The Research and Development Collaboration between Sandvik Materials Technology and the Vasa Museum on Vasa bolt replacement has qualified for the finals of KulturochNäringsliv, The Swedish Arts and Business Awards 2011.
 
The cooperation, which grew out of a discussion of what material would be suitable to replace the iron bolts that are corroding in Vasa’s hull, is one of three finalists in the competition grants, which aim to promote a closer cooperation between culture and business. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Gothenburg on 22 March.
 
“We are pleased that the cooperation has been noticed. It's exciting when you find a project that is so valuable to both parties. For the Vasa Museum, the preservation work is a constant challenge. With Sandvik's help we have come a long way towards our goal to preserve Vasa for over 1,000 years”, says Marika Hedin, Director of the Vasa Museum, a statement which is backed by Jonas Gustavsson, President of Sandvik Materials Technology.
 
“This is very good news. We have always felt that our cooperation with the Vasa Museum is something extraordinary, and to have it confirmed as one of the finalists in the Swedish Arts and Business Awards is a fantastic feeling,” said Jonas Gustavsson.
 
The collaboration’s success, according to Sandvik Materials Technology's Research Director OlleWijk, can be explained by the fact that the parties, in spite of their superficial differences, show a great deal of similarities, especially in the way they focus on the possibilities rather than problems:  “There is no contradiction between world-leading research in metallurgy and culture. All it takes is an open mind and a willingness to look beyond traditional solutions to find opportunities for cooperation; in our case, it resulted in possibly the world's most exclusive test facility for advanced materials,” added Olle Wijk.
 
Both the Vasa Museum and Sandvik looks forward to March 22nd with eager anticipation.
 
“We are cautiously optimistic with regards to the final in Gothenburg, but whatever the outcome is, I am very proud of both our place in the final, as well as our cooperation with the Vasa Museum,” concludes Jonas Gustavsson.