New Worlds – New Solutions – Research and Innovation as a Basis for Developing Europe in a Global Context

The Conference will take place in Lund, Sweden, on 7-8 July 2009 (at Lund University), and will be opened by the Minister for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Tobias Krantz, and the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Dr. Janez Potocnik. The overall theme of the Conference is the role of research and innovation in the development of Europe up to 2025. We expect around 400 participants.

The countries and citizens of Europe are facing new global changes which represent difficult environmental, economic and social challenges. The need for research-based knowledge has never been greater. The Swedish Government will bring together key researchers, politicians and officials who, in a joint effort, will lay the ground for considerations about future directions for research and innovation in Europe.

At this juncture in history, in the midst of a financial crisis, these issues must be raised with new force. The Conference discussions will be concentrated in the Lund Declaration, thus providing a substantial input to the future of European research and innovation in a global context.

The press are invited to attend to an infomal press meeting on 7 July at 10 a.m., room 206 at the University. The Minister for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Tobias Krantz, and the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Dr. Janez Potocnik will attend.

At the end of the conference, after that the Lund Declaration has been presented to the Minister for Higher Education and Research, a pressconference will be held.

Contacts: Jesper Wadensjö, Pressecretary, Swedish Research Council;
+46 73 355 38 53
Margareta Stridh, Information Officer, Ministry of Education and Research;
+46 8 405 17 49