From start to finish, the river is our connecting link. Streams in the Grövelsjöfjällen mountains become rivers that flow through Dalarna and finally, after we have used it as much as we can, flow into the sea.
For me, who grew up and moved here from Stockholm, there is one more force - the solution-oriented people. They are never stuck here, hard-working and reliable, that's how the valley people are perceived. Because you might wonder how it is that there are world-leading companies that supply raw materials, products and services to the whole world from a county that is perhaps not quite ultimate for transportation, where there are many miles to the nearest port.
History is interesting for understanding our present and daring to invest in our future. Communities grew up along the river, and the river also became a place for businesses to set up. Imagine when reconnaissance was carried out along the entire Dalälven to find the place where the river is at its narrowest. A place where you could build a bridge for heavy transportation. That's where they placed Domnarvet Ironworks. The river was crucial for the ironworks, they needed power and cooling water. Steel production is a challenge for the climate, we know that today and SSAB is therefore raising its climate ambitions and investing SEK 45 billion to reduce the climate impact of steel faster.
Because that's where the people come in, in the challenges. I am impressed every day by our brave entrepreneurs, those who go the extra mile to find solutions to tomorrow's problems. Erik Johan Ljungberg did this back in the 19th century. At a young age, just over 30, Ljungberg was given the responsibility of building up Domnarvets Jernverk into a viable company. Erik Johan Ljungberg, who worked in Dalarna, was a key figure in the emergence of modern Sweden. Because he did not give up on Jernverket. When he succeeded there, he realized that the river's power could be used for more, and his entrepreneurial spirit led to him being elected as a member of the board of the Stockholm Exhibition in 1879. He then acquired and transported the Boberg Hall home to Borlänge. Not through a friendship agreement but through a tender. Trust and fair play were important, and the tone was already set then. A paper machine was acquired for Boberghallen because it was fashionable to read newspapers. For over 100 years, the mill has provided for people and delivered paper to the world. Now the conditions are changing and we are putting an end to Kvarnsveden paper mill. But one of Europe's best manufacturing sites will not be left empty. The site is being reborn faster than anyone could have imagined. Northvolt, a new sustainable industry is taking over the site that will generate new development for Dalarna.
The times in which we live show that the ability to adapt and respond to change is crucial for the development of a society.
Dalarna is an enterprising county. Maybe it's because it's inherited in the genes. I've said it before and history has proved it, Dal people are associated with being honest and hardworking. Every day at Dalarna Science Park we meet innovative people and companies who want to move from thought to action and take the step to invest in their idea. The companies that have passed through our business incubator today employ a total of almost 500 people - and have an annual turnover of almost SEK 750 million. During the previous year, the companies won several national awards and a sign of strength for Dalarna is that our start-ups attracted 55 million in invested capital, which is a record. 2020 was also a record year, with a total of SEK 18 million. This shows that it is possible to successfully start a business in Dalarna, you don't have to move to Stureplan to find investors.
Strong growth ahead
In recent years, more companies have been started in Dalarna than ever before, while our largest well-established industrial companies such as SSAB and Hitachi Energy have very exciting developments ahead of them. If we now add the establishment of Northvolt, along the Dalälven River, we can see that Dalarna is just in the starting blocks for a fantastic positive development. There are world-leading companies here that are driving sustainable development. Dalarna has always been affected by what happens in the world, but history has shown that Dalarna can also affect the world and now it is happening again!
Angelica Ekholm, CEO Dalarna Science Park
