COLOURS Annual Conference 2025
We are delighted to invite you to COLOURS Annual conference, where representatives from all COLOURS universities and our associated partners will come together to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and illuminate the path forward.
Dates: December 9-11, 2025
Location: Kristianstad, Sweden
This year’s conference will be a beacon in the winter darkness, offering engaging discussions, thought-provoking presentations, and opportunities to connect across institutions.
Programme
December 9, Tuesday
14.00 Fieldstudies at Balsgård Food Tech, https://balsgardfoodtech.se/en/
We will travel by bus to Åhus to visit a testbed/process industry for small-scale drink and food production. You will get to see a newly built facility that supports small, innovative actors in our region as well as nationally. Tasting is included.
Departure at 14:00 from Stora Torg, by the Town Hall, Christian IV:s gata 5-3.
19.00 Social gathering at Mässen Kristianstad
Joint mingle, finger food and drinks in the historic building Stora Kronohuset, Västra Storgatan 25 in central Kristianstad. Pay your own drinks, SEK, Swish or Euro.
December 10, Wednesday
Location: Krinova Incubator & Science Park, Stridsvagnsvägen 14 (next to Kristianstad University Campus), Bus no 4 from Central Station towards Högskolan Kristianstad
8.30 - 9.00 Registration
You will receive a name badge to wear around your neck. On the back of it, there’s a QR code that you can scan to access this webpage with links to more information about the different activities.
9.00 - 9.30 Welcome & introduction
Conference Opening by Håkan Pihl, Vice-chancellor Kristianstad University and Anneli Orrung Wallin Pro-vice-chancellor Kristianstad University.
Welcome speech by COLOURS President Heike Trautmann, Paderborn University
Introduction of Dr. Wael Mousa, COLOURS Managing Director as of January 2026.
9.30 - 10.00 Glimpses of success: Stakeholders success stories.
Success stories from the alliance will open the conference as inspiration for our continued work.
Moderator: Basel Myhub
10.00 - 11.50 World Café - Development topics for COLOURS
Learn more about World Café and the different topics
11.50 Introduction to Associated Partner Activity, Jonas Haak, Chairman of the board, Krinova Incubator & Science Park. Associated partners lunch at the same table.
11.55 - 12.00 Group photo
12.00 - 13.00 Lunch break, Strategy Board members and Rectors at the same table.
12.00-13.00 Student Forum Meeting at Krinova, room Learn
Student representatives from across the alliance will gather in their forum to develop their contributions to the alliance’s future development work. Their ideas will be passed on to the Steering Committee which also includes all the Student Chief Ambassadors. Meeting link: https://hkr-se.zoom.us/j/66574976201
Location: The afternoon programme will take place on Kristianstad University Campus (next to Krinova Incubator & Science Park), Elmetorpsvägen 15. Note that Associated Partner activities is an exception and participants can remain at Krinova Incubator & Science park. Those who have participated in the morning sessions will be guided by students to the venues for the afternoon programme.
13.00 - 15.00 Workshops, Building 15
Here you will have the opportunity to choose which workshop you would like to participate in based on your interests. Make sure to select for yourself which workshop you will attend well in advance before it’s time to head to the different rooms for the sessions! You will be guided to the correct room by students from HKR.
Check out the workshops
13.00 Activity for associated partners at Krinova Incubator & Science Park
It is possible to join this meeting online, https://hkr-se.zoom.us/j/65451213047
15.00-15.30 Break
The fika break will take place in Building No 7 at Campus (pdf, 76 kB). Building 7 is the one with large glass panels in the middle of the campus. Visit the “Wishing Tree” activity outside Building 7, where you are invited to write down your wishes regarding Colours’ impact on society. Instagram friendly!
15:30-16.30 Steering Committee Meeting, Building 6, room 6:315
WP Leads, Co-Leads, CIO Leads, CSO, and Student Chief Ambassadors will gather for their formal meeting to identify key areas that need to be developed within the alliance and bring these forward to the Strategy Board. Mats and Martin from HKR will guide you to the meeting room.
Agenda Steering Committee Meeting
Meeting link: https://hkr-se.zoom.us/j/65126412776
16.30-16.45 Break
16.45-18.15 Strategy Board Meeting and rectors, Building 6, room 6:310 (pdf, 76 kB)
This forum brings together all the rectors, and in some cases vice-rectors, who have been involved in implementing Colours at the alliance’s institutions. It is the highest decision-making body within the alliance and operates from a strategic perspective to ensure the best possible development. Anneli Orrung Wallin from HKR will guide you to the meeting room. Agenda Strategy Board and Rectors Meeting.
Meeting link: https://hkr-se.zoom.us/j/65017925215
15.30-17.00 Open Space - Concurrent activity for those not involved in Governance Board Meetings, Building 4, floor 4
Now we’re kicking off the evening!
Open Space - Students in the alliance are hosting an interactive activity in Building 4, floor 4! Meet new people and get to know each other to develop new collaborations for 2026 and beyond!
17.00-18.45 Optional: Networking including snacks and drinks in Building 4, Faculty Club
17.00-18.45 Optional: You may return to your hotel before the evening’s activities. However, please note that the bus ride will take up quite a bit of your time.
18.45 Gathering and walk to Näsby Gård
Everyone will gather outside Building 4 (pdf, 76 kB) for a joint walk to Näsby Gård. We will make the walk as a torchlight procession, moving closely together into the darkness—preferably while singing a few delightful Christmas songs. All to keep the spirits of the wilderness out.
Please note: Warm clothing and suitable footwear are strongly recommended.
19.00 Dinner at Näsby Gård
Upon arrival, we will enjoy mulled wine and be greeted by a Lucia procession. The evening’s Christmas-inspired dinner has been created by Gastronomy students from Kristianstad University, with a focus on sustainable food consumption. Check out Conscious Cravings on Instagram. There will be dancing to Eurovision hits from our different countries, along with other surprising requested songs.
Shuttle buses will transport participants back to Kristianstad city after dinner.
December 11, Thursday
Location: Kristianstad City Hall (Rådhuset), Västra Storgatan 12, across the street from Kristianstad C Train Station
Join the day online, https://live.mediaflow.com/32OEF3XABE
Moderator: Anneli Orrung Wallin, Pro Vice Chancellor Kristianstad University
09.00-09.30 Registration and coffee
09.30-10.00 Welcome speech by Camilla Palm, Chair of the Municipality Executive Committee. Introduction, recap, film and todays plan
10.00-10.30 Keynote Speaker: Richard Holliman
Engaged Universities in Competitive Times: Co-Constructing Publics in Research and Innovation - Richard Holliman.
10.30-11.15 Presentation of Work Package leads
Short presentations together create a picture of where we want to go and what this will mean for the alliance and its regional partners.
11.15-11.25 Student Enterprise Projects
Presentation of two different student enterprise projects from Kristianstad and Ferrara. These ideas are being developed into pilot projects aimed at contributing to regional societal development connected to the challenges of the global sustainability goals.
11.25-11.35 The producer of the new version of the Colours song, a student from HKR, will be introduced, and we’ll sing it together.
11.35-11.50 Students´ Kahoot
The students have prepared an entertaining but challenging quiz. Take out your mobile phones and open Kahoot!
Moderator: Piergiorgio Mazzotti
11.50-12.00 EDI Policy Ceremony
We celebrate the core values of liberal democracy! A policy for EDI across our universities has been developed and will be signed by all rectors. It is now being brought into focus and will now be implemented.
12.00-12.05 Group photo
12.05-13.00 Lunch break
13.00-13.30 Presentation of Associated Partner Workshop
Associated partners present the outcomes from yesterday’s workshop.
13.30-15.00 The Future of COLOURS: Future Robustness Study Results, Panel Discussion and Open Discussion
Conference panel outline
Moderator: Anette Klinkert, Managing Director Colours Alliance
15.00 Closing ceremony, handover to Ferrara, COLOURS song one more time!
Moderators Håkan Pihl, Vice-chancellor Kristianstad University and Anneli Orrung Wallin Pro-vice -chancellor Kristianstad University.
15.20 Coffee and farewell until next time — mingle and connect.
Registration
Register here for COLOURS Annual Conference 2025. Register no later than November 19. In order to get good offers for accomodation, register and book hotel before June 30.