University's KIC office in close collaboration with Future by Lund

LU Collaboration is a department of Lund University which is part of the Research, Collaboration and Innovation section. The department's more than 30 employees work strategically together with the university's faculties in several collaborations and collaboration platforms where researchers meet companies and society in various development projects and larger ventures.
- LU Collaboration works, among other things, to define the border areas towards the city and society and to see how to develop common innovation areas and portfolios, says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. For us, it is natural to work with an organization like Future by Lund to work strategically with companies, cities and administrations.
One of the tasks of LU Samverk is to coordinate university applications for the EU's giant innovation initiatives Knowledge Innovation Communities (KIC). The programme targets strategic development areas and is managed by the EIT, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Lund University is already part of Climate KIC and Food KIC. In 2022, efforts began on a KIC in Cultural and Creative Industries (KKN). Lund University was part of a large consortium that placed second in the call for proposals. Even for those who do not win the big call, it is possible to participate in the work by submitting applications to the winning consortium's upcoming calls. The next KIC is expected to be in the water area.
The LU collaboration coordinates the applications with the university's faculties and external experts.
- In a KIC application, it should be about 1/3 universities, 1/3 cities and 1/3 business, says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. For us, it's about finding collaboration in thematic areas and building expertise with companies. The idea is that together we will develop collaborations related to industry conversions and societal challenges.
The work with KiCarna is an important reason why the LU collaboration now sits together with Future by Lund at Scheelevägen.
- These are big investments in broad areas of innovation in Europe. We have established a KIC office that some days sits with Future by Lund to jointly develop the innovation areas we share with companies.
The latest addition in the KIC work is a KIC in water. Two people have been selected to keep the work together and will work with a newly appointed steering group. A major advantage for them is that there are already water networks consisting of about a hundred researchers within Lund University.
- I believe that all of us who work in the field need to be here and meet companies so that this does not become only the research dimension of KIC work. It's great to have the opportunity to work together through this “intermediate office”.
The Future by Lund and LU collaboration will also work together in other areas. These areas are based both on the university's research and on external questions. LU collaboration works with many different sub-projects in many areas — for example in the area of Viable Cities.

Caption:

Standing from left: Lisa Thelin, Bo Ahrén, Anna Lyrevik, Henrik Søndergaard and Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. Sitting corner left: Olof Blomqvist, Emma Nordell and Åsa Grunning.