Vacant job

Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) is a small, independent Swedish university with a clear profile in applied and industry-oriented research, as well as a focus on profession-oriented education. The Department of Industrial Economics hereby announces the Backhamre Chair in Industrial Economics and Management – a prestigious tenure-track position aimed at strengthening and further developing the research environment within entrepreneurship and business development.

Job Description

For this chair, we are seeking a highly qualified candidate who can strengthen and develop the department's research and education in industrial economics and management. We are particularly interested in applicants with an international academic profile, as well as documented knowledge and experience at the intersection of internationalization, entrepreneurship/business development, and technology. Relevant research areas include, but are not limited to:

• technology and its role in global value chains and international business activities
• born global firms and international entrepreneurial ventures in technology-intensive industries
• leadership and governance of innovation and technology in international contexts
• entrepreneurial ecosystems and their significance for international business development

As a professor in this strategically important recruitment, you are primarily expected to take a leading role in shaping and further developing the department's research and internationalization. The responsibilities include, among other things:

• conducting and leading internationally recognized research of high scientific quality
• securing external research funding in national and international competition
• building, leading, and long-term development of a strong and internationally visible research group
• supervising and supporting less experienced researchers
• supervising doctoral students and contributing to the development of doctoral education

In line with the department's interdisciplinary profile and collaborative working methods, active participation across research group and departmental boundaries is also included, as well as collaboration with industry, the public sector, and international partners to strengthen the relevance and societal impact of the research.

The position also includes teaching responsibilities, such as course coordination, teaching, and supervision at undergraduate and advanced levels. You are also expected to actively contribute to the development of high-quality education, including program and course development, as well as participating in international educational collaborations. The duties also include academic leadership within the department and at the university as a whole. The distribution of duties may vary over time, depending on factors such as research funding and current leadership assignments.

The duties associated with the Backhamre Chair presuppose a high degree of presence on campus to promote personal interaction, collaboration, and academic dialogue.

Qualifications

Eligible for appointment as a professor in non-artistic activities is one who has demonstrated both scientific and pedagogical proficiency (Higher Education Act, Chapter 4, Section 3).

The eligibility requirements and assessment criteria are described in detail in BTH's "Guidelines for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Appointment to Associate Professor", which can be found at https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb (https://www.bth.se/om-bth/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb) under the section "Instructions for Applicants".

Desirable Competencies and Experiences

In addition to the requirements described in the job description, eligibility requirements, and assessment criteria, the following degrees, competencies, and experiences are considered desirable:

• Documented scientific competence in research at the intersection of internationalization, entrepreneurship/business development, and technology.
• Previous professional experience from a technical university, faculty of engineering, or another comparable academic environment.
• Documented international academic experience, with demonstrated ability to initiate, lead, and coordinate internationalization efforts in research and education.
• Documented experience in teaching and supervision at undergraduate and advanced levels within entrepreneurship and/or business development.
• Experience in contributing to the development of local and regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, including collaboration with external actors.
• Documented experience of collaboration with business life and active participation in international research networks, demonstrating the ability to establish, develop, and sustain external collaborations long-term.

Weighting of Qualifications

Scientific proficiency is valued primarily, and pedagogical proficiency secondarily. In addition, the degree of other proficiency relevant to the position is taken into account.

About Us and What We Offer

Blekinge Institute of Technology is a smaller university characterized by innovative thinking, close relationships with students, and strong collaboration with society and business life. Based on the principle of double excellence, we combine high academic quality with societal relevance. The Department of Industrial Economics, responsible for education and research in the field of industrial economics and management, is one of six departments at the Faculty of Engineering. The department consists of an international and interdisciplinary group of 25 employees and a number of affiliated researchers. The research covers several areas, including (1) entrepreneurship, technological change, and industrial dynamics, (2) leadership and governance in innovative and technology-intensive organizations, (3) productivity, optimization, and efficiency, and (4) sustainability strategies and business models.

For those interested in the position, we offer:

• A dynamic and internationally oriented department with strong links to business life
• The opportunity to shape and lead a growing research environment in strategically important areas
• An attractive campus environment in Karlskrona, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with close links to Sweden's entrepreneurial and industrial ecosystems

Place of Work: Karlskrona

Extent of Employment: 100%

Start Date: 2026-09-01, or by agreement

Duration: Permanent

Application Deadline: 2026-xx-xx.