Hanna Jansson

I joined Karolinska Institutet in 2006 to develop the recently formed Unit for Bioentrepreneurship (UBE). Today, I am a Principal Researcher and research group leader for UBE. I also serve as the KI Centre director at the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES). 

My educational background is in medical genetics, with a PhD from Uppsala University focused on evaluating novel DNA technologies and developing specific applications for forensic investigations. Over time, my professional focus has evolved towards collaboration and knowledge utilisation. Drawing on my experience with innovation for societal impact and emerging expertise in entrepreneurship, I was one of the initiators behind the global Master’s programme in Bioentrepreneurship, launched in 2008. A few years later, I co-initiated a pan-European network connecting centres dedicated to research and education in entrepreneurship and innovation.

My current research interest is to explore various aspects of bioentrepreneurship, a dynamic everyday practice for change with the potential to address contemporary challenges in the life sciences. I am particularly interested in the subject's focus on creativity and interdisciplinary co-creation, with learning as a central component.

Current research

• What is bioentrepreneurship 
• covering two studies
• a scoping review and a qualitative interview study with students and alumi
• Healthcare professionals' entrepreneurial capacity for the co-creation of home-based care (2025-2028, Hosted by Professor Karin Berglund at Örebro University and funded by Familjen Kamprads stiftelse). Link to project page

I consider education to be my primary task and responsibility. Currently, I am the course director for the introductory course in the 

Education development is also something I enjoy and prioritise. I have initiated externally funded projects such as the KI 2.0, a co-creative initiative that aimed to implement elements of entrepreneurship into the basic study programmes. When working with a subject such as bioentrepreneurship at a medical university, it might be necessary to complement the curriculum with extracurricular activities to reach more students. As an example of this, we have developed the KI Innovation Day, an inspirational event for creativity and interprofessional collaboration among students.

Pedagogical training

• Documentation of an Educational Development Project. Stockholm University, 4.5 ECTS in 2023-2024
• Seminar series in Teaching and Learning and Educational Development at LIME. Karolinska Institutet, 1 week in 2023-2024
• Global Online GO! Karolinska Institutet, 2 ECTS in 2020
• Pedagogical seminars for teachers at LIME. Karolinska Intsitutet, two weeks in 2019
• Teaching through research, leadership programme. Centre de Recherches Interdisciplinaires, 6 days in 2015
• Grundläggande casepadagogik. Karolinska Institutet, 2 days in 2009
• Att handleda examensarbetande studenter. Uppsala University, 1 week in 2003
• University teacher training course II. Uppsala University, 4 weeks in 2002