The Origins of MEDEA
In the text sent from the MEDEA planning staff to the board of directors for The Knowledge Foundation in November 2008, the vision for the environment was phrased in the following manner:
“The vision for the KK-environment is that it shall be an internationally leading environment when it comes to co-production and the development of new forms of knowledge and new innovation models within the field of new media. Focus is put on the development of theories as well as products, services and productions. The environment shall also contribute to the development of a more general co-production competence within Malmö University.”
It is clear that the MEDEA KK-environment envisions becoming an important actor within the field of new media, not only addressing but also answering questions with relevance for the “real world”, and doing so through the carrying out of concrete co-production projects leading both to new knowledge and to new products and services.
It is a grand vision. But it is based on more than ten years of co-production work on new media at Malmö University (click here for a selection of projects that have been carried out). That is also a main reason as to why Malmö University was granted a KK-environment.
As of today, the MEDEA environment comprises a wide range of actors. Presently, the core MEDEA group consists of altogether close to 15 full professors, associate professors, post-docs and PhD students. Linked to this group is a large number of researchers from other parts of Malmö University, as well as master students doing their thesis work at MEDEA. MEDEA also has a large international network, comprised of both institutions and individual researchers. Key partner institutions include SMARTlab at the University of East London, Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto and the new Austin Center for Design. In addition, the environment consists of private companies, state-funded organizations, NGOs, art and culture actor, the city and region of Malmö, and its citizens. All in all in the MEDEA network, we find more than 500 people and about 150 companies.
There are also dedicated innovation system actors taking on roles as network hubs, incubators and early investors. Of special importance are the two cluster initiatives Media Evolution and Mobile Heights. These two clusters, situated in the region, come from different angles but both deal with new media, Media Evolution coming from broadcasting and Mobile Heights coming from mobile communications. About 100 media companies and organizations are members of Media Evolution. Mobile Heights was started by Sony Ericsson, Ericsson Mobile Platforms, Telia Sonera, Lund University, Malmö University and Blekinge Institute of Technology. MEDEA works closely with both clusters. One of Mobile Heights’ three research centers, The Network for Mobile Services & Applications, is physically co-located with MEDEA, and Media Evolution is a key partner in the Malmö New Media project.
