Hello there! Henrik Dellestrand – new professor at SLU

Throughout his research career, he has studied innovation processes in multinational companies. From October 1, Henrik Dellestrand will instead focus on small businesses in rural areas. At the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), a professorship in business administration with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation attracted him.

Congratulations on your professorship! It sounds like a big change to go from researching multinational companies to small rural businesses?

– It’s not really that dramatic. Innovation and entrepreneurship are central themes, whether you study global companies or small rural businesses. In both cases, it’s about understanding how new ideas are developed, commercialized and new products and services reach customers. At the same time, I am humbled by the fact that my knowledge of small businesses and also rural issues is limited. But here I can lean on my new colleagues who are very knowledgeable in these areas.

– Previously, I have mainly studied how large companies’ headquarters and subsidiaries collaborate and develop new ideas. It now feels inspiring to bring those perspectives to SLU and see what can be applied to agriculture, rural areas and sustainability.

Innovation has been a common thread in your research. How do you link it to entrepreneurship and sustainability?

– Innovation is not only about new products and services, but also about new ways of organizing activities and collaborations. For sustainable solutions to be realized, companies need to rethink and develop new business models.

– This is where entrepreneurship comes in. It’s about daring to try new things and taking new initiatives. And when it’s done in a way that creates value responsibly, it has the potential to really make a difference. It is precisely this combination – innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability – that I look forward to working more with in the future.

In this new role, you will “buy” a research group (Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Development at the Department of Economics) with eight people. How do you see it?

– That’s probably the best thing about moving! I’ve already had a bit of a head start and met them a few times. Everyone in the group is driven, competent and committed. They are passionate about their research areas, which mainly revolve around entrepreneurship in rural areas.

– I look forward to working with them to build on what they are already doing in areas such as entrepreneurial ecosystems and local socio-economy, while jointly developing new research initiatives.

Besides working with your research team. What are you most looking forward to in your new job?

– It is probably the opportunity to work with sustainability issues and circular business in a context where it makes a real difference. In addition, the professorship means that I will have more time for research.

– And if my move of eight kilometers can also help to increase collaboration between my new research environment at SLU and the old one at Uppsala University, then that is definitely a bonus.

Contact henrik.dellestrand@slu.se

Read the article about Henrik Dellestrand’s doctoral thesis here.