City of Lund: Powering Life Science and Tech Growth
As one of Sweden’s most knowledge-intensive cities, Lund is a driving force for innovation in life science and tech, creating strong conditions for business, research, and talent attraction. Through the Cross-border Talent Bridge, the city is expanding its role as a connector and enabler across the Øresund region. In this interview, they highlight how local initiatives and cross-border partnerships are helping secure skills and strengthen Greater Copenhagen’s global competitiveness.
Partner portrait:
City of Lund
Tell us about your organization – who are you, what do you do, and what role do you play in the life sciences/tech sector?
- The City of Lund is a driving force in one of Sweden’s most knowledge-intensive cities. We actively work to create favorable conditions for business, research, and innovation – especially within life science and tech, says says Adam Sandgren, Head of Business Development, City of Lund. Through urban development, business support, and collaboration with academia and companies, we help strengthen Lund’s role as a hub for future solutions.
Adam Sandgren, City of Lund, with a bike in the background
Why have you chosen to join this collaboration, and how do you see it benefiting your organization?
- We are participating in Cross-border Talent Bridge because we see a great need to secure access to highly educated professionals within our key areas, Adam continues. The project gives us the opportunity to collaborate across borders, create meeting places, and contribute to a more integrated and attractive labor market in the Greater Copenhagen region – something that benefits both the municipality and the entire ecosystem.
Regional growth and international competitiveness
What challenges do you face in attracting, retaining, and developing talent in your industry, and how can cross-border collaboration help address these?
- The City of Lund actively works to support the industries and companies that operate here, Adam explains. Life science and tech are crucial sectors for regional growth, international competitiveness, and societal development.
The challenges we see mainly involve competition for talent, housing issues, and the need for better alignment between education and the labor market. Through cross-border collaboration, we can increase mobility, highlight career opportunities, and create joint solutions for skills development.
What opportunities do you see in collaborating across borders within the Greater Copenhagen region?
- We see great opportunities in creating a joint talent market where companies and individuals can grow without being limited by national borders. This strengthens innovation capacity, increases the region’s attractiveness, and makes it easier to meet future skills needs, he underlines.
An attractive region for highly educated talent
What long-term impact do you hope this project will have on your organization and the region?
- We hope the project will lead to more sustainable skills provision, where Lund and Greater Copenhagen are seen as a cohesive and attractive region for highly educated talent. This strengthens our global competitiveness and contributes to sustainable growth, Adam continues.
How do you view the region’s competitiveness in life sciences and tech today, and how can we strengthen it together?
- Skåne has a strong position with world-leading research infrastructure, innovative companies, and a high academic level – not least through various actors located in Lund. To further strengthen the region’s position, we need to collaborate on talent attraction, housing, mobility, and quality of life – and communicate the region’s unique offering more clearly.
What role can your organization play in driving change in talent attraction and skills development within the region?
- The City of Lund can act as an enabler and coordinator – by creating attractive living environments, promoting collaboration between stakeholders, and driving strategic initiatives that strengthen skills provision, Adam explains. We can also contribute with data, analysis, and policy development.
10 Years of Talent Support in Lund
Are there any initiatives or best practices from your organization that could inspire others in the network?
- A good example from the City of Lund is International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL), which has been running since October 2015. The initiative is now celebrating its 10th year and serves as a role model in Sweden when it comes to supporting international talent – and in particular their partners. This long-standing experience contributes greatly to the work within Cross-border Talent Bridge, Adam emphasizes.
Another example is Lund Innovation District, which functions as a powerful catalyst for recruiting international talent, particularly within tech and life science – through a combination of physical, social, and structural advantages.
What do you see as the greatest opportunity of this project, both for your organization and for the Greater Copenhagen region in the long term?
- The greatest opportunity, he underlines, is to create a cohesive and competitive labor market that attracts and retains top talent. This strengthens both Lund’s and the region’s role as a global hub for innovation within life science and tech – and contributes to sustainable growth and societal development.
Get in touch with City of Lund
Main contact person for Cross-border Talent Bridge at Business Development, City of Lund:
Adam Sandgren, Head of Business Development
Send an e-mail to Adam Sandgren - adam.sandgren@lund.se
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