President’s visit to Southern Sweden to focus on research and economic cooperation
PHOTO: Vabariigi Presidendi Kantselei
President Alar Karis is on an official visit to the southern Swedish cities of Lund and Malmö over the next two days, joined by a delegation of entrepreneurs and university rectors, to look into ways of enhancing research and economic cooperation. The head of state will be introduced to the work that Estonian researchers are doing in leading European laboratories in the cities and outlining Estonia’s experience in the fields of digital and health technology.
President Karis will be the first speaker at a business seminar in Scandinavia’s biggest life science research park, Medicon Village, where Estonian health technology companies will be showcasing their innovative solutions for health promotion. During the trip he will also be opening an honorary Estonian consulate in Malmö and visiting Estonian House in Lund, where he will be talking about Estonian-Swedish relations and the security situation at a traditional discussion evening hosted by the local student council.
Lund is home to two of the world’s best known materials and bioscience research centres. The MAX IV laboratory uses shortwave synchrotron radiation to study materials and develop technologies. One of its 16 beamlines was created and financed in cooperation with Finland and Estonia, the latter of which invested 3.5 million euros in its construction. Another leading laboratory to which Estonia contributes is the European Spallation Source in Lund: the world’s most powerful neutron source, it simplifies the study of, among other things, the structure of molecules, thereby explaining the qualities of materials and substances.
Skåne is the southernmost county in Sweden and has a population comparable to that of Estonia. The region has become an influential innovation centre, home to a tenth of the headquarters of all Nordic companies.
Accompanying President Karis on his visit are rector Tiit Land and vice-rector for the green transition Helen Sooväli-Sepping from TalTech, rector Tõnu Viik from Tallinn University, rector Mart Kalm from the Estonian Academy of Arts and secretary-general Hanna Kanep from Universities Estonia.
The business delegation comprises representatives of the Estonian Genome Project, Enterprise Estonia and the companies Connected Health, MindTitan, Proud Engineers, Cognuse, Activate Health, Nanordica Medical, Cybernetica, Guardtime and Migrevention.