The summer and holiday season is approaching after yet another intensive and eventful half-year – and there is much to celebrate. CTF’s research has continued to contribute to important discussions, collaborations and research on societal development, ranging from international research arenas to local partnerships.
This year is also a special one for us – we are celebrating 40 years as a research centre. This offers perspective on how knowledge and collaborations have developed over time, as well as on the role we wish to play in the future. As part of the anniversary, we are planning a celebration on 22 October – more information and the programme will be shared in our channels after the summer.
Before the holidays, we will be travelling to Helsinki for the Frontiers in Service conference at Hanken. I am particularly looking forward to hearing how service research is addressing issues such as organisations’ crisis management, the integration of AI in ways that genuinely benefit customers, patients or citizens – and not least democracy as a service, a service that is, unfortunately, facing increasing challenges globally.
However, international research conferences are not the only arenas where CTF’s researchers make an impact. During the spring, many of us have participated in various contexts and invited dialogue on how we can contribute to a more sustainable society. This year, I will not be attending Almedalen; instead, together with several of our researchers, I will be present during SM Week in Karlstad to collect data for new research that will be presented later this autumn.
Research is also disseminated through publications. In our Annual Report for 2025, you will find a comprehensive overview of what we have achieved. Particularly pleasing is that several of our doctoral students have, during the first part of the year, succeeded in publishing in highly ranked academic journals. Impressive!
Personally, I am looking forward to a summer with a French theme – and a salad Niçoise or two. In my bag, I will have Leidy Klotz’s In a Good Place, about how physical environments subtly shape our behaviours and relationships, and Angela Duckworth’s Situated, which explores a similar theme from a research perspective. Perfect summer reading, in my view.
Finally, I would like to extend a warm thank you to all colleagues and partners and wish you all a truly relaxing and rejuvenating summer.
Per Kristensson
Professor and Director, CTF
