Unexpected — Innovation Forum for a Creative Tomorrow
IN ENGLISH BELOW
On June 4, 2025, Unexpected - the Art and science forum - returns to The dairy in Lund. The first opportunity was in 2023, and researchers, politicians, officials and entrepreneurs from all over Europe were invited to participate and contribute to ongoing innovation processes in various fields. This time the starting point is the four tracks “Value-driven development”, “Performing arts and cross innovation”, “Archaeology and immersive tech” and “Fashion and craft”.
- The creative qualities of people, organizations and teams do not only lead to the creation of creative content, such as clothes or a performance, says Lars Mattiasson, project manager for Unexpected. Creative abilities also have an influence on the manufacture and production of the content, that is, also the technology used. If you can find ways to mix the different competencies, it is easier to get to the more sustainable production lines of the future.
In Unexpected, the innovation capacity of cultural and creative industries (KKN) will be lifted. (We use KKN here but see it as broadly synonymous with cultural and creative sectors, FGM, and cultural and creative industries, KKB.)
- We will talk about what can be done when creative industries create something completely new, for example, together with tech, says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth, Lund University. We have several examples in Lund where the creative industries use existing technical components to carve out something that has not been done before. What we want to show is the co-creation of different disciplines in which the creative are involved and drive innovation. This can be, for example, in the fashion industry, in archaeology or when creating digital experiences of live music.
Unexpected explores how to use cross-innovation with the cultural and creative industries as a base for building innovation portfolios.
- Since the last time we arranged Unexpected, we have taken the work one step further and can now show that the innovation portfolios we have created are actually investable, ranging from financial investments to entering technology resources, time and putting the activity into a collaborative initiative, continues Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth. It allows researchers, entrepreneurs and companies to step in and be part of a team effort.
In addition to the four innovation tracks, there will be an opportunity to discuss what it means to work with innovation with the creative industries as a starting point. It is also about how to work with existential sustainability in an open innovation process, which is done, among other things, through The IPA Project. In addition, it will be a chance to influence recommendations for future policies for the industry in the EU. This is done during the day through a policy corner but also the day after, June 5, by the policy lab (the opportunity to register will be later). This opportunity is associated with ekip project, the major European policy project led from Lund.
- Unexpected will be an international event, partly thanks to the team meeting in Lund during the same week, says Birgitta Persson, Future by Lund. We have researchers and actors from all over Europe on site. It is a unique opportunity to meet and build international contacts. We hope to attract visitors with a special interest in fashion and crafts, but who also want to make the trip to see how to work together with innovation based on cultural and creative industries.
The venue for the Unexpected will also be this time the dairy.
- The club scene and environment at Mejeriet is a very good starting point for Unexpected, says Lars Mattiasson. It is important to feel that no one belongs there, therefore everyone belongs there. We want to create that community and the venue becomes a catalyst that creates cross-border conversations.
Unexpected is organized by Future by Lund with partners. You can book your ticket here.
Materials about Unexepected 2023
Unexpected - a forum for innovation work in intersecting areas
New areas of innovation attracted to the dairy
Watch the video of the 2023 event
Unexpected — Innovation Forum for a Creative Tomorrow
On June 4th, it is once again time for Unexpected — an international innovation forum where art, science, business, creative industries, and philosophy meet to shape the future. Dia, there will be opportunities to dive into themes such as fashion, archeology, performing arts, and technology, as well as to influence future policies within the creative industries and build innovation ecosystems for a more inclusive and resilient tomorrow.
Så att,, och nya!
On June 4th, 2025, Unexpected — Art and Science Forum — returns to Mejeriet in Lund. Het prvi in 2023 og, politiker, civilog fra Europa om att till innovationsi. This time, the foundation will be the four tracks “Value-driven development,” “Performing arts and cross-innovation,” “Archaeology and immersive tech,” and “Fashion and craft.”
- Kreativkvalitet i ljudi, organizacije, i tîmên ne tenê li ser afirandina naveroka afirînerî, wek kleding an jî performansa, dibêje Lars Mattiasson, projeyê ya Unexpected. Abilidad creativa también impacta la fabricación y producción de contenido, significa o tecnologia utilizada como bien. If we can find ways to mix different competencies, it becomes easier to develop the sustainable production lines of the future.
Unexpected,. (Här, vi CCI,, CCS,, CCB.)
- We will talk about how creative industries can create something entirely new, for example, together with tech, says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth, Lund University. Vi har i Lund, der Creative Industries Uses Existing Technical Components to Carve Out Something That Has Never Been Done Before. What we want to showcase is the co-creation between different disciplines where the creatives are actively driving innovation. This can, for example, be in the fashion industry, in archeology, or when creating digital experiences of live music.
Unexpected explores how cross-innovation can use cultural and creative industries as a base for building innovation portfolios.
- Se Unexpected, a a. This makes it possible for researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies to step in and be part of a teamwork effort.
Beyond the four innovation tracks, there will also be opportunities to discuss what it means to work with innovation with the creative industry as a foundation. It is also about how to work with existential sustainability in an open innovation process, which is done, among other things, through the IPA project. In addition, there will be a chance to influence recommendations for future policies for the industry within the EU. This will take place during the event through a policy corner, as well as the day after, on June 5, through a policy lab (information will come later). This opportunity is connected to EKIP, the major European policy project led from Lund.
- Unexpected will be an international event, partly thanks to EKIP gathering in Lund during the same week, says Birgitta Persson, Future by Lund. We have researchers and actors from all over Europe on site. It is a unique opportunity to meet and build international connections. We hope to attract visitors with a special interest in, for example, fashion and craftsmanship but who also want to make the journey to see how one can work together with innovation based on cultural and creative industries.
The venue for Unexpected will once again be the dairy.
- The club stage and the environment at Mejeriet provide a very good foundation for Unexpected, says Lars Mattiasson. It is important to create a feeling that no one belongs there, and therefore, everyone does. We want to create a sense of community, a venue becomes a catalyst that fosters cross-disciplinary conversations.
Unexpected is organized by Future by Lund with partners. Here you can book your ticket on the event page.