New Head of PR and Communications at Umeå Biotech Incubator

Tomas Ruuth is the new Head of PR and Communications at Umeå Biotech Incubator.

- UBI and the Life science industry in Umeå are bubbling with life, development, and exciting projects. There are innovations that can both create new jobs and benefit people all over the world. I look forward to starting to communicate everything that is happening, says Tomas, who most recently came from a position as a communications strategist at Thorengruppen.

He succeeds Elin Olsson, who continues under her own management, in the company Contentbyrån.

Jennie Ekbeck is CEO of Umeå Biotech Incubator:

- Lots of exciting things are happening in Umeå, and communication is an essential part of UBI's operations, both to make our startups visible, and the life science industry at large in a local, national and international arena, she says. Tomas is joining us with new perspectives, which will contribute to benefit our business. 

UBI's long-term goal is for the Life Science industry in Umeå to have 1,000 employees and a turnover of SEK 1.5 billion by 2030.

But both UBI and Life science-Umeå are having growing pains right now. Soon, the last available premises will be in use in and around UBI on Tvistevägen, with over 20 companies and early business ideas.

- The forecast says that over 15,000 square meters need to be built within eight years to meet the growth of life science companies in Umeå, says Jennie Ekbeck and continues:

- The challenge is that many of the companies are small, even if they are growing, and their boards cannot guarantee long leases but at the same time, the property owners need the contracts to build. If we find a solution to this, there are great opportunities for the development of the life science industry in Umeå.