SPEND A MONTH IN
OUR CITY
To get time, energy and community support to start, maintain or finish an idea,
project or exploration of yours.
Applications for Malmö Residency 2026 is open until June 3.
A CITY-WIDE RESIDENCY
We – the business community of Malmö – invite you to spend time in the not-so-royal third-biggest city in Sweden. In the fall 2026, the residency offers up some core resources for those looking to develop a new idea, start a new project, or find partners to collaborate with. Travel and accommodation is included. Five exclusive spots available. On top of that, we’ll guide you to enjoy our favourite spots and make sure you get to know the city that we call home.
Apply before June 3.
For this third cohort of Malmö Residency, we are especially looking for those of you who get excited by any of the following or themes, which are of special interest to the Malmö community:
Green Transition – to develop regenerative futures
AI and Emerging Technologies – to elevate society, businesses and creative work
Food Innovation – to revolutionise the food production within city limits
Cultural and Creative Industries – shaping futures of games, art, dance and music
Wise and Digital Cities – to make cities more transparent, democratic and fun
THE TWO FIRST COHORTS
When we hosted the first Residency program in 2023 649 people from 74 countries applied. Three persons from Barcelona, Paris and London spent a month in Malmö during the fall of 2023.
For the 2025 edition 860 persons from 88 countries applied and eight persons from Glasgow, Lagos, Sofia, Tokyo, Rotterdam, Berlin, Tampere and London spent a month in Malmö in the spring.
“I’ve been impressed by how connected the ecosystem seems to be here, and by how welcoming people are — they instantly connect you with loads of people.” – Participant, 2023
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.
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 366 644 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 187 (!) 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 4.2 million inhabitants (1.4 million on the Swedish side and 2.8 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), Bastionen (theatre), 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), 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), Green Metrica (emerging tech), Gullers Grupp (communication), Happy Ears (innovation), IBM (design), IKEA (life at home), IO Interactive (games), IUC Syd (hub), 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), Seriefrämjandet / The Swedish Comics Association (art), She Told me a story (hub), Skanska Öresund (real estate), Southern Sweden Film Commission - a part of Film i Skåne (film), Staer (engineering), Stpln (hub), Stena Fastigheter (real estate), Sydsvenskan (media), The House (hub), 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).
WHY
We want to create a context away from home that gives folks space and time to focus on their (business) idea or project. Bounce ideas off new people, gain new perspectives.
WHEN
The residency takes part in September/October 2026 with a mandatory stay between September 9 and September 20.
APPLICATION
Apply before June 3, 2026.
EVENTS
European Conference on Computer Vision ECCV 2026 (September 8-12), The Drop (September 15–16). EUMAS 2026 (September 21-25). Together with the regular programming of Malmö organisations, these will work as solid ground to enrich your experience with cutting-edge knowledge and exciting networking opportunities.
WORKPLACES
STPLN, Media Evolution, Minc, Djäkne, The Ground and Form/Design Center are all opening their doors for you to establish a base in a co-working setting.
VISA
Unfortunately we can’t assist with visa applications or answer immigration questions. If you want to apply and you are resident of a country that requires a visa to spend time in Sweden, it’s up to you to make sure you get the documentation necessary to participate.