International Citizen Hub Lund celebrates its 10th anniversary
International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL) celebrated its 10-year anniversary this week, marking a decade of impactful work in talent retention and community building for the international professionals who have made Lund their home. Founded to help newcomers navigate daily life, establish networks, and integrate into the regional ecosystem, ICHL has become a cornerstone of Lund’s capacity to welcome and retain global expertise. Over the past ten years, it has played a decisive role in ensuring that international talent not only arrives but thrives – an achievement highlighted by Anders Almgren, Mayor of Lund.
ICHL’s 10th anniversary celebration at Stadshallen in Lund brought together senior representatives from the City of Lund, Region Skåne, ESS, Lund University, Medicon Village, industry, municipalities, regional actors, and the international community. Sarah Lidé, Deputy CEO at Medicon Village Innovation and moderator of the event, reflected on ICHL’s first decade by outlining its milestones, impact, and future direction. She emphasised that as global competition for talent intensifies, coordinated and resilient support structures will be critical to maintaining regional attractiveness and ensuring long-term success.
Speakers reinforced the view that lasting talent retention depends on more than strong research environments and employment conditions. Support for partners and families is essential; when the family thrives, the professional thrives, and the region prospers. As Pia Kinhult, Head of Host State Relations at ESS, noted, “You do not employ a person, you employ a family.” She also acknowledged that ICHL’s support was instrumental during ESS’s early recruitment phases, significantly reducing the challenges faced by incoming staff.
Over the past decade since ICHL’s formation, Lund’s internationalisation has continued to accelerate. ESS alone now employs individuals from around 60 nationalities, and the city is home to people from approximately 189 nationalities in total. At Lund University, about 30 percent of PhD candidates and 40 percent of master’s students are international, as is a large portion of the staff. Jimmie Kristensson, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Lund University, highlighted that international talent increasingly sees Lund as an attractive place to study, conduct research, and build a career. In an era of heightened global competition, visibility and strong regional branding are becoming indispensable – a point also emphasised by Kristian Åsberg, Head of Triple Helix at Alfa Laval, in the context of the company’s expansion plans.
It was clear from the discussions during the anniversary event that Lund’s innovation ecosystem has grown rapidly, anchored by Lund University and supported by Medicon Village, Ideon Science Park, and strong industry players such as Alfa Laval, Tetra Pak, Axis and other global companies. With strategic EU research infrastructures like MAX IV and ESS moving towards full operation and attracting scientific teams from around the world, demand for specialised talent will continue to increase. Meeting this need requires not only world-class research environments but also robust social and professional support systems that enable researchers, engineers and innovators to succeed – both professionally and personally.
After a decade of strong results in retention, ICHL is now preparing to broaden its mission to include more structured talent attraction. This evolution reflects both the region’s growing needs and its ambitions to remain a leading scientific and innovation hub.
Medicon Village contributes to this agenda through initiatives such as Cross Border Talent Bridge, co-funded by the EU Interreg programme and led by the City of Lund. The initiative strengthens mobility between Denmark and Sweden, connects international experts with regional employers, and supports companies seeking to recruit globally. Partners include Ideon Science Park, Open Tech, Copenhagen Capacity, Copenhagen Municipality, and Medicon Valley Alliance.
Together, initiatives such as ICHL and Cross Border Talent Bridge play a vital role in strengthening the region’s competence supply – one of Medicon Village’s three strategic priorities and a key foundation for the continued growth of southern Sweden’s life science sector.
Photo: Filip Hohenthal