9.5 million for the University's health economics initiative

More and more employers want to know what tangible benefits workplace wellness initiatives actually deliver. The University of Gävle has been awarded 9.5 million kronor from the KK Foundation to conduct research on the links between the work environment, health, and profitability.
The initiative is being carried out in close collaboration with the business community and involves a total of 18 million kronor over six years.

The project is driven by a clear demand from both companies and students: the need for knowledge about the potential effects of investments in the workplace environment, in terms of both health and financial sustainability.

“We want to investigate the actual benefits employers gain from investing in the work environment and health. It’s not just about financial gains, but also about organizational development and long-term sustainability,” says Camilla Zetterberg, project manager.

Both education and research

The initiative involves hiring a senior lecturer and a doctoral student in occupational health science, both specializing in health economics. This new expertise will help strengthen and further develop both research and education. In the long term, health economics will be integrated into the educational offerings and is planned to become part of the master’s program in occupational health science External link.. The project will be part of the strategic research area Health Promotion External link. within the Flexible Work External link. program, where issues regarding new forms of work are central.

“Flexible working methods affect both how people feel and how organizations function. Here, we need better knowledge about the connections between the work environment, health, and economic sustainability,” says David Hallman, professor of occupational health science.

Strategically Important Initiative

The project is being carried out in close collaboration with the business community. Four companies from different industries are actively participating throughout the research process, from formulating relevant research questions to contributing to the dissemination and application of results. The projects are designed based on the companies’ need for knowledge about the connections between organizational flexibility, work environment, health, and economic sustainability

For the University of Gävle, this initiative is strategically important and a step toward building a strong and internationally competitive research and education environment.

“This isn’t just about research, but also about developing our education and collaboration with the business community,” says Camilla Zetterberg.