At the turn of the year, Chalmers established the new Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) by merging two existing departments, Industrial and Materials Science (IMS) and Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2). Below, Rikard Söderberg, head of the new department, explain why the merger is taking place and what it will enable.
"The ambition is to take the next step, scientifically as well as in our collaboration with industry and society"
Why is Chalmers establishing the new Department of Mechanical Engineering?
“There are three key reasons. First, it is about highlighting and strengthening Mechanical Engineering as a strategic area. Internationally, it is a well-established concept, and at Chalmers, Mechanical Engineering is one of our strongest areas. Giving it its own department with the same name makes this strength clearer and even more visible.
Second, it is about strengthening our external profile. For students, researchers, industry, funding agencies and society at large, it becomes easier to understand who we are and what we do when Mechanical Engineering is represented by one clearly defined department.
The third reason is that we create better conditions for new internal collaborations. The activities have been complementary, but organised in two separate departments. By bringing them together under one umbrella, it becomes easier to identify and develop joint initiatives and make better use of our combined expertise to address future research challenges.”
Today, Mechanical Engineering is a broad academic discipline - why is it so important?
“Mechanical Engineering today is far broader than the traditional understanding of the discipline. It encompasses a wide range of perspectives and, at its core, is about creating – developing solutions, systems and technologies that are needed across academia, industry and society.
This is also why we use the English name. There is no Swedish department name that captures this breadth in the same way and also resonates in an international context. Mechanical Engineering is a globally recognized concept and gives us a clear and strong identity.”
What do you hope the new department will represent going forward?
“I hope we can build a strong shared identity and continue to become even better together. We are already strong today, but the ambition is to take the next step, scientifically as well as in our collaboration with industry and society. We aim to be a large, strong and clearly positioned actor in our ecosystem, to the benefit of both Chalmers and Sweden.”
You have more than 20 years of experience as head of departments at Chalmers, including almost nine years at IMS. What are you personally most looking forward to in this new chapter?
“I look forward to building a large, strong and clearly defined department that takes a natural role both nationally and internationally. Mechanical Engineering is an applied field where we can contribute to scientific excellence, strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish industry, and create societal value.
At its core, this is about development. When people feel that they are growing over time, and when the organization is moving forward at the same time, we create both pride and long-term strength. That benefits the individual, Chalmers and society as a whole, and it is a journey I very much look forward to leading.”
The new Department of Mechanical Engineering comprises eleven research divisions.
Divisions from the former Department of Industrial and Materials Science (IMS)
Computational Mechanics and Materials Engineering
Design & Human Factors
Product Developmen
Materials and Manufacture
Production Systems
Divisions from the former Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2)
Dynamics
Vehicle Safety
Fordonsteknik och autonoma system
Marine Technology
Fluid Dynamics
Transport, Energy and Environment
The new department was formally established on 1 January 2026, and the operations will be fully integrated on 1 April 2026. The website for Mechanical Engineering is under development until 1 April. Until then, information about the department’s educational programmes can be found on the respective former departments’ websites.