Sant Cugat leads a mission to Lund to explore one of Europe’s most innovative health ecosystems.

HEALTH CITIES is a European project led by Sant Cugat City Council within the framework of the Barcelona Innovation Valley Alliance (BIVA). It brings together nine partners from seven European countries with the aim of strengthening regional health and life sciences ecosystems through the exchange of public policies and best practices. With a total budget of €1.84 million, the project is co-funded by the Interreg Europe programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and positions Sant Cugat at the forefront of a European network working to foster innovation, competitiveness and entrepreneurship in one of Europe’s most strategic sectors for the future.

The study visit focused on four key themes that are central to Lund and Skåne’s success as a leading life science region: commercialisation, capital, competence and governance. Through site visits, expert presentations and roundtable discussions, participants gained first-hand insight into how regional actors collaborate to support innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable ecosystem development.

The programme began at Medicon Village, one of Scandinavia’s largest life science hubs, where participants were introduced to Lund’s innovation ecosystem and the role of collaborative environments in connecting companies, researchers, healthcare stakeholders, investors and public authorities. Discussions on commercialisation featured contributions from LU Innovation, SmiLe Venture Hub and Innovation Skåne, highlighting support mechanisms that help transform research results into market-ready solutions with societal and patient benefits.

Participants also visited SmiLe Venture Hub, where they learned about specialised incubation programmes, startup support services and laboratory facilities designed to accelerate the growth of life science companies. The topic of access to finance was explored through presentations by LU Venture and SmiLe Inject, which showcased different approaches to investment readiness and funding opportunities for early-stage ventures. Medicon Village additionally presented its Investor Panel initiative, which facilitates connections between promising life science companies and national and international investors.

Talent attraction and retention formed another important part of the programme. A dedicated session at International Citizen Hub Lund examined how regions can attract, integrate and retain highly skilled international professionals. Representatives from International Citizen Hub Lund, the Cross Border Talent Bridge project, ESS and Region Skåne shared experiences on international recruitment, cross-border mobility and long-term competitiveness in knowledge-intensive sectors.

On the second day, participants visited the world-leading research infrastructures MAX IV and ESS, gaining insight into their role in advancing scientific excellence and innovation. The programme continued at the ATMP Centre at Skåne University Hospital, where participants explored how advanced research capabilities are translated into clinical innovation and healthcare applications.

The study visit also included a session on Lund Innovation District, an initiative aiming to strengthen connections between the region’s major innovation assets, including Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Medicon Village, Ideon Science Park, Science Village, MAX IV and ESS. Discussions focused on building a more integrated and internationally visible innovation ecosystem capable of attracting talent, investment and new business opportunities.

The final day expanded the perspective to the wider regional and cross-border ecosystem. Participants visited Medeon in Malmö and learned about the role of the Research and Innovation Council in Skåne (FIRS) in supporting regional innovation strategies. The programme concluded with a visit to Medicon Valley Alliance in Copenhagen, highlighting the importance of cross-border collaboration within the Greater Copenhagen and Medicon Valley region.

The study visit provided an excellent opportunity for HEALTH CITIES partners to exchange knowledge, identify transferable good practices and discuss common challenges faced by health and life science ecosystems across Europe. By fostering peer learning and interregional cooperation, the project continues to support the development of stronger, more connected and more competitive innovation ecosystems that contribute to improved health outcomes and regional growth.