Celebrating One of the Hubs of Helsingborg Innovation District
“One city is a shell around the tower Kärnan,
The other city is a shell around the brain,
And neither of them resembles Helsingør.”
– Hans Alfredson, on the esablishing of a fiflal to Lund University around 1995.
When Campus Helsingborg opened its doors in 2000, it marked the beginning of a new era — not only for Lund University but also for the city of Helsingborg and its people. The former Tretorn factory, once filled with the noise of machines, became a space for curiosity, research, and innovation. Industrial smoke gave way to knowledge and ideas — and Helsingborg gained a university in the heart of the city.
A Shared Journey Built on Strengths
What began as a dream to bring higher education closer to northwestern Skåne has become a cornerstone of Helsingborg’s identity. Over the past 25 years, Campus Helsingborg has become a meeting place for thousands of students, researchers, businesses, and residents — a hub where learning meets the city’s pulse.
Educational programs have grown from local needs and strengths — in service management, strategic communication, logistics, and fashion studies. Research has built on Helsingborg’s heritage as a port and trading city, while looking ahead to sustainable logistics and innovation for the future.
For Helsingborg’s residents, the university has meant far more than just more students on bicycles. It has brought energy, new ideas, and a sense of pride — making Helsingborg part of something larger.
Key Milestones
2000 – Lund University establishes Campus Helsingborg. Studies in Service Management begin, and the student association Stampus is formed. The official inauguration follows in 2001 as the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) and the School of Social Work move in.
2007 – New programs launch, including Strategic Communication, Logistics Service Management, and Food Service Management.
2016 – Helsingborgen Student House opens, enriching student life. The local trade association donates SEK 3 million to research and education in Fashion Studies.
2023 – Campus Helsingborg strengthens its strategic profile in pioneering research and education. The new research center REAL, focused on trade and logistics, is established.
2025 – Helsingborg City and Campus Helsingborg Lund University sign a new strategic collaboration agreement, deepening the partnership and strengthening Helsingborg as a campus and research city.
A Hub for Knowledge and Innovation
Helsingborg’s position makes it a natural gateway — with its port, ferries, railways, and highways linking Sweden to the continent. It’s a city in motion — and knowledge moves here too.
Campus Helsingborg has carried forward and reimagined the city’s tradition of commerce and logistics. Its research on transport, trade, and sustainable urban development draws on the past but points boldly toward the future.
When business and the public sector invest in innovation and smart solutions, the university stands close by — contributing research, analysis, and new ideas. Since 2023, Campus Helsingborg has been one of the key hubs in Helsingborg Innovation District, a collaborative arena connecting academia, industry, and the public sector to strengthen innovation and sustainable growth.
The Road Ahead – The Next 25 Years
The story doesn’t end here — it continues, full of new possibilities.
With LUPREP, Campus Helsinbgorg Lund University’s new center for preparedness and resilience, Helsingborg becomes a place where pressing issues of safety and social resilience are explored. Researchers, public agencies, and companies can work together to build a more secure and adaptable society.
REAL, the new research center for trade and logistics, aims to create a strong interdisciplinary environment driving sustainable commerce for the future.
And with plans for a Science Center in Helsingborg — a sister to Vattenhallen in Lund — the city will open its doors even wider to science and discovery. A place where children, youth, and citizens can explore, experiment, and innovate — a living knowledge hub for all of northwestern Skåne.
In January 2025, the strengthened partnership between Helsingborg City and Lund University took another leap forward — setting the stage for even closer collaboration between business, society, and academia. Together, we are developing solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.
Together We Shape the Future
Looking back over 25 years, it’s clear that Helsingborg and Lund University have built something truly unique. Looking forward, the connection between the university and the city — now firmly anchored in Helsingborg Innovation District — will only grow stronger.
With plans for new cross-Öresund connection, Helsingborg’s strategic position will be further enhanced — opening new opportunities for both the city and the campus.
In a time of rapid change, we need cities that dare to invest in knowledge and innovation. Helsingborg is one of those cities.
And with Campus Helsingborg as one of the central hubs of Helsingborg Innovation District, we have everything needed to create the solutions of tomorrow — together.
