ECH celebrates ten years!
Ten years ago, the Electronics Centre in Halmstad (ECH) was inaugurated at Halmstad University – a unique initiative for collaboration around the electronics of the future, the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless communication. Today, ECH is an established meeting place for companies, researchers, teachers and students who are together driving electronics development forward. Come and celebrate with us!
The history of ECH
When ECH started in 2015, the centre was eagerly awaited by many companies that wanted access to shared opportunities for more efficient product development and testing for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Some of the companies that have been involved since the beginning are HMS Networks, Nibe and AES Nordic AB, while a more recent partner is Phoniro/ASSA Abloy. The equipment is provided by the well-renowned Rohde & Schwartz.
Collaboration with researchers and education has meant that students have had the opportunity to meet the industry, and research on electronics development has been strengthened. Interest in engineering programmes also now seems to be growing, something that is crucial for companies’ future skills supply.
During this anniversary autumn, ECH has been given the opportunity to launch Refractor, a three-year project to further develop and highlight opportunities in electronics development for companies, students, teachers and researchers. This involves everything from networking with regular meetings to seminars and specific courses on CE marking, electronics development and EMC testing. Funders are the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) and Region Halland within the framework of Smart Specialisation.
“ECH has a clear vision where academia, the public sector and the private sector form a regional knowledge and resource network. The network focuses on developing solutions to shared technological challenges through practical collaboration, research and teaching in electronics – all to promote the opportunities to create products and innovations for the future,” says Pererik Andreasson, Senior Lecturer and project leader for Refractor.
Some highlights over the years
- 2013: The creation of ECH was initiated by the University’s Emil Nilsson, Urban Bilstrup and Stella Erlandsson
- 2015: The EMC test chamber was inaugurated and began to be used, mainly by HMS Networks, Nibe and AES Nordic AB – the excellent premises were provided by Castellum, while Rohde & Schwartz supplied the latest equipment
- 2016: Collaboration with Ericsson – Stefan Nilsson, an expert in radio communication, 5G and electronics, was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University
- 2017: Collaboration with Saab – Hans Hellsten, radar expert, was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University
- 2017: Where are we going? ECH appeared on the Swedish TV quiz show “På spåret”, where students from inside the test chamber posed a question to the competing teams on screen
- 2018: Prepare, a preparatory programme for applied research for professionals in the electronics industry, was developed in collaboration with Mälardalen University
- 2018: The Vinnova project IoT for societal challenges in the public sector (ISOV) was launched
- 2020: Students created a smart heat pump
- 2023: A feasibility study for the Refraktor project received support from Region Halland
- 2023: The InnoTech – TaskForce project, a Swedish-Danish collaboration aimed at promoting green innovations with the help of digital technologies including wireless communication and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, was launched
- 2025: The national initiative Semicon Sweden, in which the University is a partner, was founded
- 2025: The Refractor project was awarded funding by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) and Region Halland
Read more
Project: IoT for Social Challenges in Public Activities
External link.
Jubilee celebrations this autumn
21 October: Interested stakeholders
Companies, innovation-promoting organisations, the public sector and researchers are welcome to visit ECH’s stand at the Innovation Conference on 21 October, when we begin the celebrations – register for the Innovation Conference via the link below no later than 10 October.
Register for the Innovation Conference
5 November: Collaboration partners
Existing collaboration partners and other stakeholders in the electronics industry who want to learn more about how to work with ECH are welcome to our jubilee celebration in connection with the ITE Fair on 5 November.
Programme
Where: ECH and E2, building E (see map)
External link, opens in new window.
- 10.00–10.30: Open house and jubilee exhibition with coffee, mingling and registration
- 10.30–11.00: Opening and welcome speech
- 11.00–12.00: Information on new opportunities for collaboration with ECH
- Refractor – West Sweden’s network for smart electronics
- Semicon Sweden – national initiative to strengthen Sweden’s position in the semiconductor sector
- 12.00–13.00: Light lunch for registered participants (time also available to set up stands in Building S for exhibiting companies)
Where: Lab City, building S (see map) External link.
- 13.00–17.00: ITE Fair – don’t miss the competition at ECH’s stand! Coffee available for registered participants
Note that you need to register separately to participate with a stand at the ITE Fair
Companies in the electronics industry interested in student talent for placements, project/thesis work or future employment must also register separately to participate with a stand at the ITE Fair no later than 15 October.
Registration to participate with a stand at the ITE Fair (in Swedish)
