Honorary Academician
Technological Sciences: Doctor of Biochemistry
Date of admission: December 20, 2016
Admission speech: «Connecting knowledge derived from basic scientific research with technical applications for society, including the business sector.»
Reply speech: Hon. Dr. M. dels Àngels Calvo Torras, Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and Doctor in Pharmacy
President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences: During his presidency, Nilsson promoted a strong focus on innovation, knowledge transfer between academia and industry, and the creation of international research networks.
Dr. BJÖRN OLOF NILSSON
- Born in Sollentuna, Stockholm (Sweden), 1956.
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
- Master of Science in Chemistry, specialising in Biotechnology, from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm (1981).
- PhD in Biochemistry from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) (1986).
- Postdoctoral researcher at Genentech Inc., Department of Protein Engineering, San Francisco (1986–1988).
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
- Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
- President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) since 2008.
- Executive in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, holding leadership positions at Pharmacia, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Biovitrum, and Karo Bio AB.
- President and CEO of Karo Bio AB (2001–2005).
- Global Vice President of R&D at Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (1998–2001).
- President of the Swedish Biotech Industry Association (SwedenBIO) (2002–2006).
- Member of the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) (2016–).
- President of the Swedish Athletics Federation since 2016.
- Chairman of the Board of BioInvent International AB.
- Board member of the ÅF Group (AFRY) and Chairman of the ÅForsk Foundation.
- Member of Euro-CASE, the Federation of European Academies of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
PUBLICATIONS
- Author of over 60 scientific papers and 8 patents in biochemistry and biotechnology.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
- Genentech Recognition Award (1988).
- Pharmacia & Upjohn Science and Medicine Award (1996).
- Presidential Award of Bulgaria (2016).
- Medal of His Majesty the King of Sweden, 8th Class with the Ribbon of the Order of the Seraphim (2016).
