Dear everyone,

Now it has already been one year with me as head of department. It was a very exciting year with many heights, but also some headwinds. I am proud to be head of a department with so many fantastic employees who contribute to both high-level teaching and, not least, internationally excellent research, according to the committee from EVALMEDHELSE, which further concluded that “Both the research and teaching activities have been of high international standard and visibility, which has attracted researchers in basic science and clinicians to successfully collaborate on the well-defined expert areas within this administrative unit”. As Eystein already mentioned last week, we are almost at the finish line with the strategic plan for 2025-2030, where we will include some of the recommendations from the committee.

The past year has been very successful in terms of allocations of external funding that covers indirect costs (ERC, NFR, various allocations from the EU, etc.) and there are many of you who have plans to lead a Center of Excellence (SFF). We have got better routines in place and most people are now familiar with the form that must be filled in for applications for external funding, so that a project economist is connected in time to help with the budget. And even though I unfortunately can’t do magic, and K2 is still running at a loss, we are on the right track! We have vacated some of the area in the lab building, which provides savings both for rent and not least operating costs.

Planning for the multi-campus model for medical education is in full swing, and we have gained many new colleagues in Stavanger. In the autumn, the first 20 medical students who will fullfill the studies in Førde after the 3rd year will start in Bergen, so then there will gradually also be more colleagues there. I hope that as many people as possible can participate in the Institute’s day on 8 September at 11:30-16:00, where we will work with the answers from the working environment survey (FAMU).

Last but not least: Thank you very much to Silje Skrede, you have done a fantastic job as a head of innovation! Lots of good luck in the future as vice-dean for research, research education and innovation! Welcome to Valeriya Lyssenko as the new head of innovation at K2. And thank you very much for your efforts as director of the Centre for Pharmacy to Reidun Kjome, who is now joining the dean’s office as vice dean for education. I wish Lars Herfindal lots of luck as the new director of the center!

I wish everyone a very good summer!

Silke