It's no coincidence that Dalarna Science Park is taking place in Almedalen for the fourth year in a row. We are there for a simple reason. We are continuing our work to put Dalarna on the map as Sweden's next growth region. Behind our participation is a deep conviction that the sustainable growth of the future is shaped where entrepreneurship, innovation and regional collaboration play the main role.
We are currently in the middle of a crucial shift. Across Dalarna, companies such as Hitachi Energy, Lyko and Boliden are investing billions. Through expansion, these companies are building a stronger future, not just for the region but for the whole country. This growth is also one of the reasons why Dalarna tops the statistics* for new business creation in Sweden. At the same time as all this is happening, a new branch is emerging: a high-tech and digitally driven industry where AI, IT and sustainability interact. EcoDataCenter is a clear example, as it has chosen to locate two of its three Swedish centers in Dalarna.
But the question we ask ourselves in Almedalen is not just what is happening, but what is required for continued expansion? What is needed for Dalarna to succeed in managing the strength of traditional industry, while building a world-leading AI cluster? How do we create a region that attracts both entrepreneurs and cutting-edge expertise, even far from the pull of the big cities?
During the seminar "Is Sweden's next growth region building its future on traditional industry or innovative AI?" we bring together representatives from business, academia and politics to discuss these very questions. It's a conversation that takes us far beyond theories. It's about real conditions: infrastructure, education, housing and attractiveness. But also about the courage to think in new ways. To dare to invest in technology, creativity and sustainable solutions.
There is no doubt that Dalarna is where the action is right now. Our job is to make it visible to decision-makers, partners and innovators of the future.
But our presence in Almedalen is also about future sustainability. Through our industrial accelerator, focusing on circularity and residual flows, the first of its kind in Sweden, we show that industrial development and climate work are not opposites. They are each other's prerequisites. That is why we are also conducting a roundtable discussion on how we can utilize industrial residual streams and create new business models at the national level. The aim is to put Dalarna on the map as a test bed for circular solutions. But the ambition does not end there. We want to create the conditions for a national platform that spreads the ideas to other regions, other industries and other countries.
Almedalen is a place for dialog and exchange of ideas, but more importantly for building relationships that lead to action. That's why our presence has a clear message: Dalarna is ready. We have the innovation power, we have the will, we have the actual examples. In Almedalen, we have the opportunity to showcase this at a national level.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a decision-maker, a researcher or an investor: we want to talk to you. We believe you can help create a future together with us.
Welcome to sign up for the broadcast of Dalarna Talks or come to our open seminar on Thursday, June 26 at 14.00 if you are in Visby.
*New entrepreneurship barometer Jan-May 2025, NyföretagarCentrum
