A CITY-WIDE RESIDENCY
Malmö Residency is a community-wide residency in which the business community of Malmö invites eight persons from around the world to spend a month in Sweden’s third-biggest city.
The intention is simple, though not altogether modest: to bring together thoughtful people from elsewhere, pair them with hosts rooted in the local ecosystem, and create the conditions for something to unfold between them.
For the 2025 edition 860 persons from 88 countries applied. Sign up to our newsletter to tuned for the next edition.
Video capturing Malmö Residency 2025.
THE 8 MALMÖ RESIDENTS 2025
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Victoria Outram
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Bioprocess Development Research Engineer, University of Strathclyde
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Rasak Akorede
Lagos, Nigeria
Multidisciplinary Artist, Technologist, and Storyteller
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Valya Vassileva
Sofia, Bulgaria
Professor in Plant Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics
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Uzuki Tachibana
Tokyo, Japan
Lecturer, Evangelist and Publisher, Gamera Games
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Pierre Oskam
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Entrepreneur in Ecological Design, Urban Reef and Regenerative Futures Lab
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Kim Dang
Berlin, Germany
Head of Ecosystem, Planet A Ventures
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Mikko Dufva
Tampere, Finland
Foresight Team Lead, Sitra
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Steph Bailey
London, United Kingdom
Journalist and Editor, Financial Times' Sifted
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Travel (ideally by train) to and from Malmö.
Accommodation for a month.
A bike when you are here.
Advice from a broad community of people in different disciplines.
Workspaces to get things done.
Events in English to attend.
Access to event venue, equipment and production guidance.
Equipment and books to borrow.
Access to material libraries.
Industry grade testbeds.
Intro to the local startup and game development community.
Exhibitions at museums and art spaces.
Beach and skinny dipping.
The great outdoors (hello, allemansrätten!).
The fine print: No strings attached really. We are a curious group and know that we benefit from an influx of open-minded people.
WANT TO DUPLICATE OUR PROGAM IN YOUR CITY?
That would be an honor! And, we we’ve compiled a Playbook with learnings, mindsets and at step-by-step guide on how we do it.
MALMÖ
A coastal dwelling with a city beach for leisure activities and a port that has connected us to a bigger world for centuries. Being somewhat on the periphery, the city has an openness to other peoples and ways of doing things that has been shaping its culture for centuries (read a visitor's note on “A City of Ongoing Experimentation”).
There’s a strong pay-it-forward culture. Businesses and people see collaboration and community as a source of growth. Malmö is, in many respects, a city that is punching above its weight. There are only 362 133 inhabitants, but it’s the third biggest and fastest growing large city in Sweden. Malmö is home to an innovative university with strong connection between academia and society.
Malmö has a vibrant urban culture – both on the cultural side of things (hej opera, concert hall, art spaces galore) and on the counterculture side of things. Its creative food, arts and design scenes are making global headlines. It’s also a very young, diverse city – nearly half of the population is under the age of 35, with 186 (!) nationalities represented. There are 39 000 companies with an emphasis on small and medium size enterprises.
Just 20 minutes from Copenhagen airport – the best-connected hub in Scandinavia – and 5 hours by train from Hamburg, Malmö is both easy to get to, and get away from ;-).
In essence, Malmö is easy living. A small city with big city ambitions.
THE REGION
The greater Öresund region has 4.1 million inhabitants (1.4 million on the Swedish side and 2.7 million on the Danish side) and is the largest labour market region in the Nordic countries (2 million employed persons).
Malmö is part of the region of Skåne, with four universities close to the city. Malmö University has a great education and research in Interaction Design, Urban Studies, and with centres for Collaborative Future Making, Data Society, Internet of Things and People is great at collaborating with businesses. Lund University is one of the oldest universities in the world, and has world-renowned research in architecture, journalism, economics, law, technical, music, fine arts, theatre and more. If you’re interested in the food track, you have access to world-class work in landscape architecture, horticulture, plant production, agriculture and at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. Finally, Malmö is home to the World Maritime University, a world-class institution focused on maritime and ocean education and research.
Nearby (10 min on train) city Lund features the one of the oldest universities in Scandinavia and the Museum for Sketches and Public art – an unbeatable source of inspiration.
THE COUNTRY
Sweden offers a strong work culture with a focus on work-life balance. The work environment prioritizes health, well-being, and employee influence over their work. Generous parental leave policies support both parents, promoting equality and a family-friendly work culture.
The country also boasts a high standard of living, strong social benefits, and a deep commitment to sustainability, making it an attractive place to live and work.
THE HOSTING ORGANISATIONS
Above (design), AFRY (engineering), AFRY Experience Studios (design), Alfa moving (relocation), Anagram (film production), Atrium Ljungberg (real estate), Avalanche Studios Group (games), Beijer Electronics (engineering), BIMobject (marketplace), Celemi (training), City of Malmö (municipality), Daniel Berg Arkitekter (architecture), Djäkne Startup studio (hub), Divine Robot (games), Doc Lounge (film), Duni Group (dining experience), Eminent Communications (communications), Foo Café (hub), Fojab (architecture), Foodtech Innovation Network (hub), Forefront Consulting Group (management), Form/Design Center (hub), Fruktstereo (food), Fryshuset (youth/social initiatives), Game Habitat (hub), Goto 10/The Swedish Internet Foundation (hub), Green Metrica (emerging tech), Green Metrica (emerging tech), Gullers Grupp (communication), Guts & Glory (advertising), IBM (design), IKEA (life at home), IO Interactive (games), IUC Syd (hub), Happy Ears (innovation), KEY relocation / BBi Communication (intercultural training), Kjellander Sjöberg (architecture), Kolossal (design), Lund School of Economics and Management (university), Lund University (university), Malmö University (university), Mannaz (change management), Manyone (design), Media Evolution (hub), Minc (incubator), Mint (film), Minut (security), Moderna Museet (museum), Moriskan (hub), New Presence (design), Nobiz (design), Oatly (food), Odd Hill (communication), OpenTech (hub), Pink Programming (hub), Position Green (sustainability), Region Skåne (region), Skanska Öresund (real estate), Southern Sweden Film Commission - a part of Film i Skåne (film), Stpln (hub), Stena Fastigheter (real estate), Sydsvenskan (media), Symbal (communications), The Organisation of International Women in Malmö IKF (hub), TILT - Food System Architects (food), Udda (accommodations), ustwo (design), Vasakronan (real estate), White (architecture), Wihlborgs (real estate), Vinge (law), Wingårdhs (architecture), Zenit (design).