Partnering for Change: Collaborating with Academia to Build Future Capability

Laerdal Medical is proud to collaborate with Umeå Institute of Design to involve students in real‑world development challenges and to create pathways toward future roles in problem-solving and the design of physical and digital user experiences.

Collaboration with academic institutions plays an important role in how we develop people, products and new ways of thinking. By working closely with students and universities, Laerdal hopes to create spaces where theory meets real‑world complexity, and where future careers in life‑saving technology often begin.

One of Laerdal Medical's long‑standing academic partners is Umeå Institute of Design in Sweden, one of Europe’s leading design programs. Through structured collaboration, students work closely with our teams on challenges related to emergency care, gaining hands‑on experience with safety‑critical systems, regulated environments and interdisciplinary teamwork.

“We are proud of the strong ties and the trust that have been established between Laerdal Medical and Umeå Institute of Design over the years. At our design school, we educate students to become skilled and creative thinkers, doers, and makers, ready to take on complex challenges now and in the future, says Thomas Degn, Associate Professor and Director for the Master’s programme of Advanced Product Design in Umeå.

A natural pathway

“These projects are often a first point of contact,” says Brit Tone Bergman, SVP People & Organisation in Laerdal Medical. “Students get insight into our culture, how we collaborate across engineering, IT, design and healthcare, and what kind of problems we work on. For many, this becomes a natural pathway into future roles with us.”

Through internships and collaborative projects with Laerdal Medical, the different schools, such as Umeå Institute of Deisgn, engage in the mutual exploration of both challenges and opportunities. This exchange is invaluable both for the company, the academic institution and for the students as emerging design professionals.

“Laerdal Medical’s inspiring mission statement and high standards of quality make it an ideal partner for us in Umeå. The needs and challenges within healthcare, before, during, and after hospitalization, for patients, caregivers, and society, also make it a consistently relevant, inspiring and rewarding field of exploration.”

He adds;

“For us, these collaborations are not about finished solutions, but about how problems are explored,” says Laerdal Medical quote. “Students bring fresh perspectives, and we contribute real constraints and deep domain knowledge. That combination is incredibly valuable, for them and for us.”

Learning through real‑world challenges

As part of the collaboration, students are introduced to the realities of developing technology for emergency medicine. Projects may explore topics such as:

• improving ergonomics and working conditions for first responders
• designing equipment for use in confined, urban or remote environments
• integrating digital feedback and physical products to support correct use
• simplifying complex technology to make it more accessible for a wider range of users

The focus is not on ideas in isolation, but on understanding users, systems and trade‑offs – reflecting how our multidisciplinary teams work every day.

• support learning and development on both sides
• stay closely connected to new thinking and emerging talent
• build strong professional communities across disciplines

Most importantly, these collaborations help us strengthen how we work – and how we continue to develop technology that makes a real difference when it matters most.

A natural pathway into working life

Academic collaboration also gives students a realistic picture of what it means to work with a company and gives an early opportunity to get to know future talent.

Over time, many employees have started their journey through similar collaborations, moving from student projects into full‑time roles.

By investing in long‑term partnerships with academic institutions, Laerdal aims to: