How can we become better prepared for future crises, societal challenges, and transformation? Eight research projects at Lund University, Campus Helsingborg, have now been awarded funding from the City of Helsingborg’s Research and Development Fund for 2026. Together, the projects will share a total of SEK 4.6 million.
– It is a pleasure to once again present a strong portfolio of research projects within the collaboration between the City of Helsingborg and Lund University in research and development. This year, there is a particular focus on current and future societal challenges related to preparedness and resilience. The R&D Fund is an important tool available to the City of Helsingborg, helping us strengthen collaboration between the municipality and academia, says Anna Karin Bergman, Research and Development, City of Helsingborg.
This year’s projects span areas such as innovation leadership, volunteering and civil society, skills supply, drone-assisted emergency healthcare, staff support within the welfare sector, accessible urban environments, and the robustness of buildings during crises and extreme stress. All projects are linked to this year’s theme: preparedness, crisis management, and total defence.
The following research projects have been awarded funding for 2026:
Balanced Innovation Leadership for Transformation: Between Formal Decision-Making Structures and Distributed Leadership
Johan Alvehus, Department of Service Studies
Between Freedom and Responsibility – The Drivers and Boundaries of Volunteering
Mattias Wengelin, Department of Service Studies
Retention for Regional Competitiveness and Preparedness – Knowledge Development to Retain Graduates in the Region
Malin Zillinger, Department of Service Studies
Drone-Supported Emergency Healthcare in the Field: Action Research with a Focus on the Port of Helsingborg
David Gisselsson Nord, Faculty of Medicine
Staff Support – Success Factors for Maintaining High-Quality Welfare Services
Åsa Ritenius Manjer, School of Social Work
Access 2.0 – Accessible Cities: Enhancing Shared Spaces
Michael Johansson, Department of Service Studies
RETOT – Appropriate Renovation Measures in Buildings to Strengthen Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Total Defence
Hans Bagge, Division of Building Physics, LTH
Design and Analysis of Structures Subjected to Impact and Explosion Loads
Linus Andersson, Division of Structural Mechanics, LTH
– Congratulations to our researchers who have received funding! Through this support, new opportunities are created to contribute knowledge that strengthens both the city and society at large, says Charlotta Johnsson, Rector of Lund University, Campus Helsingborg.
Research, Collaboration, and Researcher Day
In 2025, the City of Helsingborg and Lund University signed a new collaboration agreement in which research and innovation are prioritized focus areas for the coming five years. As part of this collaboration, the city annually funds research projects through its Research and Development Fund (R&D Fund). The purpose is to strengthen research at Campus Helsingborg and contribute to the city’s long-term goals and societal development.
This year’s call focused on preparedness, crisis management, and total defence — an area growing in importance both locally and nationally.
On March 5, the City of Helsingborg will host Researcher Day (Forskardagen) at Parken in Oceanhamnen. Researchers who previously received funding will present their results, while this year’s recipients will provide insights into the projects now being launched.
