Chalmers University of Technology and Gothenburg

Chalmers was founded in 1829. The university is named after the major benefactor, William Chalmers, one of the directors of the successful Swedish East India Company in Göteborg.

William Chalmers (1748-1811) had created a greater wealth from his work within the Swedish East India Company during the late 1700's. Influenced by Pehr Dubb he then bequeathed all his estate to the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg and to the creation of an industry school for poor children who learned to read and write. "Chalmersska Slöjdeskolan", which opened in Gothenburg, November 5, 1829, and became the beginning of Chalmers University of Technology.

The first president was the industrialist Carl Palmstedt. The connections with industry and commerce has therefore been natural from the very beginning.

Chalmers is the only university in Sweden, which is named after a person. The emblem Avancez together with the logo, forms the university brand. The emblem has its origin in the donor William Chalmers seal.