New areas of innovation attracted to the dairy
At the beginning of June, I arranged Lund University The International Forum Unexpec where the guests at the Mejeriet in Lund got to take part in ongoing innovation and collaboration processes. During the day, researchers, entrepreneurs, politicians, officials and entrepreneurs could discuss how and how to drive and develop innovation areas and projects where creative and cultural competences are at the core.
One such area of innovation is the intersection of the fashion and gaming industries. For many young people, for example, it is important what digital clothes they can wear in the gaming world. At the Mejeriet, a completely new kind of fashion show was shown, where the clothes were presented partly by real models on a catwalk, and partly through avatars from the game world with similar creations. The fashion show was made through a collaboration between Adventist Academy Malmö and Pengu Studios.
Even within the world of theatre, new technology can help create a whole new experience. National Theatre Crea in collaboration with Lund University Humlab picked up sign language-speaking avatars that help convey in near real time what is happening on stage to a sign-language-speaking audience. At the Mejeriets, a film about how the sign language interpreter can be seen as a hologram was shown on stage in the classic The Ghost at Canterville. As an introduction to the forum, the performance group Sisters Hope also offered a suggestive presentation of thoughts on the contemporary existential condition of man. Sisters Hope is also part of a collaborative initiative on existential resillience.
During the full day, participants were able to explore together existential sustainability and innovation in the cultural and creative sectors through six innovation areas. These are: Transforming the Fashion and Textile Industry, The Personal Experience of Digital Concerts, Realization of Human Rights, Existential Resillience, Biosphere Candidacy Storand Archaeology & New Technology. There was also a “policy corner” linked to the team project where you could give input on the policy areas and issues that you want to raise within the EU.
We had some participants reflect on the content of the forum:
Charlotte Lorentz Hjort, Lund University's Collaboration Department and CEO Future by Lund.
- The purpose of the Unexpected — Arts & Science Innovation Forum was to showcase cross-cutting and intersecting areas of innovation in the creative and cultural fields. In addition, we wanted to get people to reflect on what innovation support might be needed in the area to make it work and what this demands on the innovation ecosystems and support structures of the future.
- This is a discussion going on all over Europe and that was, among other things, why Unexpected attracted so many international guests. It is also these issues that the big policy project team is about. The day after Unexpected, we had kickoff for that project here in Lund.
Bo Ahrén, senior professor of medicine and former vice-rector of Lund University.
During the forum Unexpected, several areas drawn from Lund University's portfolio in the cultural and creative sector were presented. What does it mean to be able to showcase this side of the university to a local and international audience?
- During the forum, six different areas that the university has successfully developed in the cultural and creative sector in recent years were presented, says Bo Ahrén. Showcasing them together at the forum strengthens and further develops these areas through the discussion that takes place. It also strengthens the areas of being able to connect more stakeholders to the networks, which further develops the university's areas and competitiveness. Showcasing these areas also means that we place the university even more clearly at the centre of an important development in Europe.
In its work with the cultural and creative industries, Lund University has taken academic work on existential resillience as a starting point, and this was also one of the tracks during Unexpected. How did the visitors receive this?
- During the forum, there was an interest in the approach to highlighting existential resilience, continues Bo Ahrén. It broadens the perspectives of future challenges and opportunities and strengthens the overall approach taken. The comments I experienced were very positive.
Mats Helmfrid (M), Chairman of the Municipal Council of Lund Municipality.
During Unexpected, there was a high level of international participation — did you have the opportunity to meet any other cities or organizations that you thought were interesting to Lund?
- It feels urgent to strengthen cooperation within Europe. I had the opportunity to meet and talk to representatives of several European cities, including Helsinki, Bratislava and Rotterdam. It is positive to see that several capitals are represented. Traditionally, capitals preferably cooperate with other capitals. Lund has a lot to teach and at the same time can learn just as much from others.
Lund's DNA has a strong tradition of working with innovation but also a keen interest in human rights and sustainability. How can we in Lund work with our forces in intersecting areas?
“When you say innovations, many people think of new gadgets, but it is also about finding new ways to empower people in their everyday lives. If we in Lund can contribute to innovative ways of working with human rights and sustainability, it would be fantastic.
Katarina Scott from Future by Lund was moderator of Unexpected and thus was in close contact with both the people on stage and with the audience. How did you feel the mood during the day?
“What strikes me is both how incredibly deep and what curiosity there was, both in the audience and in the people who participated on stage. Whether I was talking to students, researchers and businesses during the break or with panelists and people from the EU on stage, I think it was clear that everyone was there because you were interested in making a difference. Everyone made an effort to speak to everyone, despite the fact that the differences can often be great. Everyone was curious, accommodating and friendly and there was an openness that was awesome to experience.