How can sustainable urban development become a natural part of the cities of the future? This is one of the questions that researchers in the lab want to answer. Lena Neij from The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University, and LTH researchers Ulla Janson and Andrew Karvonen, are participating in the project. Together with the business community and residents, they will explore how mobility and circularity in the construction sector can work in practice, and work on transition initiatives for an attractive and vibrant city.
A joint step towards sustainable cities
Lena Neij, professor at IIIEE, is conducting research on the role of cities in managing climate change, strategies for local climate policy, and municipalities' capacity for change. She says:
"Research on transition spans many disciplines, and the lab will be able to involve researchers from different parts of the university and actors from many other sectors. By working together, we can build knowledge for an attractive and vibrant city.”
The lab will build on previous collaborations between Lund University, Lund Municipality, HSB, and other actors, says Andrew Karvonen, professor of urban design and urbanism.
“A key to realizing sustainable cities is to transform buildings, streets, and open spaces. This work requires a great deal of coordination and effort from all parties involved by utilizing synergies and different areas of expertise to create a city that is economically prosperous, environmentally friendly, and socially just,” he says.
Moving from linear to circular is the key to a sustainable construction industry in the future, points out Ulla Janson, senior lecturer in building and environmental technology.
“Through practical research, we at the university can support and encourage the industry in this transition. The fantastic breadth of researchers at the university makes it possible to work across disciplines and meet the industry's need for development,” she continues.
A meeting place for new solutions and joint transition
“The lab is important in many ways. It is a meeting place where we can discuss needs and opportunities for shaping tomorrow’s society with other stakeholders. It is also an environment where we can test new solutions. It is fantastic that Lund has been given the opportunity to design one of five geographical transition labs in Sweden,” says Lena Neij.
In addition to collaborating with Lund Municipality and HSB, who are project owners together with the university, the actors in the lab will work closely with the local business community and residents to develop competence and learning for long-term transition work in the municipality.
“We have already started this work and are inviting people to a first kick-off in November,” says Lena Neij.
After that, the design of joint projects will be planned, says Ulla Janson.
“The first call for proposals from Formas for funding related to the lab has opened, and we look forward to more innovative projects and partners who want to work with us in Lund’s transition lab,” she says.
What is Lund Urban Transition Lab?
Lund Urban Transition Lab is part of the ShiftSweden program within the national innovation initiative Impact Innovation and is funded by Formas over a five-year period with SEK 8 million.
The lab is a five-year interdisciplinary project involving collaboration between Lund University, Lund Municipality, and HSB, among others, and will contribute to Lund serving as a global example of sustainable urban development. As part of the project, HSB is moving its current HSB Living Lab in Gothenburg to the innovation district in Lund.
Formas has granted funding to five cities and projects that are establishing geographical transition labs, places where new solutions for sustainable societal transition will be developed, tested, and scaled up.