Doctoral Research Fellow Elisabeth M.C. Svennevik at TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, went to S?o Paulo in Brazil with funding from the UiO:Energy international mobility and collaboration grant. The purpose of her trip was trifold: Participate in a post-graduate course on new trends in the automotive industry, present her own work at an International Colloquium on trends in the global automotive sector and discuss with international colleagues at all levels.
Deep dive into current trends
The course was hosted by the School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting at Ribeir?o Preto of the University of S?o Paulo and was about new technologies and trends in product development, global strategies, and global supply chains in the automotive industry. Elisabeth learned a lot about international trends such as different use and production of electrical vehicles in various counties, and relevant policies.
- The course was useful for my research, and I got to know other students studying these topics and had interesting conversations learning about their work on energy and transport.
The overall theme of the Gerpisa International Colloquium was Who drives the change? New and traditional players in the global automotive sector and the majority of the topics presented were engaging and directly relevant for Elisabeth's research.
- In particular, it was interesting to learn about ongoing research trends and get to know researchers studying four common worldwide challenges for the car industry; how cars are changing and becoming Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electrified, CASE.
Elisabeth presented her own paper with the title ¡°Connecting experimental processes and systemic change: The role of car sharing in a transition towards sustainable mobility¡± within the shared topic. For this she was awarded the Gerpisa Young Author's Prize. The award was created five years ago to support and highlight outstanding contributions by young scholars to the works of the Gerpisa international network. She won the opportunity to publish a paper in a special issue of the International Journal of Automotive Management and Technology, and a 1500 € reward.
New contacts and new perspectives
The travel allowed for Elisabeth to make new international contacts and discuss with fellow researchers.
- The trip was interesting and rewarding because of the unique opportunities to learn from established professors as well as younger researchers on the topics of environmental challenges and car use. I achieved a higher understanding about how other countries sees the role of actors involved in new technologies and new business, within the car industry and in connection to the sharing economy. I also learned about different views on the integration of established technologies and public policies in the changing car industry.
In addition this was also an unique opportunity for Elisabeth to visit Brazil and such a big city as S?o Paulo.
- I have never experienced anything like this. It was an endless view of skyscrapers and roads.