marathon contest and building a house for sustainable living. The Learning resource center, library, helps students and researchers with information retrieval, learning support and publishing their work. Students’ sports are big at the university both outdoors and indoors. You can easily reach places where you can take part in skiing down-hill or cross-country, or choose between body balance, cross-training, aerobics, squash, ice-hockey and more at the student sport center or go dog-sledging or ice fishing in the archipelago. The academic environment within LTU is very open between students, researchers and professors. The warm and close interpersonal relations are important aspects of our university culture. Here, you will form strong friendships, not just with colleagues, but with people from other departments, faculties and nationalities.