What SLU does

SLU (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) is a Swedish state university (statlig myndighet) founded in 1977 through the merger of the Agricultural College and the Veterinary College, with operational roots traceable to 1732 via the National Forest Inventory. Headquartered in Uppsala with main campuses in Alnarp and Umeå, plus training facilities in Skinnskatteberg, Flyinge, Strömsholm, and Wången, SLU operates 1,001–5,000 employees organized into four faculties: Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Landscape Architecture/Horticulture/Crop Production Science, and Forestry. The institution serves three primary constituencies: prospective and current students (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels across agricultural, environmental, veterinary, and forestry sciences), Swedish government agencies (as the statutory provider of 12 environmental analysis programs producing official statistics and open data), and the broader research community (through publications, infrastructure, and doctoral training).

The university runs a digital ecosystem anchored by Canvas (learning management), Ladok (student information system), TimeEdit (scheduling), the SLU Play video platform, the Miljödatakatalogen environmental data catalog, and the Forskningskatalog research database, alongside student-facing tools (Goin' networking app, EduPrint, Mitt skrivbord remote desktop) and standard productivity software (Microsoft Office 365, ArcGIS, MATLAB, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud). Physical research infrastructure includes the Lövsta agricultural research facility (inaugurated 2012), the University Animal Hospital (UDS), and field research stations across Sweden, supplemented by the new Living Rainforest Restoration Lab in Malaysian Borneo through a 10-year IKEA partnership.

SLU is funded primarily by direct appropriations from the Swedish government, with tuition free for EU/EEA students and additional revenue from research grants, foundation partnerships (Beijerstiftelsen, Sällskapsdjursforskningens Fond, Sverker Lerhedens Minnesfond), and corporate collaborations such as the IKEA rainforest agreement. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The university has held ISO 14001 environmental certification since 2016 and has publicly committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2027. Leadership comprises Rector Maria Knutson Wedel, Prorektor Pär Forslund, University Director Martin Melkersson, CFO Hanna Mörtberg, and four vicerectors overseeing education, research infrastructure, collaboration/environmental analysis, and internationalization/Agenda 2030.

Name

SLU

Legal name

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Website

https://slu.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SLU is Sweden's state university for agricultural, veterinary, forestry, and environmental sciences, operating across campuses in Uppsala, Alnarp, and Umeå, serving students, government agencies, and researchers through degree programs, statutory environmental monitoring, and applied research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Agricultural & Life Sciences

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Medicine Universities (EDAHAGAG), Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL), Irrigation Systems & Water Management (Ag) (EDAOAOAG)

Keywords

• Agricultural higher education
• Veterinary medicine programs
• Forestry research education
• Environmental analysis services
• Sustainable life sciences

Headquarters

HQ city

Uppsala

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SLU is Sweden's national university for agricultural sciences, delivering higher education (bachelor's, master's, doctoral) and conducting research across four faculties covering agriculture, veterinary medicine, forestry, landscape architecture, and horticulture. The university also operates twelve official environmental analysis programs that produce open environmental data and official statistics for Swedish government agencies, and runs research stations (including Lövsta), the University Animal Hospital (UDS), and the Skogsmästarskolan forestry school.

Product overview

SLU (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) is a university offering educational programs and conducting research in agriculture, environmental sciences, veterinary medicine, and forestry. The institution operates a digital ecosystem including SLU Play (video platform), Canvas (learning management system), Ladok (student registration), and TimeEdit (scheduling). Core services include the University Library, Servicecenter for student support, environmental data catalog, and research infrastructure such as the Lövsta agricultural research facility and field research stations. Student-facing digital tools include EduPrint (printing), Mitt skrivbord (virtual desktop), ReachMee (interview scheduling), and Goin' (student networking app). The university provides environmental analysis through twelve specialized programs and maintains research collaboration platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Degree Programs (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral) Higher education degree programs across four faculties (Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences; Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science; and Forestry) at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Free tuition for EU/EEA students. Offered at Uppsala, Alnarp, and Umeå campuses.
• Twelve Environmental Analysis Programs (Miljöanalysprogram) Twelve official environmental analysis programs providing knowledge, official statistics, and open data on biodiversity, water quality, forestry, agricultural resources, and other environmental topics to Swedish government agencies and the public. Linked to national environmental objectives and global sustainability goals.
• SLU University Library (SLU Biblioteket) University library with four physical locations (Umeå, Uppsala, Skinnskatteberg, and Alnarp) providing study support, writing assistance, scientific literature, and study spaces for students, researchers, and the public.
• University Animal Hospital (Universitetsdjursjukhuset, UDS) University Animal Hospital (UDS) in Uppsala providing advanced specialty and emergency veterinary services while serving as a teaching facility for SLU veterinary students. Located adjacent to Campus Ultuna.
• Skogsmästarskolan (Forestry School) Forestry school (Skogsmästarskolan) located in Skinnskatteberg, offering specialized forestry education. Incorporated into SLU in 1989. Includes on-site student housing.
• Hippology Program (Equestrian Studies) Hippology (equestrian studies) program offered at three national equestrian facilities (riksanläggningar): Flyinge, Strömsholm, and Wången, each providing student housing. Combines academic study with hands-on equestrian training.
• SLU Research Catalog (Forskningskatalog) Searchable online catalog of SLU's research projects, research groups, and subject areas, enabling users to filter and discover research activity across the university.
• SLU Environmental Data Catalog (Miljödatakatalog) Open data catalog enabling search, browsing, and download of environmental and species data, maps, and statistics collected through SLU's environmental analysis programs. Available to government agencies, researchers, and the public.
• SLU Play Video Platform Public video and multimedia platform providing access to research presentations, student stories, webinar recordings, and educational content across multiple channels (study, science, operations).
• Lövsta Agricultural Research Facility (Lövsta Lantbruksforskning) Agricultural research facility inaugurated in 2012, providing infrastructure and resources for research and education on agricultural animals. Adjacent to SLU's Campus Ultuna in Uppsala.
• Campus Servicecenters Physical service centers at SLU's three main campuses (Alnarp, Ultuna/Uppsala, and Umeå) providing student support services including pass cards, certificates, room bookings, and general administrative assistance.
• Goin' Student App Social networking app developed specifically for SLU students to help new students find community, chat with future classmates, identify peers with similar interests, and access tips about housing and student life.
• Living Rainforest Restoration Lab Ten-year research lab launched in 2026 through partnership with IKEA for rainforest restoration research in Malaysian Borneo, with increased scientific focus on threatened rainforest areas. Continues SLU's 25+ year rainforest restoration work.

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Evidensia StrömsholmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterinary hospital collaborating with SLU and Universitetsdjursjukhuset Uppsala in the Mälardalen region for joint research on feline diseases.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen is the leading European agricultural and life sciences university with a multi-faculty structure, applied research mandate, and similar focus on food, environment, and sustainability. It is the most direct global peer to SLU in mission, scale, and academic portfolio.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): NMBU is the Nordic counterpart to SLU, offering agriculture, forestry, veterinary, environmental science, and landscape programs across Norwegian campuses. Comparable in mandate, public ownership, and disciplinary mix.
• Aarhus University: Aarhus University includes a strong Faculty of Technical Sciences covering agriculture, ecology, and environmental monitoring, and shares SLU's combination of research, teaching, and public-sector data responsibilities in a Nordic context.
• University of Copenhagen (Faculty of Science): Copenhagen's Faculty of Science houses agricultural, veterinary, and life sciences programs with strong environmental and sustainability research, overlapping SLU's portfolio and serving a comparable Scandinavian student market.
• University of Helsinki (Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry): Helsinki's Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is the closest Finnish peer, covering agriculture, forestry, environmental sciences, and food sciences with similar research and teaching mandates to SLU's faculties.
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU): BOKU is Austria's leading agricultural and life sciences university with comparable faculties in agriculture, forestry, veterinary, and environmental engineering, mirroring SLU's structure on a Central European scale.

Broad incumbents

• ETH Zurich: ETH Zurich is a broader public research university with significant agricultural, environmental, and veterinary-adjacent research output. It is a higher-tier but comparable European public research university competing for talent, grants, and prestige.
• KU Leuven: KU Leuven is a leading European research university with bioscience engineering, environmental, and veterinary programs that overlap SLU's applied life sciences mandate, though it is broader in disciplinary scope.

Regional players

• University of Reading (School of Agriculture, Policy and Development): Reading's agriculture and food school is a long-standing UK peer in agricultural research and teaching, with a similar applied research focus on environment and sustainability, though primarily serving the UK market.
• Swedish University Network (SUNET) ecosystem / Lund University: Lund University is a peer Swedish public research university that co-locates SLU's Alnarp campus near Lund and hosts adjacent life sciences and environmental research, competing for talent, funding, and students in the same national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/SLU/104902269544771?ref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/12318
• Instagraminstagram.com/slu.sweden
• TikToktiktok.com/@slu.student
• Xx.com/_slu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SLU