Here you can find out about Dalarna University researchers who can comment on current issues related to markets, policy instruments, innovation, energy, consumption, risk, business development, and the economics of tourism.
Business development, organisations and entrepreneurship
Peter Hultén, Professor of Business Administration, conducts research on entrepreneurship, creativity, and international trade. His work covers topics such as how knowledge spreads within industries, how companies develop new products and services, and how internal processes, such as branding and internal communication, affect organisations. He wrote his doctoral thesis on how Western European companies transfer management models to subsidiaries in Ukraine and has since served as Sweden’s country lead for Ukraine in Sida. He follows the country’s development closely and has experience discussing entrepreneurship-related projects in Ukraine.
Business models, logistics and sustainability strategies
Carl Olsmats, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management, focuses his research on sustainability, logistics, strategy, and business development, with particular emphasis on packaging logistics, “last mile” logistics, and supply chains. Carl has extensive experience in leading roles in industry, including within the World Packaging Organisation, and combines research with practical strategic work. His expertise also includes sustainable business models, strategic foresight, and how logistics solutions influence consumer behaviour and business competitiveness.
Data-driven mobility and societal analysis
Mia Xiaoyun Zhao, Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at Dalarna University, has a research specialisation in the field of sustainable mobility solutions (shared mobility, e‑mobility, and autonomous mobility services), system-level evaluations, and urban mobility transitions. She has extensive project experience – from EU-funded research and innovation projects to national and regional initiatives, as well as collaborations with municipalities, authorities, and industry. She develops and applies advanced methods to analyse and model human mobility, including spatial and spatio-temporal data analysis (GIS), algorithms for transport mode detection from GPS data, and machine-learning and sequence models for interpreting and predicting mobility patterns. Her work also includes indicators and analytical frameworks for accessibility and proximity, for example, linked to the 15-minute city, as well as scenario-based analyses evaluating environmental, economic, and social effects of future transport solutions, including automated driving.
Digital markets
Kenneth Carling is a Professor of Microdata Analysis. His research broadly covers computational science, economics, and statistics, focusing on how data can be used to understand markets, pricing, transport structures, and the effects of digitalisation. He has published in areas such as environmental economics, operations analysis, transport, and social planning, and is frequently consulted as an expert in national and European evaluations. His current research includes topics such as organisational digitalisation, decision-support systems, algorithmic pricing, and sustainable retail location strategies.
Environmental and sustainability economics (circular economy and energy)
Catia Cialani is an Associate Professor of Economics and an expert in environmental and energy economics, circular economy, and applied econometrics. Her research concerns climate and energy policy, sustainable consumption and production patterns, and macroeconomic factors that influence resource use and growth. Catia has previously worked as an economist at Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies (ENEA) and at the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL). As a result of research stays in the United States, she has a great deal of international experience. At Dalarna University, she is responsible for several master’s programmes in economics and teaches microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Innovation, entrepreneurship and strategic decision-making
Belén Casales Morici is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for Industrial Engineering and Management. Her work addresses strategic decision-making in regulated industries, innovation, digitalisation, and entrepreneurial behaviour in both the private and the public sectors. Her focus is on how organisations use internal resources and external networks to identify opportunities, act entrepreneurially, and build competitive advantages. She has particular expertise in network dynamics, governance, and decision-making processes, as well as in how organisations combine strategic and entrepreneurial activities within healthcare and other critical sectors – for example, questions of discontinuing low-value care, professional autonomy, waiting times, and healthcare guarantees.
Microeconomics, environment, transport and regulations
Lena Nerhagen holds a PhD and is a Senior Lecturer in Economics. She is an expert in socioeconomic analysis and regulatory and risk analysis, particularly related to the environmental and transport sectors. Her research addresses policy instruments, public decision-making, institutional conditions, and how legislation affects socioeconomic efficiency. Lena is a member of the SNS Preparedness Commission and participates in public debate – for example, regarding shortcomings in authorities’ risk and impact assessments, most recently concerning the use of PEth tests in driving licence cases and the policy instrument of environmental zones. She also has experience from strategic climate and energy work at the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) and from a government inquiry on policy instruments and air quality (Partikelhaltsutredningen).
Sustainability transition, management control and strategic development
Klas Sundberg holds a PhD and is a Senior Lecturer in Business Administration. His research concerns sustainable business, strategic transitions, and management control. His work includes regional sustainability initiatives. Klas analyses what drives or prevents organisations in their development toward sustainability and how management control and governance models can be used as tools in change processes. He teaches accounting, management control, and research methodology.
