He joins Future Mobility with a specific focus on the US to identify and foment opportunities for bilateral collaboration in sustainable mobility.
With a career spanning more than 30 years in mobility and technology, Jan Hellåker has been involved with several breakthroughs in the sector. More recently, in his role as the chairperson of Drive Sweden, one of the country’s strategic innovation programs, he was nominated by Dagens Industri as an important promoter of sustainable mobility. Now he brings his experience to Future Mobility, as the program’s new US Project Manager.
We had a quick interview with him about his role and how he sees collaboration between Sweden and the United States.
How does it feel to join Future Mobility? What are your expectations for the program?
“It's very exciting, and I believe we have the potential to add significant value to United States-Sweden collaborations for the benefit of, both the participating actors, and our shared sustainable future. The intersection between public and private interests is where I believe Future Mobility can truly make a difference, so that’s where we should focus.”
You have a long experience working with innovation and collaboration in the mobility sector. What do you think is the most exciting thing about Future Mobility?
“Having spent over 30 years at the forefront of mobility development, with experience from both OEMs and startups, I can honestly say that I've never been more convinced than now, that we can actually make tomorrow’s mobility much more sustainable. That said, it’s no longer just about isolated technology development; we need a global systems perspective and collaboration across all stakeholders.”
How do you see the potential of collaborations between the US and Sweden?
"I believe that collaborations between Swedish and American partners hold significant, and yet untapped, potential. Over the years, I have been part of many collaborations involving these two countries and have witnessed numerous examples of how our respective strengths complement each other in a powerful way.”
What is future mobility to you?
“While the CASE acronym, meaning the connected, automated, shared, electric megatrends, may be overused, it's clear that shaping our future mobility will be based on these trends. I want to emphasize the importance of sharing as the most crucial component; we really need to use our vehicles and infrastructure much more efficiently in the future. The good news is that I truly believe we can accomplish that without compromising on our convenience!”
Are you involved in mobility in the USA? We'd love to discuss sustainable mobility with you! Future Mobility is a neutral innovation platform that fosters research and collaboration within sustainable mobility between the US and Sweden. With dedicated resources in both countries, the Future Mobility initiative aims to make collaboration more accessible. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Jan Hellåker.