Professor Ola Isaksson is Professor of Systems Engineering and Engineering Design at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he leads the Systems Engineering Design research group. His work focuses on the design and integration of complex technologies in advanced products and systems. He also serves as co-leader of the Area of Advance – Production at Chalmers, driving cross-disciplinary innovation and collaboration.
He is a board member of the Swedish Aerospace Research Center (SARC), an active member of the European Aeronautics Science Network (EASN), an elected board member of the International Design Society, and a founding member of the Swedish Product Development Academy. In these roles, he contributes to strategic and visionary developments in engineering and design at both national and European levels.
Q: Europe is providing record-level support to the aerospace industry to help achieve the ambitious 2040 and 2050 Net Zero Carbon aviation targets. In your view, what role should universities play in these efforts?
The transition to net zero carbon aviation is urgent, and while large-scale industrial solutions will be essential, universities play a critical role across several dimensions.
First, university researchers bring deep subject-matter expertise in the materials, technologies, and methods that now need to be integrated into future aerospace products and systems. Their foundational knowledge is vital for understanding how emerging technologies behave when integrated into real industrial systems, products, and processes and for supporting both development and validation. Academic research teams are also trained to work systematically, ensuring rigor, quality, and robustness when new findings are applied in practice.
Second, universities are responsible for educating the next generation of engineers and specialists. It is therefore essential that insights from technology integration and development activities are fed back into curricula, training programs, and design guidelines. Without active engagement from university researchers in translating discoveries into industrial practice, a significant gap can emerge between academic research and real-world implementation—something the aerospace sector cannot afford during this critical transition.
Finally, universities have a broader mandate to advance knowledge and contribute to society. Their involvement in standards development and regulatory discussions ensures an objective, science-based perspective. Robust theoretical foundations are indispensable for scaling solutions and embedding them into industrial processes in a sustainable and globally consistent way.
Q: What advice would you give to program leaders in aerospace research and innovation?
Program leaders should ensure that high-TRL (Technology Readiness Level) activities generate not only demonstrators but also lasting knowledge and long-term impact. Beyond proving the feasibility of high-impact concepts through advanced testing, programs must focus on developing, capturing, and translating knowledge into scalable industrial solutions. In this respect, universities are essential partners.
At the same time, it is crucial to involve the stakeholders who will ultimately rely on, regulate, or implement the results. The participation of EASA in Clean Aviation is a good example—early involvement of regulatory bodies can help pave the way for certifying novel technologies. Similarly, stakeholders from business, manufacturing, and operations need to be engaged to understand how innovations will affect future processes, capabilities, and value chains.
New technologies in aerospace are rarely “plug-and-play.” Their performance, integration, and operational characteristics typically require new approaches to industrialization. A closer dialogue between researchers and industry can be fostered through industrialisation workshops or integration events, where risks, potential, and required efforts for scaling and implementation are openly discussed throughout the program. This helps ensure that promising innovations are not only validated technically but are also prepared for adoption in real industrial environments.
