Strengthened collaboration across the Sound

Comment on Børsen article about the Øresund collaboration

On Thursday 10 June 2010, Børsen featured an article called "The Øresund University looks like a failure'. President Johan Roos stresses that the headline does in no way reflect his attitude towards the subject.

- I am a passionate advocate for the Øresund collaboration, and it is true that I have expressed that we can benefit even more from this collaboration than is the case today. But even though there is room for improvements, I in no way feel that it is a failure in its present form, says Johan Roos.

We have to be innovative

He recently participated in two panel discussions in Malmö, in which he expressed his wish for a stronger collaboration across the Sound. The collaboration was also manifested at this years Øresund Conference, where the Øresund Bridge's 10 year anniversary was celebrated, the day that the region became reality.

Johan Roos points out that a new Øresund connection between Helsingborg and Elsinore (Helsingør) is very important if integration is to be further strengthened.

This also applies to the education area, on which Johan Roos is open to innovative thinking – whether the ideas are for combination of programmes or perhaps even the establishment of a new, joint university.

- The key is to find the best way possible to utilise the vast potential of a closer collaboration between Sweden and Denmark, Johan Roos states.