For 20 years, SommarMatchen has given LiU students the opportunity to work on research ideas and explore their potential. Since its inception, approximately 340 students and 225 research cases have participated in the program, which is run in collaboration between LEAD and Linköping University.
– The reason it started was that there was a shortage of entrepreneurs in the region who could take the university’s research findings to the next level. So we decided to pair researchers with students in a summer program. At the time, there was nothing like it in Sweden,” says Arne Jacobsson, innovation advisor at LiU Innovation.
For five weeks each summer, students work actively in pairs, each on their own research idea, to investigate whether there is market potential. The program attracts many applicants every summer—up to 300 may compete for about 20 spots.
“It’s gone better than we dared to hope. Several of the ideas that were part of SommarMatchen are now companies, and some of the participating students have chosen an entrepreneurial path after graduation,” says Catharina Sandberg, CEO of LEAD.
Today, similar programs exist at several universities across the country, and Arne Jacobsson has also given lectures on the Summer Match to international audiences.
“Denmark, for example, has also launched something similar, so it’s great that SommarMatchen has been an inspiration to others,” he says.
Today, the program is run by LEAD and continues to focus on helping researchers understand the market and the potential of their ideas, with the help of students.
An idea with potential
One of this year’s case studies in the SommarMatchen competition focused on a new technology for rapidly detecting bacteria in wounds. The research idea comes from Daniel Aili and Johan Junker at Linköping University. While current laboratory analyses can take two to three days, the goal is for the new technology to provide results in just a few minutes.
“It was very inspiring to work on an idea that could potentially influence how we use antibiotics, both in Sweden and around the world,” says Arvid Kylberg, who worked on the case alongside his program partner, Emma Huynh.
Nearly 60 interviews
So how do you determine whether there is actually a need and a demand for a research idea? For Arvid and Emma, this involved nearly 60 interviews with, among others, wound care nurses and doctors—an effort that was appreciated by researcher Daniel Aili.
“As researchers, it’s very difficult for us to set aside time to call around and talk to lots of people to get a sense of how interesting the idea is. Arvid and Emma have done a fantastic job of reaching out to people on their own and digging deeper,” he says.
He also believes that the results are valuable regardless of whether they lead to commercialization or not. Daniel has had several research projects in SommarMatchen, and in a previous project, the decision was made to discontinue it.
– It’s just as important to get feedback on whether it’s worth moving forward or not.
He also says that the results provide a solid foundation for future pitches and funding applications.
– Instead of spending several hundred thousand kronor on a consultant, SommarMatchen is a great way to get an initial sense of an idea. You can get feedback from the market, start putting together your pitch materials, and gather supporting documentation when you’re seeking funding. It’s invaluable.
A Different Kind of Summer Job
For Arvid Kylberg, it wasn’t just the research idea that made the summer special. SommarMatchen gave him the opportunity to influence the direction of the project himself, and he also made new friends.
– The best part was being able to run a project with so much freedom and having a say in the direction it took. It really gave me a taste for life as an entrepreneur. Plus, we students had a fantastic time together—everyone wanted to help each other—and I’ll keep hanging out with them now that the program is over.
Catharina Sandberg, CEO of LEAD, believes that the program serves the same purpose as it did when it was launched twenty years ago.
– We’re always looking for entrepreneurs who can take research ideas from the lab to the market. SommarMatchen, along with our trainee program Entrepreneurs in Residence, is a major part of that effort.
Students Arvid Kylberg and Emma Huynh, along with researchers Johan Junker and Daniel Ali
