International Development Oportuities

Laila Adelson

(PhD Candidate in Innovation Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Can you briefly tell us who you are and what you research?
My name is Laila Adelson, and I am a very curious person. I enjoy learning new things, hearing how others think, and understanding how everything is connected. The inner drive to understand why decisions are made and how ideas become reality has followed me for a long time, and it is also what led me into research. Today, I am a doctoral student researching innovation processes for dual-use how innovation is developed and implemented at the intersection of civilian and defence-related contexts. I focus on how ways of working, decision-making and organisational structures influence whether ideas actually function in practice over time.

“Curiosity doesn’t kill the cat. It’s the lack of questions, courage and responsibility that does.”

Can you tell us a bit about your exchange in Yokohama/Japan?
I participated in an international conference on innovation management in Yokohama, where my supervisor and I presented our work on triple-use. The presentation sparked many conversations, questions and interesting discussions.

Can you describe a particularly memorable project or meeting you had there?
Absolutely. Japanese culture differs greatly from our own, both in how collaboration, responsibility, and decision‑making are approached. I also gained completely new perspectives on dual‑use, civil–military interaction, and national defence that I would not have developed in the same way at home.

Can you describe a particularly memorable project or meeting you had there?
Absolutely. Japanese culture differs greatly from our own, both in how collaboration, responsibility, and decision‑making are approached. I also gained completely new perspectives on dual‑use, civil–military interaction, and national defence that I would not have developed in the same way at home.

You are now heading to San Francisco – what are you most looking forward to in that exchange?
Returning to Silicon Valley and continuing to work on the triple‑use concept. Stanford and Silicon Valley have a strong research culture and an ecosystem where collaboration, openness, and a clear pay‑it‑forward mindset allow ideas to evolve quickly. It is also personally meaningful to me, as I will reconnect with many people I met while I was there as a Wallenberg Junior Fellow. At that time, I researched autonomous vehicles and policy issues, another dual‑use technology rooted in military development that is now used in civilian contexts, including robotaxis in San Francisco.

Do you have a particular goal for your time in the USA?
To deepen my understanding of the American dual‑use landscape, which is more mature than in Sweden and Europe, and bring back best practices. At the same time, I want to build research networks and contacts that strengthen my academic journey. My aim is to apply these insights in both academia and industry, contributing to the further development of the triple‑use concept and innovation processes in Sweden.

What advice would you give to other doctoral students considering an exchange?
Ask questions—and ask again, even if the first answer is no. A lot comes down to taking initiative yourself. Look for opportunities online, talk to people who have been on exchanges before and ask how they went about it. Ask for advice and for introductions to people who can open new doors. Find like‑minded people with the same drive, who want to develop and help others develop and hold onto them.

If money gets tight: look into scholarships and grants depending on where you want to go, and apply for everything that seems relevant, big or small. In the worst case, nothing happens. In the best case, it can give you a really solid financial foundation for your project or idea.