From robotics lab to leading projects that make a difference
Claes Kinch’s path into technology began with a background in mechanical engineering and a curiosity for how systems work, but it was a university robotics course that sparked his interest in programming. Today, he’s a team lead at Netcompany’s Stockholm office, where he’s helping to modernise one of Sweden’s most important medical databases. From building hobby projects in his spare time to guiding large-scale digital transformations, Claes has always been driven by a desire to understand, improve, and build.
Discovering the joy of building things
It all started with a robot in a maze.
During a hands-on university course in applied robotics, Claes found himself leading a team that had to build a robot capable of navigating a maze and picking up objects along the way.
»I became the team coordinator for some reason,« he laughs, »and that’s when I really started getting interested in programming.«
What had previously felt abstract suddenly clicked. Programming wasn’t just code – it was building, testing, solving, and seeing results in real time.
That course became a turning point.
Claes was studying mechanical engineering with a specialisation in mechatronics – a field that combines mechanics and electronics. While some programming had been part of the core curriculum from the start, it wasn’t until the later, elective years that he discovered how much he enjoyed it.
»We started applying what we’d learned in real projects. That’s when I realised I didn’t just enjoy understanding systems – I wanted to build them myself.«
He began working on hobby projects in his spare time. As a big Formula 1 fan, he developed an app to analyse races and compare drivers’ performances on different tracks. He also created a portfolio manager to track his stocks – just for fun.
That curiosity and drive soon turned into something more. He landed a student job at a consultancy firm and realised this was the direction he wanted to go professionally.
In late 2020, Claes made the move from Lund to Stockholm to write his master’s thesis. A friend recommended Netcompany, and the idea of working on large-scale, purposeful projects with room to grow appealed to him. He signed the contract shortly after, and he’s been with the company ever since.
Modernising Sweden’s medical databases
Early on, Claes realised that he was motivated by taking ownership and guiding others. He set his sights on growing into roles with more leadership responsibilities, which he’s continued to develop over the years.
Today, he works as a team lead on a major project for Lif (Läkemedelsindustriföreningen) – the Swedish Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry. Alongside 15 other Netcompany consultants, he’s helping to modernise and rebuild “Fass”: Lif’s public pharmaceutical database, which provides essential, up-to-date information about medicinal products in Sweden.
»The application was behind in leveraging the capabilities that modern frameworks and technologies now provide,« Claes explains. »So we worked with Lif to define a new target architecture, combining their modernisation goals with our proposal for a more optimised future setup. The result is a more efficient, scalable solution with long-term value.«
»Trust doesn’t happen overnight«
Leading projects in an international setting means working across different ways of thinking, something Claes sees as both a strength and an opportunity. »We’re a Danish-founded company with offices and clients across Europe. That brings a lot of value, but it also means navigating different expectations,« he explains.
In Sweden, for example, the consultancy culture differs from that of Denmark. »It’s more common here for consultants to be involved for shorter phases rather than from start to finish,« Claes says. This can influence how clients engage with a project. »Swedish clients are used to having more control, so learning to trust the process can take time.«
That’s why establishing a shared understanding early on is essential. For Claes, trust, both with the client and within the team, has become a key focus. »Trust doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time,« he says, describing it as a partnership. »If you work with someone long enough, you get to know them, and that’s when trust starts to grow. That’s also when the most meaningful progress happens.«
Staying motivated – on and off the track
Claes brings the same mindset to life outside of work. As a passionate cross-country skier, he competes in Vasaloppet each year – the world’s biggest cross-country ski race covering a 90-kilometre route through snow and forest. When the season changes, he trades skis for running shoes, currently focusing on improving his long-distance endurance.
»It’s during the really long runs, when your mind tells you to stop, that things start to get interesting,« he says. The same attitude applies to his work: persistence, patience, and the determination to push through challenges are key to seeing a project through.
Looking ahead
Professionally, Claes is focused on sharpening his project management skills and continuing to grow. But he also has high hopes for Netcompany’s journey in Sweden. »We’ve grown a lot these past few years, but I’d love to see us expand even more here in Stockholm.«
For Claes, it’s never just about delivering a solution: it’s about the journey, the people, and the problems you overcome together. »Sometimes it feels like you’ll never reach the finish line,« he says. »But you always do. And when you look back at everything you’ve accomplished with the team, it’s incredibly rewarding.«
