Malardalen University has campuses in Eskilstuna and Vasteras, and has approximately 16000 students and over 1000 employees. The Department of Innovation, Design and Product Development (IDP) is the largest department within the Faculty of Technology, with 2.000 students and 100 employee's, including 10 professors and 20 doctoral students. The focus for the IDP department is to develop people's (students, teachers and researchers) capabilities within the areas of creativity, idea generation, innovations and entrepreneurship. This is done through both entrepreneurial academic programs and an on-site incubator.

In the year 2000 our Innovation Program (IMTO®) was awarded as the best entrepreneurial academic program in Sweden.

At Idélab® (Idealab), the incubator at the department of IDP, about 30 new companies are "born" every year. In total, more than 180 companies have been founded within Idelab during the last 6 years. 80 percent of these companies have been established on the market, some have grown substantially, and a few are now also expanding internationally. Today, Idelab is regarded as one of the most successful generators of startup companies in Sweden, and receives direct economic support from the Swedish government. 

In 2005, The Munktell Science Park was established in Eskilstuna, and should be regarded as a platform for growth for early stage companies in Malardalen. The Munktell Science Park provides support and creates a meeting place for entrepreneurs, service providers, organisations and financial institutions, with the aim to contribute to regional growth. Munktell Science Park will be the heart of a new type of innovation system in Eskilstuna.