Science Parks from all over the world gathered in Luxembourg for IASP's* annual world conference. Sweden was represented this time by my good colleague Lena Miranda, CEO of Linköping Science Park and now chairman of IASP. I have followed her participation with great interest and taken note of her interesting conclusions.
One of the things discussed was that we need to look at the future in the plural - simply that there is not one single future but many, and we therefore need to practice our ability to think in parallel futures. We need to understand that the uncertainties we are surrounded by are functions of what is happening in our environment, our system does not always have to be wrong. But what we do know, and what becomes important for us to act on, is that we do have the ability to shape the future through our actions.
Lena also reports on the importance of diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Something that becomes clear when we are challenged and gain new perspectives. Finally, something I often come back to, the importance of collaboration and the power of community - that we are stronger together. We are better together!
That's why it feels so right that we are now bringing Dalarna together around Dalarna Innovation Days, with the aim of strengthening our innovation power, increasing knowledge about innovation and initiating new meetings that in turn can create interdisciplinary and cross-industry collaborations.
There will be four days of both physical (Borlänge, Falun and Leksand) and digital seminars (so that the whole of Dalarna can take part), future-oriented discussions, engaging conversations, workshops and, as mentioned earlier, a golden opportunity for new meaningful meetings. Because we are convinced that meetings between people change the world.
Make sure you don't miss one of Sweden's best creativity experts Tobias Degsell talking about the potential of meeting and doing things together.
