A Working Lab Innomedicum to open on Karolinska Institutet Solna campus in May
A new co-working facility will be opening in May at Nanna Svartz väg 4 in Solna. Here, at A Working Lab Innomedicum, researchers, students and companies will be able to meet in a campus environment to find ways to collaborate on life science innovations.
The new work environment for innovative collaborations is the product of a collaboration involving Akademiska Hus, Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB and Karolinska Holding. Covering almost 5,000 square meters, the new building will offer a wide range of rooms, including flexible workspaces, private offices, labs, conference rooms and event spaces.
“There has long been a demand for smaller office and lab premises where people can meet in new, flexible forms, a demand that has not only come from companies already established in the field but also others seeking proximity with Karolinska Institutet and life-science companies,” says Ulf Däversjö, director of innovation and sustainable development at Akademiska Hus in a press release.
A life science hub
Lilian Wikström, head of KI Innovations, says in the same press release that the mix of innovation office, incubator, researchers, students and companies makes the meeting place a life science hub in which innovation activities can grow and develop.
“We hope that A Working Lab Innomedicum will be an important innovation centre in medicine and life sciences,” she says.
According to Akademiska Hus, there is a great demand for this type of concept, and when the building opens in May, 60 members will be moving in. Membership provides access to all “A Working Lab” facilities around the country. Last autumn A Working Lab – Johanneberg Science Park opened at Chalmers in Gothenburg and this March A Working Lab Universum opened in Umeå.
Linking campuses
Together, the different environments form a national network that opens up and connects Sweden’s campuses for the sharing of everything from competence and experience to booking systems and development costs. As a member, for example, a researcher can work at A Working Lab in Umeå one day even though she is normally based in Stockholm.
“A Working Lab Innomedicum will be a brand new platform for collaboration amongst the corporate, academic and societal sectors,” says Hans Möller, CEO of KI Holding. “This we see as a key project for the development of the entire Solna campus, which also creates substantial value for Karolinska Institutet.”