The industrial sector is the single most important industry in Dalarna, an engine for the whole of society. In parallel with new figures that point upwards for the industry, a new cross-border collaboration is now being launched with neighboring counties, to meet tomorrow's competition and challenges.
- "We want to strengthen our position in a time of industrial transition," says Angelica Ekholm, CEO of Dalarna Science Park. "We need to roll up our sleeves with the aim of more clearly demonstrating Dalarna's position and accelerating for the future.
Dalarna is an important export county for Sweden. Current statistics from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth in January also show that Dalarna County had Sweden's highest production index, quarter three 2021.
- This is extremely gratifying to note, and should be seen in the light of a tough closure of Kvarnsveden's paper mill and the general component shortage that has existed in the industry, says Bosse Lilja, CEO of IUC Dalarna AB. IUC is a regional organization within IUC Sweden that wants to promote the industrial development and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, with the ambition that new jobs are created, more efficient organizations are built and new businesses see the light of day.
A new future awaits the industrial land at the Kvarnsveden paper mill, and there is great interest in establishing operations at the site.
- "Overall, we have a fantastic starting point for industry in Dalarna," says Angelica Ekholm, and it's no wonder that there are hopes for both growth and development. "Industry is an extremely important contributor to society.
At the same time, the industrial sector is facing a number of major, significant challenges, in line with what is happening in large parts of Europe. It is about new and decisive approaches to digitization, automation, green conversion of products and services and globalization, etc. In short, major adaptations in both the range of products and capabilities to remain competitive in the market.
In order to create better conditions for industry, Dalarna, Gävleborg and Värmland (north central Sweden) have now joined forces to focus on development under the name Focus Industry. In north central Sweden, the industry employs around 53,000 people at more than 5,600 workplaces and generates a total of SEK 203 billion in revenue1. If you add what the industry contributes in terms of ancillary services such as transport, IT and other business services, the industry in north central Sweden generates SEK 7.4 billion in tax revenue for the municipalities, SEK 3.9 billion for the regions and SEK 17.1 billion for the state, giving a total of just under SEK 28.4 billion in tax revenue for society2.
- Our welfare is based on people having a job to go to, and industry is incredibly important in this respect. It is good that we are learning from each other in north central Sweden. We have a common problem with the supply of skills, and we need to take action in this area, not least as competition is increasing, including nationally, as in Norrland where investments are now being made. It is together that we will be strong. Of course, the transition issue is extremely important and linked to the global and EU goals that exist. So it's fantastic that we can support this project and, together with the industry concerned, create better conditions for future generations. Cooperation is the way forward," says Birgitta Sacrédeus, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Regional Development Committee at Region Dalarna.
In the collaboration, IUC Dalarna, together with the IUC companies in Värmland and Gävleborg, will now focus on strategic and systematic development for the very smallest actors.
- It is very positive that we are now seeing cooperation across county borders; it is a necessity. North Middle Sweden is, overall, a very small region anyway, seen from a European perspective. We need to work with innovation and development in new ways, where we can see synergies and common challenges. This is how we can gradually become stronger," says Bosse Lilja.
It is Dalarna Science Park that will take on the most innovation-mature in the region together with actors such as Paper Province in Värmland, Sustainable Steel Region in Dalarna, Sandbacka Science Park and Propell in Gävleborg.
Angelica Ekholm and Bosse Lilja agree on the benefits and opportunities now being created.
- "We look forward to taking on the role together and being a unifying force for the organizations that will work together for the business community in this work. Being able to work with the industry's growth issues fits well with the general goal we have in common, to work for attractiveness, growth and development in Dalarna.
1 SCB, 2019
2 Source Socio-economic calculation, ITA Utveckling 2020, IUC Dalarna AB
