From infrastructure to impact: HALRIC’s cross-border success story
The HALRIC Final Conference, held at Medicon Village on Wednesday, brought together researchers, industry leaders, hospitals, universities and research infrastructures from across the Öresund–Kattegat–Skagerrak (ÖKS)–Hamburg region for two days of dialogue, reflection and forward-looking collaboration.
The HALRIC project aimed to bridge gaps between major research infrastructures and smaller life science actors, making cutting-edge facilities more accessible to a wide range of users and ultimately driving innovation across the mega-region.
Over the past three years, HALRIC has shown what becomes possible when borders are treated as bridges rather than barriers. By supporting 82 collaborative pilot projects — exceeding the original target of 75 — and mobilising more than 400 researchers from hospitals, universities, industry and research infrastructures across Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Germany, the programme has significantly strengthened cross-border cooperation. It has enabled researchers and innovators to access world-class facilities such as MAX IV, the European Spallation Source (ESS) and DESY, as well as smaller-scale infrastructures across the region, accelerating discoveries and opening new research and innovation pathways.
From advanced imaging and structural biology to data-driven life science and sustainable materials research, HALRIC has strengthened connections between talented people, ambitious ideas and top-tier facilities across national boundaries. The results presented during the conference clearly showed how cross-border access to research infrastructures can reshape research directions, enhance clinical impact and create new industry collaborations.
HALRIC´s strategic importance
HALRIC aims to bridge gaps between major research infrastructures and smaller life science actors, making cutting-edge facilities more accessible to a wide range of users — especially industry and clinical research groups — thereby driving innovation in the region.
HALRIC´s collaborative focus
The project promotes:
• Interdisciplinary and cross-border research.
• Shared use of state-of-the-art equipment and expertise.
• Networking between institutions and industrial partners.
• Development of models for data integration and interoperability.
Moving forward
The discussions looking ahead to HALRIC’s conclusion emphasised one shared conviction: knowledge, talent and innovation cannot stop at national borders. To remain competitive and impactful, our region must continue to connect expertise with infrastructure wherever it is located. Sustained collaboration frameworks, stronger regional alignment and continued access to world-class facilities are essential to securing long-term scientific and societal value.
HALRIC has laid a solid foundation for the future. The commitment from universities, hospitals, research infrastructures and regional leaders demonstrates that the momentum will continue. The conference may have closed, but we are confident that this network will remain active and continue to grow in the years to come.
Acknowledging the People Behind the Progress
A warm thank you to all partners involved, and to the organisers and speakers of the final conference, for their incredible effort and dedication, which made the entire programme a success.
If you want to know more about the HALRIC project, please feel free to reach out to Innovation Manager, Francesco Bez, at francesco.bez@mediconvillage.se.