40 years of innovation – stories from Linköping Science Park
Jörgen Ahlberg is a researcher at Linköping University and a serial entrepreneur deeply integrated into the regional innovation system. With involvement in companies such as Visage Technologies, Termisk Systemteknik, and Glana, he represents the strong connection between academic research and commercial application found in Linköping Science Park.
Ahlberg’s professional journey began with a degree in computer engineering and a doctoral thesis on facial tracking algorithms. This research laid the foundation for Visage Technologies, a venture that started alongside his day job and eventually grew into a self-sustaining business. After leaving a position at the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI), he embraced the startup world fully, contributing to a wide array of companies ranging from sensor technology to sports analysis.
The chapter highlights Ahlberg’s role as a translator between different professional worlds. Despite describing himself as introverted, he acts as a mediator who connects experts from disparate fields. The environment in Mjärdevi allows for unique collaborations, such as connecting thermal camera specialists with agricultural experts to solve specific problems in the dairy industry.
This ability to navigate both scientific and business discussions has become his trademark. As Ahlberg explains in the book:
“My strength isn’t being a top business developer or researcher, but I can follow both conversations.”
He emphasizes that the strength of Linköping Science Park lies in its open ecosystem. It is a place where professionals share a common pool of knowledge, allowing them to have lunch together, exchange ideas, and organize new projects the very next day.
This text is part of the article series based on Linköping Science Park’s 40-year book, which is available here.
