06 October 2025

Twenty-five years ago, an idea was born in Linköping: to unite research, healthcare, and industry in developing the medical tools of the future. Two years later, that vision became reality when CMIV was founded and its operations began.

CMIV's MR scanner Philips 3T
CMIV's MR scanner Philips 3T
An idea took shape in Linköping 25 years ago – the idea of combining the best of research, healthcare, and industry to create the medical tools of tomorrow. In 2002, the vision became reality with the founding of the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV). Today, a quarter of a century later, CMIV is an internationally recognized research environment that has literally changed how we see inside the human body.
This was to be real research – research that stands up internationally and truly makes a difference in healthcare
Anders Persson

From vision to reality

CMIV was born out of a unique collaboration between Linköping University, Region Östergötland, and Sectra. The goal was clear: to use advanced technology and visualization to improve healthcare, research, and education. When the center was inaugurated in the spring of 2005, a virtual reality theater stood ready – a place where anatomy could be explored in three dimensions, and where medical education took a giant leap forward.

– We set a target – to have our own facilities, 20 PhD students in both medicine and technology within five years, and within ten years to publish in Nature. We aimed very high to get far,” recalls Anders Persson, Director of CMIV.

Fotograf: Jenny WIdén

Where science meets technology

Over the years, CMIV has developed into a place where researchers, engineers, nurses, and doctors meet every day. Here, new solutions are created – from early diagnostics to groundbreaking treatments. Here, medical technologies are shaped that influence healthcare not only in Sweden, but worldwide.

– We didn’t just want to create beautiful images. This was to be real research – research that stands up internationally and truly makes a difference in healthcare, says Anders Persson.

A jubilee looking ahead

Celebrating 25 years is not only about looking back – but also about looking forward. With AI, advanced visualization, and digital twins at the forefront, CMIV is ready to continue driving development toward more precise, patient-centered, and efficient healthcare.

Grupp av doktorander i föreläsningssalFotograf: Thor Balkhed
CMIV forskarskoleseminarium.

– CMIV will continue to be the place where new ideas are tested and the medical solutions of the future are shaped. We have shown what collaboration can achieve – and we are ready for the next 25 years, concludes Anders Persson.

Linköping was once the starting point. But the future of CMIV’s ideas and innovations is global.

More about CMIV

CMIV 25 years - Anders Persson talks about the journey.

CMIV is celebrating its 25th anniversary and director Anders Persson takes us on a journey to see how it all began, about the meeting with Göran Persson and why the coffee room is so important at CMIV.

120 researchers

from all over the world.

40 PhD students

who runs their own research school.

90 theses

which will affect future care.

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