SOCIETAL IMPACT LAB

The call for applications is open

Application period: 19 January – 1 March 2026

Lab Design

The lab activities are tailored and adapted to the participating researchers, as well as to the maturity and character of their projects. During the lab days, the primary focus is on individual idea development, complemented by advisory sessions, co‑creation activities, workshops, guest lectures and study visits relevant to the process.

The lab activities are organised into four modules:

Module 1
Identification

We identify and assess existing knowledge assets and develop strategies for how they should be managed throughout the year. The focus is on the individual and the conditions, experiences and skills they bring, which will contribute to the continued development of the project.

Module 2
Context analysis

We focus on the needs and the value generated by the research outcomes. This includes activities such as horizon scanning, needs assessment, stakeholder analysis and impact planning.

Module 3
Conceptualisation

We focus on value creation and on how research findings can be translated and further developed into a method, process, product or service that can be implemented in society. Through structured concept development and target‑group testing, participants are given the opportunity to refine their ideas into a user‑centred concept that also accommodates future research outcomes.

Module 4
Implementation

We centre this module on sustainable organisation and long‑term development. The work involves examining organisational structures, contractual arrangements and potential funding pathways, as well as identifying prospective collaboration partners. The module also includes risk management with regard to the concept’s long‑term viability, with particular emphasis on the participants’ responsibilities and position as originators of the idea.

“I have been at Malmö University for 22 years, and this is the most enjoyable and remarkable experience I have ever been part of. Taking part in the Societal Impact Lab is both an extraordinary inner and outer journey. Our innovation office is unique in its willingness to invest in social innovation and to experiment.”

— Anna Jobér, participant in the lab 2025/2026

”Through the lab, I have developed the competence to communicate more effectively around issues that are relevant to both research and practice. By taking part in the lab I have built networks that are, and will continue to be, absolutely crucial for the ongoing development of the project I am engaged in.”

— Jonas Lundsten, participant in the lab 2024/2025

Method &
Conditions

The work carried out in the lab is grounded in research‑based and well‑established methods and models, including context analysis, needs assessment, systems thinking, impact planning, co‑creation and communication. These methods are characterised by the dynamic interplay between the individual and the collective, aiming to broaden perspectives while preserving the unique qualities of each project.

The lab admits five researchers each year, who work in the lab every Tuesday from September through June. The lab activities are led by experienced process developers and innovation advisers at Malmö University.

*MaU Innovation reimburses the department for the researcher’s allocated working hours. The compensation is based on a 20% commitment to the programme, equivalent to one day per week, from September through June.

Conditions for participation

As an idea owner, the researcher must:

hold a PhD and have an employment contract/agreement with Malmö University that extends at least one year beyond the end of the programme.
have approval and a signature from their department head attached to their application.
attend and actively participate in the programme’s Tuesday meetings.

The project idea must:

be a result or partial result of the researcher’s work.
be explored/developed for application in society and not as part of or a continuation of existing research.
address a clear societal challenge.
have the potential to contribute to positive change/impact for the planet, society, or a larger group of individuals.
be socially, economically, and/or environmentally sustainable.
be innovative. This could include a new method and process, a changed system perspective, something new for a specific target group, or a new product or service.

Programme management

The Societal Impact Lab is run to utilise research results at Malmö University and is led by MaU Innovation. The programme is conducted in collaboration with Mötesplats Social Innovation and Mau Holding.

Between 2024 and 2027, the Societal Impact Lab is funded by MaU Innovation, as well as through a donation from the Swedbank Owner Foundation Skåne and a private donation from Malmö philanthropist and former banker Mats Kjaer.

application requirements

Head of Department Certificate

Results of participation

After completing a year in the lab, participants will have:

been offered dedicated and protected time to discuss and reflect on your research findings and their potential for societal benefit together with other researchers.
gained experience, new perspectives and research insights that add value to your future scholarly work.
initiated the process of translating your research results into a concept for potential implementation in society.
expanded your network in relation to your research area and its pathways to impact.
identified new funding opportunities to support the societal utilisation of your research.

Lab participants 2025/2026

Charlotte Petersson Troije

My project explores the potential of outdoor environments for activities that we typically carry out indoors. Most directly, and as a primary aim, the project, its research, and the dissemination of its findings have the potential to prevent ill‑health and to promote wellbeing in working life.

Maria Johansson

The construction and civil engineering sector is a vital pillar of society, yet it struggles with skills shortages and often faces negative media coverage. One underlying reason is the norms that shape and surround both the industry and its educational pathways. My project explores how knowledge about these norms can be communicated and translated into practical action.

Josepha Wessels

The need for inclusive, two‑way integration is crucial for sustainable urban development. My project addresses this by exploring how immersive technologies can be used as a bridge between research and society, fostering a deeper understanding of other people.

Lizette Reitsma

My project explores how communities in areas with microclimates and limited infrastructure can access reliable weather forecasts as climate change begins to undermine the dependability of traditional climate indicators. In the project, I aim to use my research findings and design methods to investigate how local knowledge can be systematised, made visible, and integrated into scientific contexts.

Anna Jobér

My project addresses the dissemination of knowledge and the need for greater understanding of influence and governance within and over Swedish schools and education. I approach this through the phenomenon of lobbying. The project seeks to counter the growing uncertainty and decreasing transparency surrounding who and what shapes the system, as well as why and how this influence is exercised.

Contact

Camilla Norberg Hansen
Programansvarig, Societal Impact Lab
Telefon: 040-6658649
E-post: camilla.norberg.hansen@mau.se

SOCIETAL IMPACT LAB