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Upcoming: Innovation Research Day 2026

People in a large room seated at tables talking together. Photo.
Innovation Research Day 2025. Photo by Jenny Leyman.

In a time marked by rapid technological change and growing societal challenges, universities play a key role in shaping responsible and impactful innovation. Against this backdrop, CIRCLE invites researchers to come together to reflect, exchange perspectives, and co create knowledge on how innovation research can contribute to sustainable and systemic change.

CIRCLE is hosting its third Innovation Research Day in June this year. Just as earlier years the event touches on topical subjects, as focus this time lies with advanced materials, quantum technologies and semiconductors – areas which attracts attention from the EU as well as Swedish policymakers.

The event will initiate interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers from the natural and engineering as well as the social sciences, bridging diverse perspectives to explore both the technical potential of advancements and their broader societal impacts. Together researchers aim to uncover opportunities for joint research applications that integrate cutting-edge technologies with responsible, sustainable, and policy-relevant solutions for meaningful societal impact.

A research agenda for systemic change

The event is not just an opportunity for discussion but also an possibility to create a hands-on outcome. Last year’s Innovation Research Day resulted in a forward-looking research agenda at the intersection of innovation studies and sustainability research. Innovation, which was primarily technology-driven, has evolved into a much broader field.

“With democracy under pressure, trust in research declining, and global crises escalating, innovation can play a vital role in enabling systemic change,” says Pauline Mattsson, organizer of the event.

Read the Research Agenda which the participants of Innovation Research Day 2025 outlined to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

A platform for interdisciplinary meetings

The Innovation Research Day provides a platform at Lund University to share and discuss new projects and initiatives, to identify potential interfaces and complementarities, and to jointly develop ideas about the future of innovation research. 

This year's Innovation Research Day brings together researchers to explore the role of key technologies in a rapidly changing world. The event is organized by CIRCLE and NanoLund and is open to all Lund University researchers with an interest in innovation research, and also welcomes external stakeholders connected to CIRCLE or NanoLund.

Registration is open until May 21 (Microsoft Forms)