US Friends of Chalmers is an organization that aims at promoting and advancing education and research at Chalmers University of Technology through financial support and contact building in the United States. The organization was started in 2002 by Chalmers together with a group of Alumni. This is the first organization of its kind in the U.S. for a Swedish University proving how strongly many of our alumni and fans feel for their unique “Chalma Mater”. The first annual meeting was held in May 2002, electing the founding members Bo Hedfors, Erland Magnusson and Conny Kullman as officers of the corporation.
Vision
Promote and support research, education and collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology and its US academic and industry partners.
Mission
Reaching out to US alumni and other potential supporters of Chalmers to increase the awareness of Chalmers University of Technology competence and competitiveness
Objectives
- By organizing local events provide information about Chalmers and promote continuing relationships of loyalty and support for Chalmers University of Technology among its alumni in the United States.
- Organizing fundraising activities to financially support collaborative educational and research opportunities between Chalmers University of Technology and educational institutions, research and industry organizations in the United States.
- Encourage individuals, corporations and charitable entities to provide support for or become involved in education, teaching and research at Chalmers University of Technology.
Grant approval
U.S. Friends of Chalmers use funds collected by donations to make grants to projects within our framework. The Grant Committee reviews applications provided by Chalmers and makes recommendations to the Board of U.S. Friends for approval.
A grant was approved in 2006 to the Department of Microelectronics and Nanoscience at Chalmers to study the future of MC2, which houses a state of the art cleanroom for micro- and nanofabrication. The research at MC2 is done in close collaboration with Swedish and international partners within academy, industry and society.
Another grant was approved in 2008 as a seed investment in a Chalmers endowment for an exchange program of senior researchers between Sweden and the United States. That initial grant was instrumental to secure a 1 MUSD donation from Barbro Osher’s Pro Suecia Foundation.
Future projects
U.S. Friends is in discussion with Chalmers of future fundraising projects in the following areas.
1. Transport. Sustainable Vehicle and Fuels
2. Materiel Science. Emission from diesel trains (US focus)
3. Information and Communication Technology. Chalmers Giga Hertz Centre
Internship organization
To give U.S. Friends more resources, Chalmers are providing support for an Internship Program in Silicon Valley. Interns and young entrepreneurs from Chalmers will get the opportunity to work and learn in a unique environment and part time manage U.S. Friends programs. The Internship Program is being set up with support from Silicon Vikings.
Web Portal for US Friends of Chalmers
Contact our interns
Chalmers has created an internship program in Silicon Valley with the purpose of providing U.S. Friends of Chalmers with more support. Two ambitious and entrepreneurial interns have been selected and given the opportunity to work and learn in the unique and innovative environment there.
While working for their host companies, they will also be managing activities part time for U.S. Friends of Chalmers in collaboration with Silicon Vikings.
The interns arrived in the middle of January 2011 and have now settled in their new apartment in San Jose. If you for any reason wish to get in touch with the interns, their contact information is provided below.
Markus Holmberg
+1 (415) 990 7349
Markus Holmberg has a bachelors degree in Industrial Management & Engineering and a masters in Business design from Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship. He will be working with Nexit Ventures, diving into the fast paced world of Venture Capital with a focus on mobile and wireless.
Robert Bagge
+1 (408) 409 3402
Robert Bagge has a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and a master degree in Management and Economics of Innovation. He will be working within the ICT area with Firetide Inc, the leading company in high performance wireless mesh infrastructure.