Everything we use on a daily basis simply wouldn’t exist without research. Breakthrough innovations become so ingrained in what we routinely do that it is easy to take them for granted. From semiconductors in smartphones and computers to pharmaceuticals, the many comforts of everyday life would be unimaginable if not for the work of scientists.
Transportation is no exception. The very lithium-ion batteries that radically changed how we store and access electrical energy were the result of years and years of dedication from scientists across the world – work that was acknowledged with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019, lauded to three of these disruptive minds: John Goodenough, Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino.
This week marks another celebration of science and technology with the Nobel Prize festivities taking place in Stockholm, and I can’t think of a more important year to honor innovation and the fight for peace and democracy. The world is facing major challenges, and the need for science-based transitions has never been greater.
As we look forward to learning more from this year’s laureates, we at Einride have the immense pleasure of supporting the next generation of brilliant minds by hosting a group of young researchers aged 18 to 25 and from around the world that have been selected from international science fairs and by top ranking universities based on their extraordinary efforts. The visit was a part of the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar, an annual multi-disciplinary event dedicated to inspiring youth to science and promoting international understanding and friendship.
Supporting entrepreneurial technology-focused young talent has always been a part of Einride’s core values, and we take a lot of pride in offering opportunities to foster the new generation, including summer internships as well as Master’s thesis and Associate programs.
Electrification, connectivity and autonomous solutions are only starting to reach a widespread uptake in our industry, underlining the need for continued research and innovation.
Collaborating with today’s and tomorrow’s researchers will be crucial to deploying inventions that will benefit humankind. The potential is incomputable, but one thing we know for sure: scientific breakthroughs are and will continue to revolutionize the transportation sector. And the more we invest in research and innovation, the faster we will see results. Because the future is not something we enter. The future is what we create.
Christofer Laurell
SVP of Research & Public Affairs at Einride