Press Release
The Hague, April 15, 2025.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands is proud to hand out the first Swedish Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Scholarship – Powered by Saab to Lotte Nijhof, Master student at TU Delft & Leiden University, pursuing a degree in Industrial Ecology. The Scholarship Ceremony took place during the Chamber’s Executive Sustainability Breakfast, hosted at the Residence of the Swedish Ambassador in The Hague on April 15, 2025. Present during the ceremony were H.E. Ambassador of Sweden to the Netherlands, Mr. Johannes Oljelund, Scholarship recipient Lotte Nijhof, Anne Korthals Altes, Sustainability Manager at Vattenfall and member of the Swedish Chambers Sustainability Committee, and Jan Sundelin, Partner at PartInc and Chairperson of the Swedish Chamber.
The scholarship award of €4,000 will support Lotte Nijhof ‘s research visit to Sweden, where she will conduct fieldwork over a period of two to three months.
Lotte’s application stood out for its important focus on the recycling and circularity of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The Jury was particularly impressed by the following aspects of her proposal:
- Circular supply chains for EV batteries are a highly relevant topic for the energy transition, especially as rapid EV business growth finds reliable solutions for end-of-life is critical.
- The research is a highly relevant topic for both Sweden and the Netherlands. Therefore, the research could be utilised widely and is not limited to a certain geography.
During her stay in Sweden, she will conduct in-person interviews and observational studies with Swedish startups, understand the context, decisions, challenges and partnerships these startups navigate and gather qualitative data critical for comparing and complementing the Dutch and Swedish contexts.
“We are delighted to award Lotte Nijhof as the first recipient of this scholarship,” says Jan Sundelin, Partner at Partinc Capital and Chairperson of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. “Her research in EV battery recycling and circularity aligns perfectly with the scholarship’s vision, and we look forward to seeing the impact of her work. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce extends its heartfelt congratulations to Lotte Nijhof and expresses sincere gratitude to Saab for their invaluable collaboration in making this scholarship possible. Through initiatives like this, we continue to nurture talent and drive sustainable innovation for future generations in Sweden and the Netherlands.”
“We were truly impressed by the quality and passion demonstrated by all applicants,” says Ashkan Danaei, Sales Director at Tetra Pak, Head of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Committee. “After thorough deliberation, Lotte Nijhof was unanimously chosen as the first recipient of this scholarship. We thank all applicants for sharing their inspiring ideas and efforts toward a sustainable future.”
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce extends its heartfelt congratulations to Lotte Nijhof and expresses sincere gratitude to Saab for their invaluable collaboration in making this scholarship possible. Through initiatives like this, we continue to nurture talent and drive sustainable innovation for future generations in Sweden and the Netherlands.
For media inquiries, please contact:
malin.alders@swedishchamber.nl
Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands
+3120 3203226
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
