History

Ideon was founded in 1983. Around that time, a large number of basic industries in Skåne, such as shipbuilding and textiles, were hit by closures. The reason was a series of significant changes in the industrial structure. This meant the start of a unique joint venture between the University and industry - Ideon.

Sweden’s first science park
The purpose was to take advantage of the expertise that existed at Lund University and to create new growth companies with local ties, thus increasing the employment level in the region. Inspiration was taken from the USA where similar activities had been successfully operated for some years. The concept was adapted to Swedish conditions and the work on creating Sweden’s first science park was commenced.

Behind this unique initiative with the Ideon concept were Lund University, the County Administrative Board of Malmöhus County (as it was then) and the Municipality of Lund. All of them open to new ways of thinking. In order to launch Ideon, what was needed were a local construction company with good confidence in the future, and a key customer to contribute credibility. Skanska, at that time Skånska Cement, was secured for the building side of things and Ericsson, with its mobile telephony development projects, became an important component.

It started with five companies
The site chosen was on the rich fields of the Pålsjö area, adjacent to Lund’s Faculty of Engineering and, starting in September 1983, the first five companies moved into Ideon. Since then, two committed, persistent owners have, with the help of a strict policy for approving new Ideon companies, continued to work on strengthening the Ideon Science Park brand.

During the period 1983-1987, a total of 50,000 m2 of laboratory and office premises were built. Companies moved in in a steady stream and, in 1988, there were about 100 companies in Ideon. This growth stagnated somewhat until 1996 but took off again when Ericsson, then with 750 employees, moved to premises of their own in the Brunnshög area. At this point, many predicted the end of the Ideon success story. Reality turned out to be quite the opposite.

Rapid growth
After extensive rebuilding and adaptation of the premises in the Alfa building for smaller companies, Ideon was able to grow from 110 to 160 companies within the space of three years. There are now about 260 companies that together employ around 2,000 people. In total there are 110,000 square metres of office and laboratory premises at Ideon Science Park.

During its first 28 years, more than 900 companies have operated at Ideon Science Park. Seventy-six per cent of the companies have, over the years, had some kind of close connection with Lund University. The survival rate has been excellent and, in these first 28 years, only about thirty companies have had to close down.