As part of Swedish Mining Innovation, an organised PhD student network was established in 2019 for research related to mines, minerals and metals in Sweden. Throughout the programme period 2019–2025, the network has served as a national platform for PhD candidates across the mining value chain and across disciplines—from natural sciences and engineering to social science perspectives.
The network was coordinated by Luleå University of Technology (LTU), with Nils Jansson as Network Lead. The underlying idea has been long-term: to support skills supply, enable interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, and build early and sustained collaboration between PhD candidates, industry, authorities and other stakeholders.
“What matters most are the meetings: between PhD students from different universities and disciplines, and with industry, authorities and other stakeholders across the mining value chain. The network has broadened perspectives and strengthened knowledge exchange.” – Nils Jansson, Network Coordinator, Luleå University of Technology
The network has contributed to:
- strengthening collaboration and connections among PhD students nationally – including across thematic areas and disciplines along the mining value chain
- increasing interaction between PhD students, industry, authorities and other stakeholders through recurring meeting places and structured networking
- giving PhD students a broader perspective on the role of the mining and metals sector in society, where technical issues are connected to sustainability, policy, regulation, governance and social acceptance
- supporting skills supply by enabling PhD students to build professional networks early, gain insight into industry challenges, and make their research more visible to relevant actors
- reducing the risk of research becoming isolated by promoting knowledge exchange across disciplines and creating settings where different competences meet
Workshops as the core of the activities – learning on site in Sweden’s mining districts
A central part of the network’s activities was a series of in-person workshops in Sweden’s mining districts, including Bergslagen, the Skellefteå District and Northern Norrbotten. The format combined site visits, thematic lectures, panel discussions and structured networking. Through meetings with external speakers, from industry and technology suppliers to municipalities, authorities and other organizations, PhD students gained a holistic view of the value chain and its challenges, including the societal issues surrounding the mining and metals sector.
Continuous development and high relevance
The network also worked systematically to collect participant feedback and use it to refine both format and content. A recurring strength has been the combination of technical depth and broader perspectives that can be harder to capture within a traditional doctoral education.
National and international visibility
In addition to the workshop series, the network took part in national arenas to increase visibility and build bridges between PhD research and the needs of the transition. PhD students were also invited to panel discussions and stage programmes, including at Swedish Mining Research & Innovation Days and AI in Mining, reflecting strong interest in the perspectives of early-career researchers.
A clear international highlight was the network’s participation at Raw Materials Week in Brussels (2023). Nine PhD students attended following a request for representation in a high-level context related to EU raw materials issues, and the network subsequently received formal appreciation from EUMICON.
Network in numbers (2019–2025)
- 149 members in total (102 current + 47 alumni)
- 15 participating Swedish universities
- 15 workshops delivered
- 9 PhD students in a delegation to Raw Materials Week in Brussels (2023)
A legacy that points to an ongoing need
Perhaps the network’s most important outcome is its structural and long-term value: a functioning national meeting place that lowers barriers between universities, strengthens PhD students’ professional networks, and makes it easier to connect research with the needs of industry and society. The experiences from 2019–2025 show that the need for this kind of platform remains—an arena where PhD students can meet, exchange knowledge and broaden perspectives across disciplines along the mining value chain.
Photos from activities over the years:
