Five transition labs to lead the way to sustainable living environments of the future

How can we rebuild our cities and communities to tackle the climate crisis, promote health and create attractive living environments for all? Five geographical transition labs are now being set up around Sweden - from the mountain destination of Sälen to the Lindholmen district of Gothenburg - to serve as test environments for urban planning and mobility and show the way for a sustainable transition.

Formas has granted funding to five projects that establish geographic transition labs - places where new solutions for sustainable societal transition will be developed, tested and scaled up. The labs are part of the ShiftSweden program within the national innovation initiative Impact Innovation.

Future community building tested in real environments

The aim of the Transition Labs is to show how to create attractive and accessible living environments for all, by challenging current ways of working and developing new solutions for the built environment and mobility. The labs will contribute to three major shifts in urban planning and mobility that ShiftSweden has identified as necessary for a transition to be possible:

• From resource-intensive linear building processes to sustainable and value-creating circular business models.
• From unsustainable transportation to a new freedom reform with competitive alternatives to individual car travel.
• From siloed urban planning to an integrated ecosystem for the built environment and mobility.

The five labs are located in Malmö, Karlstad, Gothenburg, Lund and Sälenfjällen. Each location is facing major changes and has the potential to contribute to the three shifts and show how we are transitioning to sustainable, accessible and attractive living environments for all. The projects bring together actors from municipalities, academia, business and civil society in long-term partnerships.

- By starting from local conditions and needs, we can show that the transition is possible - and that it can create better places to live. In ShiftSweden's transition labs, we want to show how the transition can be achieved in different types of places and find solutions that can be disseminated and inspire others, says Mattias Blomberg, Senior Advisor at Formas.

- Our geographical transition labs will explore, test and challenge. Now it will be very exciting to see how the labs take on our shifts and show how transition can be done in practice, says John Hultén, Program Manager for ShiftSweden.

More projects will fill the labs

In stage two of the call, the location of the awarded transition labs is the starting point for new actor constellations to apply for funding to implement innovation projects within the location's described vision, goals and framework. The new projects can work on innovative solutions in areas such as policy, services, processes or products. This call is expected to open in October 2025.

- We are already looking forward to developing the Transition Labs further. Later this fall, we will add even more exciting projects to the labs through the next stage of the call, says Emma Hult, Deputy Program Manager at ShiftSweden.

Granted projects

• City of Malmö - Transition Lab Nyhamnen
  Circular redevelopment and sustainable mobility in a former ferry terminal area. Nyhamnen is one of Malmö's largest urban development areas, located between Malmö Central Station and the sea.
• Karlstad municipality - Outskirts become the edge
  The health perspective as a driving force for urban construction and mobility. The Karlstad Transition Lab is located in the western part of the city center, Tingvallastaden, close to Karlstad Central Station and the Klarälven river.
• City of Gothenburg - Lindholmen Transition Lab (LOL)
  Test environment for the sustainable living environments of the future with the goal of the 15-minute city. Lindholmen is part of the Lundby district of Gothenburg, located on the Göta River.
• Lund Municipality - Lund Urban Transition Lab
  Transformation of an innovation district with a focus on circular business models, active mobility and integrated governance. The Lund Urban Transition Lab is located in northeast Lund, between Brunnshög and the planned hospital area.
• Malung-Sälen municipality - Lab Sälenfjällen
  Sustainable development of Scandinavia's largest mountain destination. The transition lab stretches from Kläppen to Stöten and includes several ski resorts as well as Sälen village, which is a growing center for both tourism and permanent housing.

Contacts

• Mattias Blomberg, Senior Advisor, Formas
• John Hultén, Program Manager, ShiftSweden External link.
• Emma Hult, Deputy Program Manager, ShiftSweden External link.

The call