Lund University, together with the City of Helsingborg, Wihlborgs, Navet Analytics and the Helsingborg Trade Association, is laying the foundations for “Science Centre Helsingborg”, which will be located next to Campus Helsingborg. The initiative aims to stimulate interest in science, research and future challenges at an early age and is expected to attract 20,000 visitors a year.
– Lund University conducts world-leading research in many areas, and a science centre offers excellent opportunities to stimulate curiosity and interest in research and education from an early age. It can also become a hub for cooperation between different actors in the region,’ says Lena Eskilsson, Vice Chancellor of Lund University.
The Helsingborg Science Centre is located in Fabriken1891 on Rönnowsgatan and will include exhibition areas, group rooms, laboratories, storage and offices. The centre will be developed in stages, with school activities and pre-booked visits starting as early as 2025, before opening to families and other visitors at weekends and during holidays.
The Helsingborg Science Centre will be run in a similar way to the Vattenhallen Science Centre in Lund, which opened in 2009.
-We see the positive effects that science centres have – worldwide – on children and young people’s curiosity and confidence in technology and science. The test activities at Campus Helsingborg 2019-2024 have been successful, and we are pleased to now be able to set up a full-scale operation for the Helsingborg region,’ says Monica Almqvist, Head of Operations at Vattenhallen Science Centre.
At the heart of the innovation district
The initiative will be a new, high-quality visitor centre near Helsingborg C, in the middle of the Helsingborg Innovation District, aimed at families with children, school classes and tourists. The aim is to increase children’s and young people’s curiosity about science, technology and research and to strengthen their understanding of how they can contribute to solving tomorrow’s societal challenges. It will also be a platform for meetings and increased collaboration between citizens, industry and academia.
Business involvement is important
– The Helsingborg Science Centre will be a valuable addition to the city’s educational activities and an attractive meeting place for schools, businesses, families and tourists. The centre will also be a visitor destination that will increase Helsingborg’s attractiveness,’ says Christian Orsing (M), Chairman of Helsingborg City Council.
With Science Center Helsingborg, the city’s academic, municipal and business stakeholders want to take a joint approach to future challenges such as achieving climate neutrality, increasing the safety and participation of residents and enabling new technological solutions. The initiative is based on the active participation of the business community, and more companies are now invited to join the initiative.
-Getting young people excited about technology and development stimulates their interest in learning in general. Education, in turn, is crucial for increasing civic participation, securing future skills needs and attracting business start-ups. This initiative is absolutely right for Helsingborg and will have a ripple effect throughout the Öresund region. I therefore hope that we will receive a great deal of support from the business community,” says Ulrika Hallengren, CEO of Wihlborgs.
-We want to make an active contribution to increasing the business community’s involvement in important growth issues in the Helsingborg region. Campus Helsingborg was established 25 years ago, and even then the business community had a strong and genuine commitment to its establishment. Close cooperation between the business community, universities and the city is a success factor for increased growth,” says Göran Hellström, Partner and Senior Advisor at Navet Analytics AB.
The goal: 50,000 visitors a year
By adapting the content to Helsingborg’s existing education programmes and dominant industries, combined with future needs, the activities of Science Center Helsingborg contribute to securing the long-term supply of skills in important sectors.
-Investing in education is one of the most important cornerstones in the development of the Helsingborg region. That’s why we at Helsingborgs Handelsförening are happy to support the construction of a science centre in Helsingborg,” says Anders Rosberg from Helsingborgs Handelsförening.
The long-term goal is for Helsingborg Science Centre to become an even bigger visitor destination with 50,000 visitors a year.