As a long-standing advocate for international talent retention in southern Sweden, International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL) brings vital experience and perspective to the Cross-border Talent Bridge project. In this interview, they share how their work fosters inclusive career opportunities, strengthens regional attractiveness, and supports a unified labor market in the Greater Copenhagen region.

Our main mission has been to focus on talent retention by creating social, informative, professional activities and networks for accompanying spouses, Lisa continues. We organize over 100 events and activities annually, providing essential information for families settling in a new country and a welcoming environment for networking.

Making the region more attractive to skilled internationals

Why have you chosen to join this collaboration, and how do you see it benefiting your organization?

Through this collaboration, ICHL has gained the opportunity to broaden our scope to focus on attracting international talent. We recognize the need for our region to increase its international visibility and communicate the abundant opportunities available here, emphasizing our cross-border labor market. We are excited to be part of making this region more attractive to skilled internationals looking to advance their careers.

Expanding our target group to include highly skilled and motivated Master’s students has been a long-standing goal. Lund University attracts top students worldwide who not only study in Lund but also see Scandinavia as an inspiring place to live. Our established 6-week Kick-Start Career Program, offered twice a year, has long helped internationals navigate the Swedish job market. Now, in closer collaboration with Lund University and through the Cross-border Talent Bridge project, the program is extended to support Master’s students and includes guidance on the Danish job market—providing tailored activities and support to unlock the expertise many organizations seek.

What opportunities do you see in collaborating across borders within the Greater Copenhagen region?

Focusing on the family is one of the most crucial factors when recruiting international talent, as spouses or partners often possess highly sought-after skills themselves. Strengthening collaboration with organizations and companies on the Danish side allows us to better position the Greater Copenhagen region as a unified labor market. This approach makes it easier for job seekers to find opportunities in both countries, enhancing their chances of success.

Working together to eliminate cross-border obstacles will make it easier for talents from third countries to access the many job opportunities available across the bridge, ensuring a smooth transition, thereby an increase in retention.

Community and Ambassadorship at the Core

What role can your organization play in driving change in talent attraction and skills development within the region?

ICHL has long experience in creating a friendly space, a home away from home atmosphere for international families. Although some internationals in our community may move on, they continue to serve as valuable ambassadors for our region as they stay connected to our organization as well as the companies they have worked for. The influence of ambassadorship should not be underestimated in its ability to attract highly skilled people to our region.

Additionally, leveraging our experience and extending our Career Program to Master's students will enable companies to tap into a pool of highly educated and motivated individuals who are already settled in the country and well-prepared for the Swedish and Danish job markets.

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?

As the 10-year anniversary of International Citizen Hub Lund approaches, we have established ourselves as a leading example in talent retention, inspiring other cities in Sweden and Europe to follow suit. Participating in this project allows us to remain at the forefront of talent attraction management, continuing to share best practices with other organizations that share the same mission.

As Denmark also has many years in talent attraction management, we can learn more about their activities specific to attraction of international talent. We are also able to merge some of our retention activities and events within Life Science and Tech such as Career Days and International Citizen Days.

Collaboration facilitates the exchange of best practices and guidance which has led to creating a local Mentorship program starting Fall 2025 on the Swedish side with our partners on the Swedish side, Ideon Science Park, Medicon Village, Open Tech. We have also understood the need to enlighten SMEs how to recruit internationals and integrate them into their respective organizations; therefore, we have created a Toolbox Series which provides a better understanding of the process and value.

To summarize, to stay competitive, our region needs to both attract and retain international talents. We must join forces to attract more internationals and utilize the potential of all incoming talent. International talents are essential not only to fill gaps in expertise and knowledge but also to bring fresh and diverse perspectives, ensuring the Greater Copenhagen region remains competitive in the global market.

Get in touch with International Citizen Hub Lund

The City of Lund is the principal financier and organizer, with support from Region Skåne.

Main contact person for Cross-border Talent Bridge at International Citizen Hub Lund:

Lisa Andersson, Talent Attraction Developer

Send an e-mail to Lisa Andersson - lisa.andersson@lund.se

Learn more about International Citizen Hub Lund