Helsingborg gets a new meeting place for innovation

Recently inaugurated Parken, Helsingborg's Centre for Innovation, is a meeting place for the city, businesses and academia to solve future challenges. The centre will promote innovation and development for the entire city.

The City of Helsingborg has been working at length to find new ways to meet future needs and welfare challenges. It is about building a smart, sustainable and considerate city.

“As a city, we need to be where businesses and academia move and simplify collaboration. We face complex challenges, requiring us to run our own initiatives for welfare innovation and open up as a test bed. In both cases, the innovation work requires collaboration with research and the business community, and we will use this location for that," shares Christian Orsing (M), Mayor of Helsingborg.

Parken, located in the Oceanhamnen district, will be a place where both new collaborations and innovative solutions take shape. Connected to the centre are resources with expertise such as innovation management, research, growth, and European and national funding systems.

“Connecting with other actors and actively creating the future together is the way forward. I expect that through this investment we will produce initiatives that improve welfare and can bring about real change," shares Jan Björklund (S), deputy chair of the executive committee of Helsingborg Municipality.

Parken invites the development of value-creating solutions

Innovation districts are a relatively new phenomenon that is being established around Europe. They are usually geographically defined areas where different businesses come together to collaborate on value-creating solutions. With around 300 actors in the area, who employ around 5,500 people, the potential is promising.

“The city is active in the innovation district and contributes to innovation collaboration and growth. One way we do this is by acting as a test bed for new welfare solutions. To ensure that Helsingborg is a place for everyone and where the quality of life is high, the city needs to collaborate with civil society and the business community to find new ways. We also need help from research to address the climate issue, and from technology companies to address welfare in healthcare," shares Lisa Olsson, Director of Innovation and Transformation in the City of Helsingborg and responsible for Parken.

Various innovation tests have been ongoing in Helsingborg for several years. Current tests include solutions for micromobility, analysis of climate impact using IoT in classrooms, and a VR solution for handling conflict management in the care sector.

In connection with the inauguration of Parken, Helsingborg has signed a letter of intent together with Lund University and the Spanish company e-Miles for a series of tests in which a 3D-printed vehicle is part of a transportation system for both people and goods. During the spring, various tests will be conducted focusing on Helsingborg's ambition to become Europe's most sustainable and fast-moving logistics hub, but also from the perspective of the city's administrations and actors from civil society.

Contact Person

Lisa Olsson, Director of Innovation and Transformation, City of Helsingborg

Phone: +46 76 11 38 310

E-mail: lisa.olsson@helsingborg.se