2025-11-07: A focus on society’s needs, competitiveness, and the human capacity to accomplish great things with the help of advanced knowledge. Many of the ideas that still underpin Chalmers were already articulated at its inauguration in 1829.
We have just celebrated our annual ceremony—a festivity that commemorates the founding and inauguration of Chalmers on 5 November 1829. It is an occasion to feel joy and pride. To take a small step back and reflect on this technical university, which began on a modest scale but quickly grew in significance.
In many ways, the activities throughout the years have truly embodied the Chalmers motto, avancez, through constant forward movement and development on all levels. It is like when the ancient philosopher Heraclitus observed that one cannot step into the same river twice—you cannot visit the same Chalmers two days in a row. Since your last visit, new ideas have already been born, fuelled by restless curiosity and creativity.
But just as knowledge is ever-changing, just as steadfast and completely intact seem the founding principles behind Chalmers. In my speech at the annual ceremony, I took the opportunity to quote what Freemason brother and close friend of William Chalmers, Pehr Dubb, wrote to be declaimed at the school’s inauguration.
Dubb described how, for the school, they had made: “the choice of subjects and sciences with regard to the locality and the needs of its inhabitants.” That is what we today would call societal benefit. When we speak of our proud heritage of close ties to industry and to the surrounding society, this is exactly what we mean.
Dubb also wrote that the school’s ambition was: “to awaken hope and desire for knowledge and work in the minds of youth, growing up amidst the ever-oppressive spirit and narrow prospects of poverty, so that they may attain future livelihood and esteem.”
This, of course, is also a societal benefit, but here it is clearly linked to each individual’s strength and ability to, with the right knowledge, create a better future—both for themselves and for society at large.
The result of these activities would, in the long run, strengthen Gothenburg’s competitiveness—or as Dubb put it:
“the industriousness to compete with other cities, indeed even those abroad, in knowledge, skill, and elegance, for the advancement and reputation of the Fatherland and especially this City.”
I truly could not have said it better myself!
Today, we are working intensively to continue developing Chalmers into a technical university of international top class. We are at a level of knowledge we have never reached before, in a time that is changing faster than ever.
But the fundamental idea of Chalmers’ role as a societal actor remains the same. Through the new knowledge created here and all the talented individuals educated, our region—and ultimately all of Europe, of which we are a part—is enriched. Competitiveness is our key to continued prosperity, and everything we do drives the transition towards a more sustainable society.
Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology
Under the headline "President’s perspective" the President and CEO for Chalmers University of Technology, shares his reflections on current topics that concern education, research and utilisation.