"Collaboration often sparks new curiosity"

Published 28 September 2026

The building MAXIV seen from above. — If we are to make a leap forward in solving some of the world’s greatest mysteries and societal challenges, we need productive interaction between academia and industry, writes Annika Olsson. Photo: Johan Persson

DEAN'S BLOG. A few decades from now, I hope we will be able to look back with pride and say that, here in Lund, we achieved something that benefited the world, and that we did it together. This is written by Annika Olsson, Dean of LTH, who highlights that both LTH and MAX IV are celebrating decades of societal impact.

In the coming days, we celebrate the fact that 65 years have passed since the first 30 engineering students were admitted to LTH on the outskirts of Lund, where brick buildings designed by the architect Klas Anshelm were erected one by one around the small lake known as Sjön.

Since then, much water has flowed beneath the bridge. Today, LTH is one of Sweden’s three leading engineering schools, part of Lund University and the alma mater of tens of thousands of graduates who make professional contributions within architecture, engineering and design, helping to address many of society's challenges and problems.

LTH now has campuses in Helsingborg, Ljungbyhed and Lund. In Lund, in particular, we are currently examining how LTH and the University can help strengthen the environment surrounding the major research facilities ESS and MAX IV, where several crucial questions about the future are likely to be answered.

"Collaboration often sparks new curiosity" by Annika Olsson, Dean of LTH