The decision is based, among other things, on the report "Assessment of Critical Mass for Establishment in Science Village", which highlights both the opportunities and risks of an establishment according to the proposed plan, as well as the consequences of refraining from doing so.
Read more about the Science Village establishment work during the year: Light and materials in focus for Lund University's Science Village establishment (Stage 2)
Based on an overall assessment of the faculty’s future activities, the Board has decided not to proceed with Stage 2 or with the proposal for establishing a critical mass in the area. The decision is based on a comprehensive evaluation of several factors, including:
Departmental fragmentation
The proposal for a critical mass would entail a geographical division of the Department of Physics and, to a lesser extent, parts of the Department of Chemistry. This runs counter to the original vision for Science Village, which was to strengthen development and integration between physics and chemistry in both undergraduate education and research.
Collaboration and the separation of education and research
An establishment in accordance with the proposal would make it more difficult to develop activities and collaborations across disciplinary boundaries within the faculty. Student organisations and affected units have also highlighted the risks associated with physically separating undergraduate education from research. At the same time, the faculty is investing in a unified study centre in the Astronomy Building, now known as Universum, to strengthen identity, cohesion and student support—an effort that risks being undermined by a division between the main campus and Science Village.
Space efficiency
For several years, the faculty has worked to improve space efficiency in order to free up resources for research and education. At present, there is no need to increase the total amount of space; rather, the focus is on developing and densifying existing premises. An establishment in Science Village according to the critical mass proposal must therefore be assessed from a facilities perspective and compared with the possibilities for developing the premises on the existing campus.
Taken together, the Board concludes that the estimated costs of establishment and rent in Science Village, in combination with the operational considerations described above, do not justify proceeding with Stage 2 or with the proposal for a critical mass in the area.
The faculty continues to see a need for a new Nanolab; however, the decision specifically concerns the proposed phasing and the establishment model based on critical mass. At the same time, the faculty views it positively that other parts of the university are establishing operations in Science Village.
LINXS already in Science Village
The Faculty of Science is already represented in Science Village through LINXS Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-ray Science, which established operations in The Loop building in 2025. The move to Science Village, together with increased resources, has enabled a range of new activities and collaborations. Further development of LINXS will be important for research at MAX IV and ESS, as well as for the Science Village area as a whole.
Next steps
The decision means that other issues that have been set aside for some time must now be addressed. Parts of the Fysicum facilities are in need of extensive renovation, and against this background the Faculty Board has tasked the Dean, in consultation with LTH and the Department of Physics, with reviewing the conditions for renovating the premises.
“For Fysicum, this means that we urgently need to address the renovation needs. Our focus is on identifying relatively quick solutions that make the facilities more fit for purpose for both students and staff,” says Dean Per Persson.
In parallel, a forward-looking review of the long-term development of physics at Lund University is also being planned. In 2026, the faculty hopes to carry out this review with the support of external expertise. The review will build on the internal analysis recently conducted at the Department of Physics and will provide input to the university’s future strategic choices.
Download the decision (in Swedish) here (PDF).
This article is a direct translation of the Swedish version (see link below). Any errors or inaccuracies should be reported to the page administrator: Fakultetsstyrelsen går inte vidare med etablering i Science Village (Etapp 2).