IVA´s Great Gold Medal was awarded to Professor Bengt Kasemo for his particularly outstanding and wide-ranging contributions as a scientist and a leader of research at Chalmers University of Technology, oriented towards technically, biologically and medically significant surface phenomena associated with contact with gases, liquids or biomaterial. The award also reflected his entrepreneurial work in connection with industry and growing new start-ups. His greatest source of pride is his work as a scientist at the very leading edge of technology and his legacy in founding the instrument company Q-Sense.

Professor Anne-Marie Hermansson was awarded a Gold Medal 2007 in recognition of her work in building up and developing her particular area of research, structure and material design in biological material, into a leading international Competence Centre. The Centre is engaged in cross-border basic and applied research and in national and international collaboration, allied to the application of results covering a broad spectrum of industrial product areas. The research relates to the design of different materials. This requires an understanding of the connection between microstructures and properties of materials so that if a product is changed it will still retain its properties.

Director Dan Sten Olsson was awarded a Gold Medal 2007 for his work as an outstanding and innovative entrepreneur and leader of industry. His leadership is characterised by vigorous growth allied to initiatives for environmentally sustainable solutions. Dan Sten Olsson has, through generous donations, the financing of professorships and through his own personal involvement, given strong support to research and education in fields including business development, ship design and aspects of environmental, offshore and biotechnology.

The awards were presented in connection with the Academy´s Annual Meeting which took place in late October. The award ceremony was conducted by the Speaker of the Parliament, Per Westerberg.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA, is an independent Academy devoted to the promotion of the technical and economic sciences for the good of society and the development of the economy. In collaboration with industry and other academic institutions, IVA proposes and initiates measures which strengthen Sweden´s industrial competence and competitiveness.