On 26 May Linköping University celebrated 50 years since achieving university status. The 13 municipalities of Östergötland together with Region Östergötland donated one krona per inhabitant in each municipality and one krona per inhabitant in the county. The result adds up to SEK 944,892 for the “Birthday present for the future”.
“The students are of invaluable importance for Linköping, not least considering all the companies, innovations and development that the university has given us. This, in turn, spills over to the rest of the county,” says Kristina Edlund (S), the Social Democrat chair of the municipal executive in Linköping.
Commitment from surrounding society
During the big birthday celebration, representatives from all 13 municipalities and Region Östergötland were present to hand over the gift.
“For 50 years, we have experienced the commitment of the surrounding society to LiU. It’s therefore with the utmost gratitude that we accept this gift from all the inhabitants of Östergötland. It will be used for important research projects and is a fantastic example of everyone being able to contribute to a better world,” says Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson.
“The gift from the people of Östergötland is extremely valuable,” says Kristina Lyngenberg, fundraiser at LiU. “Not just the money itself, but the symbolic value of there being many who contribute.”
In connection with LiU’s 40th anniversary, Linköping Municipality, Norrköping Municipality and Region Östergötland took the initiative to give a donation of SEK 1 million. The gift laid the basis for the Jubilee Foundation, which is administered by Linköping University. The Jubilee Foundation will receive the birthday present from the inhabitants of Östergötland.