Science at the Cutting Edge

The process of globalization is increasingly favouring regions that strive to become world leaders within a particular field. The growth impulses generated in such "hot-spots" of expertise has become the main driving force in economic growth of all advanced nations. Regions and places now compete intensely on the ability to identify and create new front-edge facilities that can attract new foreign investment and simultaneously strengthen the competitiveness of the existing knowledge intensive firms. The primary focus of this study is to discuss the probable local and regional impacts of establishing a major research centre. How will a research intensive activity influence higher education manufacturing and service firms in a knowledge-based economy? The second focus is present and clarifies the opportunities for a cross-border development in a region divided by a boundary between two sovereign states. The learning from this study could thus be of great interest to regions sharing the same ambitions and the same characteristics. The study is performed by Professor Gunnar Tornqvist, Lund University, and initiated and financed by the Committee for Research and Development of the Oresund Region, Oforsk in connection with topical discussions about the location of the proposed European Spallation Source.