There are times when progress happens step by step. And then there are times when several major changes coincide and the very rules of the game begin to be rewritten. There are many signs that we are in such a time right now.
New technology is transforming the way we work, produce, and run businesses. The energy system is undergoing a transition. Automation and AI are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. New materials, electrification, and digitalization are transforming industry. At the same time, climate change and a more turbulent world are placing new demands on both businesses and society.
The signals from the outside world are clear. Investment in electrification and new energy technologies is growing rapidly. The use of AI among Swedish companies has increased from 25 to 35 percent in just one year. And 61 percent of Swedish companies with at least ten employees were engaged in innovation activities during the 2022–2024 period.
The statistics show that this change is not limited to a single technology or a specific industry. We are in the midst of a broader shift in which new knowledge and technology are transforming the conditions for competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and social development. While these developments may, in many ways, cause some concern, they can also present new opportunities—it is up to us how we choose to view them.
And this is where Dalarna comes in
We have a strong industrial sector, an impressive and growing tech sector, entrepreneurs, research and education, small and large companies, and a long tradition of refining natural resources, knowledge, and ideas. Many of the major changes taking place globally therefore have very tangible implications here. What we now need to consider further is: How do we strengthen our competitiveness with new technology? How do we develop the materials, transportation, healthcare, agriculture, and forestry of the future? How do we build the skills needed as the world of work changes? And how do we turn new ideas into new companies and business opportunities?
These are issues that no single actor can solve on its own
We’ll be addressing these topics and much more on October 19–23, when we’ll be hosting Dalarna Innovation Days for the fourth year. Here, we’ll bring together entrepreneurs, innovators, companies, students, and community leaders from all over Dalarna. Over the course of five days, some twenty activities will be held at various locations throughout the county, covering everything from AI, skills, and service design to energy, materials, transportation, healthcare, food security, the tourism industry, and new business opportunities.
Breadth is our most important parameter. Innovation rarely arises in a vacuum; instead, something interesting often happens when people with different experiences come together, when an idea from one industry finds an application in another, or when a problem is viewed from a completely new perspective.
Once the playing field is set, established players often have a significant head start. When it is redrawn, new opportunities open up for companies that dare to experiment and entrepreneurs who identify new needs, as well as for a region that is able to bring together people, knowledge, and drive.
You don’t need to come with a fully developed innovation idea or already know which technology will transform your business. Bring a challenge, a question, an idea, or simply a curiosity about what happens when people with different perspectives come together.
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Here you will also find our archive of previous issues from Dalarna Science Park.
