The following presentation will focus on how fire research and higher fire technical education have developed at Lund University, within the framework of a coordinated Swedish fire research, as an example. As an introduction, international definitions of some relevant scientific concepts are referred. The scientific requirements and their quirements of practical relevance and applicability of a research project are analysed and examples of rules are given which may contribute to a simultaneous fulfilment of the two types of requirements. Some fragmentary conclusions are drawn with respect to the role of the university in fire research and education.