What is unique about Lund?
Lund has delivered many groundbreaking innovations over the years, such as medical ultrasound, bluetooth, a concept for electric roads and the artificial kidney to name but a few. Now ESS and MAX IV provide opportunities for Lund to create ground-breaking innovations in the future. Pia Kinhult is Head of Host State Relations at ESS, Peter Kisch Director of Operations at Future by Lund and Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth works with collaboration at Lund University. Together, they have solid experience in how to create innovation environments.
What caused an international facility such as ESS to be located in Lund?
“It is a combination of research at a strong higher education institution, good industry and a special environment in Lund. Of course, one should not underestimate the proximity of Copenhagen with its universities, environment and airport,” says Pia Kinhult. A contributing reason for the decision is that Denmark and Sweden were seen as two well-functioning and safe countries where people would like to work and live.
Informality, quality and proximity are other advantages.
“We have a heavy industrial base that is drifting, which is unusual for a university town. A French industrialist who visited Lund told me that he is fascinated by being able to meet new companies and research players relatively easily. Lund is informal and relaxed and so close that in one morning he has time for many meetings,” says Peter Kisch.
“Lund has always had a number of strong individuals and they have inspired each other,” continues Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. There are also large family businesses here. This type of industrial leadership, innovation ability and innovation leader are unique to Lund.
Now Lund has started work on developing an innovation district. The work will be based on a steering group consisting of Anders Almgren, Chairman of Lund Municipal Board, Pia Kinhult, ACES and Kristina Eneroth, Vice Principal at Lund University. The innovation platform Future by Lund, where Lund Municipality, Lund University and the business community working together, have been commissioned to co-create the development. In this way, the actors in Lund can increase the joint capacity to solve complex challenges.
“Future by Lund has long worked as a catalyst between industry, plants, companies, society and research,” says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. There is a need for an intermediary organisation that is co-creator and that favours new collaborations. If actors and organizations are to be able to collaborate in an innovation district, it places high demands on good collaboration, which can be achieved through practice, clear rules of the game, trust and respect for different perspectives.
It also sometimes requires doing things differently than you have done before.
“When I talk to larger companies, I notice that they are increasingly uncertain about the future,” continues Peter Kisch. They see that they now have to step out into surfaces and contexts they have no control over themselves and where they don't know exactly what the outcome will be in advance. Future by Lund has a methodology for working with such surfaces and dealing with uncertainty, and can provide contact with people with similar interests.
During the conversation, we discuss how Lund can develop the dynamic environment. Some examples are more inclusive meeting places where there is room for both excellence and young entrepreneurs. An opportunity to include more startups in support activities but also to create more spaces where actors gather around a theme, similar to the one Medicon Village has in Life Science. Another idea that was put forward is that Lund needs to continue to develop deep specialization while developing the ability to mix and cross-link different specializations.
“It is important to promote the bustle and to create an open arena,” explains Pia Kinhult. We need to get back to a genuine culture of innovation, where we don't have to know exactly what to do, but make way for people who dare and can. In such an environment, an excellent researcher and a bunch of small businesses should be able to find each other. What is required is a common thought on how we create strong innovation environments in Lund!
