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Sustainability moving forward with grants, innovations and a top ranking

Screenshot of the vice-chancellor's blog.

I and many others are ambivalent when it comes to the ranking of the world’s universities. But Lund University has made the ranking lists and that does have an impact, at the very least for international marketing purposes.

We must be active, rather than passive, in relation to the ranking bodies. Small margins can make a university climb or tumble down the lists, so there is a need to be modest when the University gets a good ranking.

Even so, I cannot help but highlight the University’s 12th place position in the QS “Sustainability Rankings 2023”, which ranked 700 universities globally on their sustainability work and how sustainability is represented in education and research. We can definitely take pride in the fact that Lund University demonstrates both breadth and excellence in terms of sustainability in education and research. After all, it is the core activities and the knowledge produced and imparted by universities that make the biggest difference to society and a sustainable future. But the University is also a major employer and place of education, so our carbon footprint is also something we need to work on actively (and is also a parameter in the QS ranking). Not only to do our bit, but also because more and more students and staff are demanding a university that places a high value on sustainability.

This is the first time that Lund University has participated in this type of ranking. And it is fantastic that we are able to gain visibility for the great work that is being done in both our core and support activities.

Several interesting projects related to sustainability are in the pipeline. Earlier this year the University set aside up to SEK 12 million over the next three years for the Sustainability Fund. The fund is to finance activities that drive change for greater sustainability in the broadest sense and is aimed at students and staff with innovative ideas and projects.

There are three parts to the Sustainability Fund: The first is aimed at sustainability researchers who want to explore the innovation potential of their projects at an early stage. The second is scholarship support for students who want to develop a sustainable idea, and the third is targeted support for projects where the University itself can act as a test bed for developing sustainable solutions in society.

The fund has now launched the first part, Sustainable Idea Exploration, for researchers who want to explore the innovation potential of their projects at an early stage. Researchers can apply for grants of SEK 150,000 per project.

The second and third parts will open for applications over the next 6 months. This is a really exciting and interesting initiative that has evolved over a long period, and is finally being realised. I will follow the Sustainability Fund with great interest!

And there is certainly no shortage of innovative ideas at the University. One evening recently there was an awards ceremony for the creators of some of this year’s most innovative projects with a clear sustainability perspective and the potential to create significant social value. I have had the honour to sit on the jury for the annual innovation competition arranged by Lund University and Sparbanken Skåne (in Swedish). I was deeply impressed by all the participants. In the student category, industrial design students August Eriksson and Samuel Amant won with their idea to rent out small seaweed farms to fishermen, for example. Brilliant!

In the employee category, Kristina Lång, Ida Arvidsson, Freja Sahlin and Jennie Karlsson from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) won. They have created a tool that can diagnose breast cancer both safely and accessibly by combining pocket ultrasound technology with AI-based diagnostic support. An innovation that can really make a difference as it can be used in countries without substantial healthcare resources.

All ingenious people – from students to senior researchers – with knowledge, energy and creativity working to create a better world. They are truly worthy of appreciation and encouragement. They exist – a remarkable number of them are at Lund University.

/ Erik Renström, Vice-Chancellor

Erik Renström. Foto: Charlotte Carlberg-Bärg.

Erik Renström, vice-chancellor

E-mail: rektor [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (rektor[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se)
Telephone: 046-222 70 01

Eva Porenius, secretary to the vice-chancellor
E-mail:eva [dot] porenius [at] rektor [dot] lu [dot] se (eva[dot]porenius[at]rektor[dot]lu[dot]se)
Telephone: +46-46-222 70 03