Located 200 km south of Stockholm Linkoping University [LiU] is the main provider of higher education and knowledge in an expanding region with a population of 400.000. Public-spirited interaction has been a hallmark of LiU since its birth. Study programs import society's pertinent issues into the classroom. R&D projects are allied with public and business sectors. Commercialisation of research findings and incubation of spin-off ventures are carefully facilitated.

Through its mission of providing leading-edge education and research relevant for the needs of society and industry, LiU has most certain played a major role in the development of Sweden's fourth metropolitan region. Twin cities campuses in Linkoping and Norrkoping houses more than 25.000 undergraduate students, 1.400 research students and 3.000 employees. In the Science parks of Linkoping and Norrkoping we find 250 firms and 6000 jobs of which more than half are direct spin-offs from academic discoveries and innovation.

One of them, typifying the transition of an idea to commercial viability, is Sectra. Sectra was set up in the late seventies by LiU academics who worked in vanguard areas of computer science, image processing and telecommunications security. Yet another is Acreo, a knowledge intensive company bridging the gap between academic research and industrial commercialisation. Established by Acreo and Linkoping University the Centre for Organic INformatics (COIN) is dedicated to research in organic and polymer electronics. The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship foster growth and development in knowledge-based companies and offers a unique entre-preneurship program.

University holding actively assesses idea potential that might interest venture capital. Business Incubators supports fledgling companies in their start-up stage, providing office space, administrative services and professional advice and assistance.