REAL (Centre for Retail and Logistics) is embedded in one of Sweden’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems, where research, education, and collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector drive sustainable transformation and digital innovation.

REAL contributes through focused research, education, and partnerships that support the green and digital transition in retail and logistics.

Helsingborg Innovation District and Helsingborg Declaration

REAL plays an active role within the Helsingborg Innovation District (HiD)—a geographically concentrated area that fosters innovation through proximity, shared infrastructure, and testbeds such as RecoLab. Additionally, REAL is engaged in the Helsingborg Declaration, a strategic initiative launched during H22 City Expo to accelerate sustainable transformation in cities and communities. The declaration has attracted over 300 signatories from the public sector, academia, civil society, and business, all committed to collaborating on challenges related to sustainability, digitalization, innovation, and inclusion. These focus areas closely align with REAL’s research in retail and logistics. By participating in this initiative, REAL contributes to the long-term development of urban ecosystems where logistics and retail play a central role in enabling greener, smarter, and more resilient communities.

Future by Lund

REAL works in partnership with Future by Lund, an innovation platform that facilitates cross-sectoral innovation in smart cities and sustainable development. As part of Future by Lund’s innovation portfolio, REAL contributes to thematic areas such as digital infrastructure, circular economy, and sustainable consumption. This partnership places REAL at the intersection of systemic transformation and place-based innovation, allowing our researchers and students to develop solutions that are both globally relevant and locally grounded.

An example of this collaboration is the CIRPASS-2 project, an EU-funded initiative aiming to deploy and validate Digital Product Passports (DPP) in real-life settings across various value chains, including textiles and electronics. Future by Lund is actively involved in CIRPASS-2, working alongside partners to demonstrate the potential of DPPs in enabling circular economy processes by enhancing product traceability and sustainability. This initiative aligns with REAL's focus on digital transformation and circular logistics, offering opportunities to apply our research in developing systems that support sustainable product life cycles.

ASTER and continued collaboration

REAL was an academic partner in ASTER, a national initiative led by Lund University in collaboration with Lindholmen Science Park. The program aimed to strengthen sustainable innovation within the Swedish retail and logistics sectors by uniting industry, academia, and public actors to develop scalable solutions that accelerate the green and digital transformation in retail.

The ASTER initiative concluded on October 6, 2025, but REAL continues to collaborate with several of its former partners to build on the results and networks established through the program. Together, we advance research and innovation in areas such as digital transformation, circular logistics, packaging logistics, and returns management, supporting the transition toward a more resource-efficient and resilient retail landscape.

We welcome both new and existing partners who wish to engage in this ongoing work.

To explore collaboration opportunities or learn more about current initiatives, please contact REAL at Lund University.