Global impact within walking distance
Sweden is ranked as one of Europe's most innovative countries, with the region of Skåne being one of the top innovation leaders in Europe. Over the past 40 years, Lund has developed a unique innovation culture and support system.
We are developing the Lund Innovation District together
In our work with the innovation district, we want to position Lund's strong ecosystem and thus establish Lund as preferred choice for international collaborations and partnerships.
We create this through connecting environments and actors to build synergies and support complex transformation and multidisciplinary needs.
Innovation districts are dense hubs of economic activity where innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and placemaking intersect.
— The Global District of Innovation Districts
We believe in innovating together
In Lund, we are many individuals and actors (in academia, business, organizations, companies and municipalities) in various industries that together contribute to Lund's strong ecosystem for innovation and development.
People involved in research and innovation.
Researcher at Lund University.
Countries represented.
Businesses
Companies with international owners.
Start-ups during 2023.
Collaboration without frontiers
A well-functioning innovation district is a cornerstone for Lund as an internationally recognized innovation hub. It is a place of unique development, where international actors and individuals can thrive. It serves as a platform for new connections between ideas and people.
An innovation district collects and packages information, infrastructure, areas and actors, and offers support without exerting control.
What is an Innovation District?
Innovation district (ID) is an internationally recognized concept. Many districts work together in international networks.
An ID is a compact space consisting of facilities for research, knowledge actors, test beds and innovation infrastructure with high availability and with proximity to the city as a development arena.
In an ID, different actors work together to create economic development, sustainable housing, jobs and strengthen the attractiveness of the place.
Dynamic Ecosystems for the Future
The objective is to promote accessibility, creativity, cooperation and innovation, with the aim of creating innovation systems with a high concentration of innovative capacity and capability. This results in an exciting, enriching, safe and inclusive place — a great place to live and work.
When creating an ID, it is based on a hyperlocal geographic area in which academic and medical institutions, corporate R&D centers, startups, entrepreneurial support organizations and communities are actively combined.
The purpose of an innovation district
Lund already has many of the components and functions needed to establish an innovation district. The challenge lies in making these parts work even better together — bringing together hardware (laboratories, buildings, etc.) with software (people, capital, ideas, etc.) and positioning Lund's ecosystem as a cohesive unit with strong synergies and exciting connections.
As part of this effort, the Lund Innovation District, through Future by Lund, is included in GIID, The Global Institute on Innovation Districts. This gives Lund opportunities for cooperation with other innovation districts, access to internationally developed knowledge and data, common resources for reports and international visibility.
Lund as a hub for innovation and collaboration
The ID is packaging facilitates establishment, development, investment and new collaborations for both the area and the participating actors.
In Lund we use and share our common strength. Lund as an innovation district is important for several organizations — Lund University, Lund Municipality, large companies, small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and of course the startup scene.
A strong ID is also crucial for individuals living and working in Lund, as well as for attracting new talent for future operations in Lund.
Ecosystem
Explore Lund's innovation ecosystem.
Science parks
The district houses three research parks with specific profiles that create a dynamic environment for innovation and corporate development.
Ideon Science Park
Ideon Science Park is Sweden’s first science park – founded in 1983 – and today houses about 400 companies with 10.000 employees.
Medicon Village
Medicon Village is a Swedish science park with focus on life sciences and is an important part of Medicon Valley and the Greater Copenhagen area, one of the strongest life science clusters I Europe.
Science Village
In the Science Village, Lund University has ambitious plans for research, education and meeting places for education.
Big Science Infrastructure
Two major research facilities (ESS and MAX IV) form an extensive scientific infrastructure area, complemented by a new campus, residential and work areas, industrial development facilities, and creative spaces for innovation.
MAX IV
MAX IV Laboratory is a Swedish national laboratory providing scientists with the most brilliant X-rays for research with Lund University as the host university.
The European Spallation Source (ESS)
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium, a multi-disciplinary research facility based on the world’s most powerful neutron source.
Corporate R&D
Pioneering innovations are at the heart of the many large companies that have emerged in Lund or established themselves here. The innovation climate and the density of research and development environments are part of Lund's appeal.
Alfa Laval
AXIS Communications
Bosch R&D Center
CellaVision
Ericsson
Oatly
Probi
Qlik
Schneider Electric
Saab Kockums
Siemens
Sigma Connectivity
Sony Nordic
Tetra Pak
Veolia Water Technologies
Volvo
Innovation Facilitators
A number of organisations act as enablers, catalysts and agents of change in Lund's innovation landscape.
RISE in Lund
RISE in Lund is part of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, a research institute and an innovation partner.
OpenTech
OpenTech is a cluster organization that connects actors to create growth for the digitalized society of the future.
Future by Lund
Future by Lund is an innovation platform for smart, creative and sustainable societies.
Innovation Skåne
Innovation Skåne, Region Skåne's innovation company, guides and develops opportunities for innovation and growth.
Biotech Heights
A research and innovation centre in bioprocess technology for the sustainable production of food and other materials.
LU Innovation
Together with researchers and students, LU Innovation develops Ideas and research findings into innovations.
LU Collaboration
LU Collaboration supports the university in the development of strategic partnership and collaboration platforms.
LU Holding
LU Holding, Lund University's investment company, focuses on early startups in life science and deep tech.
Incubator
Lund's incubators support startups and entrepreneurs in the development of their businesses by offering a range of services. Each incubator has its own profile.
Ideon Innovation
Ideon is a broader incubator that supports the development of entrepreneurs, ideas and companies, such as startups in Deep Tech.
Smile Venture Hub
SMiLE is a leading venture hub that specializes in developing life science startups from concept to commercialization.
VentureLab
VentureLab is an incubator at Lund University that supports student startups.
XPlot
As an incubator and enabler, XPlot works with entrepreneurs and startups in the creative sector.
Lab & Infrastructure
Lund University's Faculty of Technology (LTH) has a number of laboratories under the concept of LTH Open Door, which can satisfy a wide variety of needs. Other faculties at Lund University also offer laboratories.
3D Printing Lab
Aerosol and Climate Lab
Biomedical
Engineering Lab
Elektronik Lab
Energy Lab
Fire Lab
Food Lab
Immuntechnology labs
Laser Lab
Lighting Lab
LU Humanities Lab
Lund Nano Lab
Virtual Reality Lab
Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Lab
Dark Lab
X Lab
Lund university
Lund University was founded in 1666 and is one of the world's top universities. The University has approximately 46,000 students and 8,600 staff.
The unique disciplinary range encourages boundary-crossing collaborations both within academia and with society at large, creating excellent conditions for scientific breakthroughs and innovations. The University has a strong international profile, with partner universities in 76 countries.
Lund University offers education and research in the following areas:
Engineering
Fine and Performing Arts
Humanities and Theology
Law
Medicine
Science
Social sciences
School of Economics and Management
Read our magazines!
You can read more about Lund Innovation District in our magazines. Through the articles you can explore the importance of the area, the impact and the many innovations that have been born in the city, but also about the innovation ecosystem.
Steering Group
For the development of the Lund Innovation District, a steering group has been formed consisting of Anders Almgren, Chairman of the Municipal Board and Councillor of Lund Municipality; Kristina Eneroth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Lund University; and Pia Kinhult, Head of Host Country Relations at ESS. The assignment to lead the co-creation of the Lund Innovation District has been awarded to Future by Lund.
Anders Almgren
Mayor and Chairman of the City Executive Committee in Lund Municipality
Kristina Eneroth
Pro Vice-Chancellor at Lund University
Pia Kinhult
Head of Host States Relations, ESS
Coordinator of Lund Innovation District
You can always contact us if you have any questions or want to get involved in Lund Innovation district.
Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth
Lund University Collaboration office, CEO Future by Lund
charlotte.lorentz_hjorth@fsi.lu.se
Peter Kisch
COO Future by Lund, senior project manager
peter.kisch@futurebylund.se