Dalarna Talks from Almedalen about brave authorities, AI buildings and an unexpected revelation from ICA in Horndal.
Dalarna is bubbling. With billions invested in both traditional industry and hyper-fast data centers, the region is hotter than ever. During Dalarna Talks in Almedalen 2025, the question was asked. Are we ready to become Sweden's next growth engine?
The answer? Yes, if we dare.
During the seminar, both companies and experts called for a new way of thinking.
- Say yes to new establishments and let go! was the message from Kristina Alvendal, the government's industrial coordinator.
She called for brave authorities that solve, not slow down. But development also requires courageous authorities that can make quick and wise decisions, a call that was shared by several of the panel. It became clear that business, the public sector, academia and society must work together for growth to be sustainable. Infrastructure such as roads, railways, housing and education need to grow in line with both migration and investment.
EcoDataCenter told us how NVIDIA is building supercomputers in Falun. Hitachi Energy about its industrial expansion in Ludvika. Dalarna University on how education is being shaped at record speed to meet needs.
And in the middle of it all, an unexpected scoop from ICA retailer Börje in Horndal. Whether his revelation means that Google will soon press the start button for the construction of a data center in Avesta, we do not know. But perhaps another major establishment is about to be realized in Dalarna. Sweden's next growth region!
Did you miss the live broadcast from Almedalen? Watch Dalarna Talks 2025 afterwards here:
Participants
- Kristina Alvendal, Industry Coordinator Acceleration Office
- Lars Isacsson (S), Member of Parliament,
- Jörgen Elbe, Rector of Dalarna University
- Peter Michelson, vdbEcoDataCenter
- Thomas Wennberg, Business lead Transformers Hitachi Energy
- Angelica Ekholm, Moderator, CEO Dalarna Science Park
