Our history & background
The starting point for the innovation platform Future by Lund was an idea to open up the city to the innovation power of different stakeholder groups and companies, to try new ways of working and to promote Lund's smart and sustainable urban development.
At the same time, Vinnova launched a call for “Innovation Platforms for Smart Sustainable Cities”, and Lund became one of six Swedish cities to be granted support. The municipality of Lund became the principal.
Four phases
Vinnova's support for the innovation platforms has been granted for three periods, and Future by Lund's operations can therefore be divided into phases that follow this logic.
Phase 1
2013
Development of a neighborhood
The focus is on the development of a neighborhood. The theme is smart and sustainable development of Brunnshög. Three areas of focus: energy, light and mobility.
Phase 2
2016
From hardware to software
The period can be described as an evolution from city hardware to a focus on software with the entire city as a smart and sustainable test surface.
New focus areas include Creatives & Changemakers, Future Living, Moving Things & People, Digital Cities & Citizens and towards the end of the period also Ideas & Science for Society.
Phase 3
2019
Development of the geographical area and ecosystem
The work is aimed at developing the geographical area of Lund and its ecosystem. The content from smart and sustainable cities is now being expanded to include the cultural and creative sectors.
There will also be more focus on creating an international connection. The innovation district Lund Innovation District will be a new focus area along with the five previous ones.
Phase 4
2023
An independent organization and economic association
After ten years as a Vinnovaproject with Lund Municipality as the principal, an independent organization is formed in the form of an economic association. The association includes Lund University, Lund Municipality and actors from the business community.
The accumulated experience of recent years leads to the work being done with portfolio methodology as a basis. An increasingly important component is activities to facilitate the work with the Lund Innovation District.
In addition, a package of models, methods and tools is merged into the LIEPT model, which becomes the basis for working with portfolios and also enables many project applications and international collaborations.
Intermediary actors wanted!
Future by Lund works in the gap between research, organisations and institutions, the public and private sectors, academia and business. Are you as an actor interested in working with us in the gap – get in touch!
Are you interested in partnership?
We welcome more collaborations and partnerships to be able to lay the foundations for more innovations.
Do you want to work with a portfolio?
Are you interested in getting involved in one of our portfolios? Get in touch with us for a discussion!
Would you like to discuss something with us?
Do you have an idea that you would like to test with us or would you simply like to discuss something with us?
Keep up to date with our newsletter
Sign up to receive our newsletter and receive our latest news!