If you have walked past the Science Park building in Jönköping and wondered what goes on inside, you are not alone. Many students at JU know the name but not much more. So, we sat down with Asia Chaabi, business developer and student coordinator at Science Park Jönköping, to better understand what this place really is, and why more students should know about it.
Asia Chaabi did not plan to work at Science Park. Like many students, she simply heard a short presentation and got curious. It was a colleague of her who first caught her attention, during a 10-minute presentation of Science Park at one of her lectures.
Asia: “I was like, what is that place, what’s like the catch, how come it’s for free and why are they doing this”.
That question is one that many students ask when they first hear about Science Park. And it is true that a surprising amount of what they offer costs nothing, or almost nothing (coaching, events, workshops, resources). The reason of this accessibility comes down to who finances Science Park. It is funded by Jönköping University, the municipality, and the region, which means it works more like a non-profit organization than a business.
Asia: “They were like, okay why do we not then start a place or a system of helping others with their ideas. So, they started a creative centre at that time and now it has since then become Science Park”.
Founded in 1998 by students who had a business idea but could not find any support, Science Park Jönköping grew out of a simple frustration. Today it is part of a national network, Science Parks and Incubators in Sweden, and its mission has stayed the same, i.e. help people turn ideas into something real.
You don’t need a business plan to come here
Moreover, one of the biggest misunderstandings about Science Park is that it is only for students who want to start a company. However, Asia is very clear on this point.
Asia: “It’s not only for a money for example, so you can think much broader with your idea […] we see always a possibility of implementing innovation, sustainability and tech into your idea”.
Their focus areas are technology, sustainability, and innovation, but that does not mean your idea needs to be a tech start-up. A student who wants to work on something that makes a real difference in people’s lives, even in a small way, is exactly the kind of person Science Park wants to meet. And if you do not have a business idea at all? That is fine too.
Asia: “Maybe you don’t have a business idea, then come to Science Park to our events where you can actually meet other people to get inspired”.
Asia sees Science Park as a meeting place first. JU has several faculties (JTH, JIBS, HLK, Hälso) and students from different programmes rarely mix, and Science Park wants to change that.
Asia: “I aim Science Park to be a place where all of these faculties and students can meet each other”.
What Science Park actually offers
So, concretely, what can a student get from Science Park? Quite a lot actually.
Free one-on-one coaching: You can book a meeting with a business developer, like Asia, to talk about your idea. There is no requirement to have everything figured out. You just need to be curious.
Access to tools, templates, and resources: The website has materials on idea development, business planning, and pitching, and everything is available in English.
Events and workshops: This year alone, Science Park Jönköping held over 210 events across the region. Student events are always in English and cover topics much broader than just business. For example, recent ones have looked at AI ethics, personal development, and networking.
The Student Hub: You get 24/7 access to a co-working space with free coffee and tea, and a community of other students doing the same thing.
Asia: “A lot of the students who actually are there, they know each other now and have contacted and worked with each other. It’s a super nice place”.
The Start-up programme: Starting next semester, students with a business idea can apply to a three-month programme. If they are accepted, they receive guidance to develop their concept, and at the end they pitch in front of a jury for potential investment.
Internships: Every year, Science Park takes on student interns. The application period for next semester has just closed, but it opens again each year, so keep an eye on their website.
Recommendations and networks: For legal questions, accounting, or patents, Science Park connects you with the right people. They also help with finding funding and matching you with potential partners or customers.
How to stay informed
This is probably the most practical part. Many students, especially those not in business programmes, simply never hear about what is happening at Science Park. The Instagram page exists but is mostly in Swedish. However, there is one simple solution.
Asia: “Student newsletter”.
Asia sends a regular newsletter specifically for students, always in English, covering all upcoming events and opportunities. You can sign up by contacting Asia directly or finding the QR code at Science Park events.
Asia: “Everything we do for students is always in English”.
And even if an event is in Swedish, Asia still recommends you to go.
Asia: “You will actually meet professionals in those events. So, I do recommend students to go to those. And then also take the opportunity to learn a little bit of Swedish”.
Science Park is open to everyone
In 2025, Science Park Jönköping received 195 student ideas from all faculties. Out of those, 33 turned into actual businesses. But even the other 162 got something, a conversation, a connection, or a new way of thinking about a problem.
The Science Park building itself is also more open than many students realize. There are open working spaces on the ground floor and second floor where anyone can come and sit. There is a restaurant, with a lunch for 99 kronor, and a student discount on coffee.
Asia: “We want you to be here”.
If there is one thing Asia wants students to take away, it is that Science Park is not a place only for people with a perfect business plan or an entrepreneurship background. It is a place for curious people, from any faculty, at any stage.
Asia: “It’s very low barrier”.
Writer: Lylia Snoussi
