At Lund University we see research results that can turn into knowledge-intensive innovations and technologies, which in turn can be the start of growth companies that make a difference in society.
The university's own innovation department operates at the intersection of academia and industry, with the goal of helping researchers and students to take their knowledge to society through new products, methods, or services. The department is now shifting into a higher gear: through LU Business Track, LU Innovation and the university's investment company LU Holding want to speed up the journey from first contact with researchers to a growth company on the market.
LU Innovation supports ideas from all faculties and works broadly with everything from life science, deep tech and social innovations. With LU Business Track, the spotlight is put on the innovations that have the potential to become growth companies, that is, ideas that can become global companies that raise risk capital.
What is unique about the LU Business Track? The working method! A team gets put together, where the researcher and the research-based project form the hub. Key competences come in and work hands-on with the project's development – competences consisting of an innovation developer with expertise in business models and target groups, as well as a portfolio manager from LU Holding with cutting-edge competence in company formation, investment and company scaling. An expansive network of industrial expertise gets looped in to get the right skills into the board and put the founders in touch with the right contacts.
Each researcher's journey in LU Business Track will look different, as the program is tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the individual project.
With LU Business Track, researchers get access to the resources and support they need to develop knowledge-based solutions that make a difference to the planet or people's lives – locally, nationally, and globally.
– We are committed to creating more growth companies from our world-leading research to create impact, and LU Business Track is a big step in that direction, says Christine Widstrand, CEO at LU Holding.
– We are happy to be able to offer this program to our researchers, as we know that many are driven by being able to make a difference in society with the help of their research results, she continues.
The university's research has been the start of many successful global companies: for example, Oatly which manufactures oat-based alternatives to dairy products, the invisible bicycle helmet Hövding that acts as an airbag, Elonroad which produces a rail in the road that charges vehicles as they drive over it, and Spiideo which films and broadcasts the world's largest football leagues, and other live sports. Now LU Innovation and LU Holding look forward to supporting the next successful growth company.