Life Science · Torsdag 11 december, 2025

The life science cluster at Medicinareberget is growing with new lab and office premises

Akademiska Hus is investing SEK 245 million in a complete renovation of Zoologen at Medicinareberget in Gothenburg. Here, state-of-the-art lab and office environments will be created that will provide the opportunity for life science businesses to establish themselves in the area and gain proximity to the central city as well as the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

The renovation means that Zoologen will be equipped with fifteen lab and office premises between 100 and 900 m2. The building from 1967 will also house a lunch café, meeting rooms and a gym. The renovation is planned to begin in early 2026 and be fully completed in 2027. Occupancy will take place in stages, starting in the autumn/winter of 2026. In total, Zoologen will have a leasable area of approximately 7,200 m2.

"Through the reconstruction, we are strengthening Medicinareberget as a leading life science cluster. There is a demand for lab premises on campus, and with Zoologen we provide the opportunity for companies in life sciences, natural sciences and clinical activities to develop in the area in collaboration with nearby academia and hospitals," says Christian Jönsson, Property Director at Akademiska Hus.

Room to grow and collaborate

Zoologen will be a place where small to medium-sized companies can establish themselves on campus. Akademiska Hus, together with Sahlgrenska Science Park, already offers Health Innovation Labs with lab swaps for the very smallest companies. With the reconstruction of Zoologen, the opportunity is given for companies to be able to grow on Medicinareberget and with the help of other existing premises and upcoming new productions, a cluster is created where business has room to develop.

"With Zoologen, we want to create flexibility for future needs, make room for new activities in research and innovation, and open up the area so that more people can take part in everything that happens here. At the same time, we want to create a building that really invites you in – an environment where collaboration is at the centre. By building in openness and flexibility from the start, we provide the conditions for the operations here to continue to develop and contribute to the benefit of society for a long time to come," says Pontus Isaksson, Property Area Manager at Akademiska Hus.

The plan is that after the renovation, the meeting rooms in Zoologen will be able to be used by several actors so that researchers, companies and organisations can meet in a natural way. The ambition is also that the building will contribute to more creative meetings for businesses and students.

Medicinareberget – an area undergoing change

Akademiska Hus has submitted an application for planning permission to the City of Gothenburg to investigate the possibility of developing Medicinareberget. The goal is to make the area an integrated part of the city, make the University of Gothenburg visible and provide space for both housing and a leading life science cluster where academia and business can meet. The design proposal includes new building rights of 240,000 m2, of which Akademiska Hus owns the majority except for 15,000 m2 owned by the City of Gothenburg.