On November 7, 2024, Linköping Science Park marked its 40th anniversary with the event Linköping’s Innovative Places – Future Innovation Environments: 40 Years and Beyond. This gathering celebrated four decades of innovation while laying the groundwork for the city’s continued growth as one of Sweden’s most important tech hubs. Industry leaders, policymakers, and academics discussed Linköping’s future potential, underscoring its role as a dynamic innovation ecosystem.
Lisa Åbom, CEO of Nira dynamics, Fredrik Lundén, entrepreneur and politically active in the Moderate Party and Johan Lönn, Head of Operations and Programmes PEU Performance at Ericsson Linköping. All three are also members of the Linköping Science Park Board.
Mjärdevi: Reinventing Linköping’s Physical Hub for Innovation
One of the day’s announcements was the unveiling of ambitious plans for Mjärdevi. Presented by Magnus Blomqvist from Corem and Emil Colldin from Castellum, the vision detailed how Mjärdevi will transform its facilities and infrastructure to remain a cornerstone of innovation for decades to come. With a focus on fostering collaboration between startups, established enterprises, and academia, the park will offer cutting-edge facilities designed to attract global talent and investment.
Mjärdevi’s strategic plans include enhancing its physical infrastructure and creating vibrant urban spaces to foster a sense of community. The updates aim to strengthen Mjärdevi’s position as a leading physical place for companies within fields such as AI, IoT, and sustainable technology.
In the space between the houses are the people and the development. Emil Colldin and Magnus Blomqvist from property owners Castellum and Corem presented their vision for the future of Mjärdevi: One of Linköping’s attractive physical innovation environments.
This announcement comes as Linköping continues to see rapid growth in its tech sector. The region has experienced a staggering 400% increase in tech jobs over the past 20 years. Magnus Colldin emphasized how Mjärdevi’s renewal will support this trend and keep Linköping at the forefront of Swedish innovation.
Insights from Visionary Leaders
The event featured keynotes and panel discussions that underscored the importance of innovation districts and collaborative ecosystems.
Linn Lichtermann, Community Manager in Ebbepark and Fredrik Olsson-Kronqvist, Business Developer – Establishment and Investment Promotion, Linköping Municipality, shared different perspectives on the development of the places in Linköping that mean a lot to the city’s and companies’ innovative power. In the foreground is the afternoon’s moderator Fredrik Larsson, Linköping Science Park and Anders Bergquist, incoming CEO of Vreta Kluster together with Magnus Blomqvist from Corem
Louise Fälldin, Director of Economic Development at Linköping Municipality, provided a keynote on “The Growing City.” She highlighted Linköping’s unique demographic resilience, with the city continuing to expand while many Swedish municipalities face population decline. Fälldin credited Linköping’s growth to its robust tech ecosystem, which integrates academia, businesses, and government. She also drew attention to key infrastructure projects like the Ostlänken high-speed rail line, set further to strengthen Linköping’s connections to Stockholm and beyond.
Fälldin’s vision extended beyond infrastructure, as she outlined the city’s potential to lead Sweden in emerging technologies such as AI and IoT. With 25% of the city’s private-sector revenue already coming from tech companies, she emphasized that Linköping’s innovative spirit and strong collaboration culture position it for continued success.
A Broader Perspective on Innovation
The event also featured global perspectives, providing invaluable insights into innovation trends beyond Linköping.
Helena Nordström, founder of Placebrander, discussed the power of place branding in attracting talent and investment. She emphasized how mid-sized cities like Linköping are increasingly appealing to young professionals, thanks to their mix of cultural, economic, and social opportunities. Nordström also highlighted the importance of creating “places that inspire,” where innovation spills into the public realm, creating vibrant urban spaces.
A well-attended event with over 120 registered participants. The audience included Joakim Delbom, CEO of SICK in Linköping, Anna Broeders, Linköping Science Park, Nils Ekman from Linköping Science Park’s board, Carina Malmgren from Region Östergötland, Ann-Cristin Adolfsson and Göran Berlemo from Saab.
From Helsingborg, Zeinab Erdal, head of Helsingborg Innovation District, shared lessons from her region’s innovative approaches to urban development. She discussed how innovation and urban development can harmonize when the innovation ecosystem becomes a cohesive whole, combining dynamic physical spaces, science park services, and strong competence clusters. Her experiences underscored the importance of adaptability and bold thinking when creating ecosystems for growth.
Updates on Linköping’s Innovation Ecosystems
Several companies also shared their experiences as businesses operating in some of Linköping’s unique physical innovation environments.
Recruiting the right talent is the beating heart of innovation—and who better to discuss this than Emma Bergmar, Site Manager at Beyond Gravity; Henrik Kurelid, R&D Director at Axis Linköping; Torbjörn Kronander, CEO of Sectra; Christian Sahlen, CEO of Actia Nordic; and Lisa Åbom, CEO of Nira Dynamics? Several panellists highlighted Linköping’s strong position in the talent market as a key advantage, underscoring the importance of linköping University for the city to continue to shine as a hub of innovation.
At Ebbepark, Henrik Curelid from Axis Communications highlighted the advantages of the park’s city-integrated design, emphasizing how its blend of housing, workspaces, and recreational areas supports both innovation and a high quality of life for employees. Similarly, Lisa Åbom from NIRA Dynamics shared insights into how Mjärdevis collaborative environment fosters the exchange of ideas and talent.
Over at Vreta Kluster, Anders Bergkvist, the incoming CEO, spoke about the cluster’s role in advancing green innovations, particularly in sustainable agriculture and technology, and the importance of building a strong ecosystem of stakeholders in these fields. Meanwhile, Emma Bergman from Beyond Gravity located in at CAV:OK reflected on the strategic advantages of being part of this aerospace cluster. She highlighted the benefits of proximity to cutting-edge companies like SSAB and shared how collaboration within the environment supports the rapid development of groundbreaking technologies.
Each of these environments contributes uniquely to Linköping’s innovation ecosystem, ensuring the city offers diverse opportunities for businesses and residents alike while showcasing the value of its well-developed innovation hubs.
Looking Ahead: The Next 40 Years
As the event concluded, attendees reflected on the tremendous progress Linköping has made since the establishment of Linköping Science Park in 1984. From a single building on an empty field to a sprawling network of innovation districts, the city’s journey is a testament to its bold vision and collaborative spirit.
Lena Miranda, CEO of Linköping Science Park, and Richard Viden, Regional Development Director for Region Östergötland, wrapped up the afternoon with an discussion on the power of daring, long-term investments in innovation.
The day ended with remarks from Lena Miranda, CEO of Linköping Science Park, and Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, Rector of Linköping University. Both leaders emphasized the importance of continuing the collaborative efforts that have defined the city’s innovation landscape. As Miranda symbolically passed the torch to Linköping University, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, the message was clear: Linköping’s best years are still ahead.
The celebration baton has been passed! Linköping University Vice Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson and Linköping Science Park CEO Lena Miranda brought the afternoon to a close. Flashback to 40 years ago: when Mjärdevi Science Park was inaugurated, Prime Minister Olof Palme unveiled a circuit board artwork from the iconic Viggen fighter aircraft, proudly developed in Linköping. Now, four decades later, Linköping Science Park is gifting the university a printed version of that very circuit board – a perfect tribute to its upcoming 50th anniversary and cutting-edge expertise in printed electronics.
With its ambitious plans for Mjärdevi, a thriving university, and a commitment to sustainability and collaboration, Linköping is poised to remain a leader in Swedish innovation. As the city looks to the future, it continues to build on its legacy of bold thinking and transformative ideas, ensuring its relevance for at least another 40 years—and beyond.
This milestone celebration was proudly part of Region Östergötland’s Innovation Week, highlighting the region’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration. The event was made possible through the generous support of Region Östergötland, the property owners in Mjärdevi, and Linköping Science Park. Together, these stakeholders exemplify the spirit of partnership that drives the continued success of Linköping’s innovation ecosystem, paving the way for the next 40 years of groundbreaking achievements.
You can watch the whole event afterwards here
Live Stream by: Hans Winsell, Hans Winzell, Nolaris
Photos by: Crelle
