The holding company helps research ideas move forward
2026-09-21
“Although the company has no operational resources of its own, it fulfils an important function as an investment vehicle in collaboration with the university’s innovation advisors, the incubator, and other support actors. It is a pure investment company. Its mission is to acquire, manage, and sell shares and ownership interests in companies linked to research, development, and knowledge that have emerged within or close to the University of Borås,” explained Erik Bresky.
The company can provide early-stage capital when an idea or an academic-related company needs to take the next step towards commercialisation and societal benefit. The investment can also provide legitimacy in relation to other financiers, customers, and collaborative partners.
Part of the innovation system
However, the holding company does not work alone. As it has no advisors, project leaders, or business developers of its own, its activities take place in close collaboration with other parts of the university’s and the region’s innovation system.
Borås INK contributes business advice and support for start-up companies, Drivhuset works with student entrepreneurship, and innovation advisors at GIO, Grant and Innovation Office, help researchers and staff develop ideas, apply for verification funding, and understand the route towards utilisation.
In addition, Science Park Borås provides environments, test beds, business networks, and projects in which ideas can be developed in collaboration with industry, the public sector, and academia.
“It is within that context that the holding company fulfils its specific role: investing when an idea is mature enough for the first step of forming a company,” said Erik Bresky.
Support for researchers and idea holders
For researchers and staff, the process often begins with a conversation with innovation advisors at GIO. Questions relating to verification, intellectual property, possible applications, funding, and next steps can be discussed there.
“When the conditions are right, the holding company can enter as an early-stage investor. In this way, the company can help reduce the threshold between academic knowledge and practical application,” said Erik Bresky.
Examples of academic-related companies
“The inflow of concrete ideas for commercialisation and company formation from the University of Borås is still relatively limited, which is also common at several small and medium-sized higher education institutions. At the same time, there are examples that demonstrate how early-stage capital can contribute when the right idea, team, and collaborative structure are in place,” said Erik Bresky.
The company Fureho, which originated from a former professor in Textile Manufacturing Technology, Nandan Khokar, and his idea of 3D weaving of composite materials, is one example. Fureho develops and manufactures noobed fabrics in the form of panels and blocks for customers within the advanced composites industry. The noobed fabrics product is manufactured in different length, width, and thickness dimensions based on customer requirements and application specifications.
Another example is Luna Micro, which has its origins in research at Linköping University and researcher Nate Robinson, who has worked together with Smart Textiles at the University of Borås. When the company was established, it was a joint incubation between the incubator in Linköping and Borås Inkubator, and the company’s first employees were students from the Degree Programme in Textile Engineering.
“It is a good example of both joint incubation and co-investment.”
A small but important function
“The holding company does not replace research, educational programmes, innovation advice, or incubator activities. However, through its ability to invest at very early stages, the company complements the support structures that already exist. When capital, advice, networks, and test environments are brought together, the opportunities increase for ideas from academia to develop into new companies, solutions, and societal benefit,” concluded Erik Bresky.
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Högskolan i Borås Holding AB (on the Swedish webpage)
Högskolan i Borås Holding AB is a member of the Association of University Holding Companies in Sweden (FUHS), which includes all Swedish university holding companies as members.
Last spring, Erik Bresky was interviewed by FUHS in a series of articles about holding companies, in which he explains the importance of Sweden’s innovation system and the role of the country’s higher education institutions’ innovation offices and holding companies in enabling research-based ideas to develop into new companies, technologies, and societal solutions.