Our History
Wexsus is a new initiative but with a history that traces back to the 1990s. Even then, collaboration was in focus – and it is becoming increasingly important!
The idea of creating a collaborative platform in Western Sweden emerged within the alliance 'Lärosäten Väst' to solidify the joint work for sustainable development. The alliance consists of six higher education institutions in Western Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, University of Skövde, University of Borås, University West, and Jönköping University.
In June 2023, three of the institutions decided to form a consortium under the working name 'West Swedish Arena for Sustainable Development.' The rectors of Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, and University West jointly signed an agreement, making the three institutions equal owners of the arena, with the option for other stakeholders to become partners. The agreement states that the new arena's activities will focus on the academia's collaboration with stakeholders from all societal sectors.
In the autumn of 2023, it was decided that the West Swedish arena would be named Wexsus – West Sweden Nexus for Sustainable Development, emphasising the relationships and connections between various stakeholders. Therefore, other societal actors are invited to enter various forms of partnerships with Wexsus.
Since the mid-1990s, Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg have collaborated in environmental science and sustainable development, initially as the Environmental Science Section and later as Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development, GMV. At the turn of the year 2023/24, GMV and its activities were merged into Wexsus.