The Initiative within Life Science

The latest major investment at Linkoping University is within the area of Life Science Technologies, in which biotechnologies and medicine are combined with IT. 16 new professorships have been established which is unique step for Sweden. This investment is estimated to create 2000-3000 new jobs in the region, explains Mrs Eva Joelsson, Mayor of Linkoping.

Three campuses of Linkoping University have a total of 25,000 students. Also, being second in Sweden regarding the number of students within science and technology, Linkoping University -merging molecular life sciences, medicine and technology - has become an entrepreneurial and innovative educational institution that has radically transformed traditional teaching by creating new programmes that go beyond these academic boundaries. This can be reflected in Sweden's highest entrance scores for students applying for studies such as Medicine and Engineering Biology.

The hallmark to cross-border research
Successful innovations in Linkoping include their fruitful bridging of Life Sciences, medicine and technology as well as the establishment of strong research profiles such as biological physics, material science and medical IT. Another characteristic of Linkoping University is the close link between research and industry creating a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

Adjacent to the university campus is Mjardevi Science Park comprising of many firms that are spin-offs from university research. As an example, the Mjardevi business incubator recently received The Award for Best Science Based Incubator on Public Investment at a ceremony in the Hague in competition with incubators from all over the world. Furthermore, the new Mjardevi Centre is a major investment state-of-the-art building with possibilities for biotech companies to have generous laboratory facilities, safe waste management and advanced ventilation system including clean room capacity.

Life Science Technologies
Within the next few years, the number of students at the Faculty for Health Sciences in Linkoping is expected to have increased from the present 2,000 to 3,000. In order to cater for this expansion, the University and County Council have jointly invested heavily in a new campus which will be completed in 2004. It will house among others a new medical incubator for companies starting up and expanding in Life Science Technologies and Biomedicine.

Linkoping is the centre of excellence for aerospace, communications technology, software development and electronics as well as life science technologies. Today the city is home to a total of around 20 biotech companies primarily active within medical technology.