KEMET CEO Per-Olof Loof has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).
Founded in 1919, it is the world’s oldest such academy and promotes the exchange of knowledge throughout science and business in Sweden and internationally.
As a graduate of the Stockholm School of Economics, Mr Loof has built an international career within US based technology businesses in Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States, currently residing in Florida since 1999.
He is one of five new members living outside Sweden who have been invited to join the IVA this year.
In 2011 he first visited the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo to begin KEMET’s work to establish a conflict-free supply of tantalum for high-performance capacitors, ensuring fair conditions and safeguarding human rights.
This industry-leading initiative resulted in KEMET being the only capacitor manufacturer to report to the US SEC that its surface mount tantalum capacitors are DRC conflict free. Since 2006, Mr. Loof has been the Honorary Swedish Consul for Florida.
“It is a great privilege to be invited to join the Academy which is one of the most respected organisations in Sweden among engineers and business people,” said Mr. Loof. “The world really needs its leaders to share their understanding of science and commerce to secure a better quality of life for all, and I am looking forward to helping facilitate such exchanges.”
The Academy provides an independent forum for interaction by organising lectures, conferences, research exchanges, and other projects such as awards for achievements in science, engineering and economics.
It arranges meetings throughout Sweden that are open to the public and are free of charge, and also works at an international level through initiatives such as study trips and cooperation with engineering academies worldwide.
In addition, the Academy has nurtured organisations such as the Swedish Museum of Science and Technology, the Institute of Surface Chemistry, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation, Connect Sweden and Power Circle.
