Research - establishment of highly integrated battery factory

Purpose and goal

Northvolt´s industrial establishment project is regarded as one of the largest industry investments in Sweden during modern times. The project aim was to gain learnings from Northvolt´s initial start-up. Project objectives are fulfilled and have specifically focused on union collaboration for production establishment in a Swedish context as well as processes for site selection, environment/circularity initiatives, company culture, and competence issues.

Expected results and effects

This project has in particular contributed to knowledge and initiation of a unique early collaborative process that Northvolt has established with relevant union organizations. By a proactive approach and in an early start-up stage for factory establishment, the process is a platform for development of a concept model for future industrial workplaces and union collaboration in the recreation of factories in the global company.

Planned approach and implementation

With regard to the company´s dynamic development, project activities have increasingly been carried out in interaction with the company, strongly supported by the project´s steering group. The main study focused on Northvolt´s collaboration with union parties aiming to build a conceptual model for an optimal work organization and attractive industrial workplaces in a Swedish context. Also, studies of site selection process, culture, competence- and environmental approaches were included in the longitudinal study.