Establishment in Science Village

Overview of the university’s establishment work

Since 2016, Lund University has been exploring a potential establishment in Science Village and identifying which activities could be included. This work has resulted in a university-wide vision for the university’s role in the area and a clearer understanding of which operations would be involved. In recent years, the process has been driven by the faculties through a project group and an operational management group, supported by a central steering group.

Based on investigations carried out over the years, a so-called “Scenario 5” emerged as a possible way forward. Scenario 5 proposed the co-location of the Department of Physics, most of the Department of Chemistry, and parts of the Department of Electrical and Information Technology (EIT), with the possibility of locating these activities in Science Village. This work was referred to as Stage 2. Stage 1 includes the establishment of NanoLab Science Village in the area.

In 2024, the boards of the Faculty of Science and LTH decided, based on recommendations from the operational management group and the project group, not to proceed with Scenario 5. The decision comprised three main points:

• Previous options for a large-scale establishment in Science Village were discontinued.
• LTH and the Faculty of Science were tasked with exploring alternative establishments in the area.
• The conditions for co-locating the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Kemicentrum were to be further examined.

The operational management group concluded that co-location at Kemicentrum is the most attractive solution. At the same time, there remains an ambition to explore the possibility of a smaller, strategic establishment in Science Village. This is particularly relevant in light of the university’s material science strategies and the upcoming establishment of NanoLab Science Village.

Since December 2024, the project group for Stage 2 has been tasked with analysing what complementary establishments are required for the university to achieve a critical mass in Science Village and to fully benefit from its proximity to ESS and MAX IV. The group has also been assigned to examine the conditions for joint operational development of the Departments of Chemistry and Physics.

Current establishment work

Against this background, the work during 2025 has focused on Lund University’s profile area Light and Materials, with a vision to create a cohesive environment for materials science in semiconductor, photon, and laser research. Together with the profile area, the project group has analysed laboratory needs, logistics, and future research groups, and has produced an initial building sketch adjacent to NanoLab Science Village. The proposal has been presented in a report during autumn and is expected to be considered by the faculty boards after a consultation process in December 2025.

Organisation of the establishment work

The work related to Science Village follows the framework set out in the Vice-Chancellor’s decision (STYR 2022/2785). The assignment has been delegated to LU Estates (LU Byggnad) in close collaboration with LTH and the Faculty of Science.

Since January 2023, a faculty-based steering group has been in place for the establishment work. The group is responsible for operational development within the involved departments and is chaired by Annika Mårtensson, Assistant Dean at LTH.

The university’s central steering group, chaired by Per Mickwitz, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Sustainability, and Campus Development, holds overall responsibility for Stage 2.

The assignment also includes coordination between Stage 1 and Stage 2, as well as monitoring of municipal and regional planning in the area.

The Stage 2 project group is led by Professor Knut Deppert, Project Leader, and Charlotte von Brömssen, Project Leader at LU Building, with support and input from the involved departments.

Follow the work

Updates from the project group are published regularly on the Faculty of Science’s internal website in the form of articles.

The previous blog about the Science Village establishment (Stage 2) is inactive as it mainly covered Scenario 5, which is no longer a relevant option. However, the blog remains available and still contains decisions, planning documents, and other relevant materials.

Visit the LU in Science Village blog: lusciencevillage.blogg.lu.se

Members of the Operational Management Group

Annika Mårtensson, Chair, Assistant Dean, LTH
Per Persson, Dean, Faculty of Science
Ola Wendt, Head of Department, Department of Chemistry
Else Lytken, Head of Department, Department of Physics
Two student representatives from the Faculty of Engineering (TLTH) and the Faculty of Science (LUNA) / Science Doctoral Student Council (NDR)

Members of the Central Steering Group

Per Mickwitz, Chair, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Sustainability, and Campus Development
Annika Olsson, Dean, LTH
Per Persson, Dean, Faculty of Science
Malin Gülich, LU Building
Student Representative