Innovation grows best when all of Dalarna is involved
Dalarna Innovation Days
While Borlänge was buzzing with activity during the Dalarna Innovation Days, innovation was also gathering momentum along the roads of Dalarna. The Innovativa Dalarna tour brought together entrepreneurs, politicians and community stakeholders in Rättvik, Mora and Ludvika to discuss confidence in the future, courage and new ideas that can contribute to the region's development and attractiveness. The tour drew around a hundred participants.
Marianne Färlin is a business coach at Dalarna Science Park. During her visit to Mora, she emphasized the importance of benefiting from each other's knowledge and working together:
The speed of society requires that we gather and strengthen the power of innovation together in the county. It is when we cooperate across municipal boundaries that we can create greater effects and synergies.
We need to strengthen innovation in the county together," said Marianne Färlin.
Stefan Rodheim demonstrated useful AI tools to the audience at the tour.
AI knowledge - an engine for growth
Stefan Rodheim showed examples of different AI tools and how everyone from small industrial companies in Smedjebacken to the tourism industry in Mora can benefit from the potential of digitization. By increasing AI competence, Dalarna Science Park wants to counteract digital exclusion and strengthen Dalarna's competitiveness. Stefan explains:
Our ambition is for the whole county to grow, not just the largest towns. Digitalization and AI are a crucial engine for creating a sustainable transition in business and the public sector.
Several in the audience saw themselves as easily able to benefit from AI in everyday life, while others were more hesitant. Some were already using ChatGPT but were curious about more AI tools. Stefan Rodheim is convinced that the AI world is here to stay but that business leaders need to catch up.
AI is certainly being used by employees, but often management is not aware of it. That's why it's crucial that they get in the driver's seat, set the direction and take advantage of the benefits that AI can bring.
Dalarna Science Park, Business News Dalarna, Företagarna and the municipalities visited are behind the Innovativa Dalarna tour. The aim is to inspire with examples of successful local companies, show tools that can streamline and inform about what support is available when you want to develop your business. The days were led by Torbjörn Carlsson from Business News Dalarna.
Local voices on innovation
Johan Eriksson presents Jontronic in Rättvik.
In Ludvika, Pontus Lindberg presented the company Swepreg.
David Forsberg from the company Kwikk was interviewed in Mora.
In the locomotive sheds in Rättvik, Robert Classon from CL Skog talked about recruitment challenges and ambitions for the future. Johan Eriksson from Jontronic offered tips from the company's success journey and revealed what motivates him at work:
We have developed the touchless part of mixers for FMM/Mora Armatur. It's really nice to see our own innovations in changing rooms and public toilets, it makes me feel proud.
On hand in Ludvika was Erik Odens, head of the business community. He said that much of Dalarna's growth is taking place in Ludvika, with companies such as Hitachi Energy, Ovako, Spendrups and several small and medium-sized companies growing. From the Star Cinema stage, the audience got to know the industrial company Rolling Mills Service. Pontus Lindberg from Swepreg also presented his company and its future goals:
We will be the first in the world to offer mobile measurement of timber. It creates value not only in the measurement itself, but also for transportation, the environment, traceability and ultimately for everyone who handles roundwood.
Svepreg is part of Dalarna Science Park's incubator program and received an investment of SEK 300,000 from Tregion Startup Invest in 2024.
At Mora Hotell och Spa, Johan Lithén from ALO Center talked about the company's development of machine systems for the saw blade industry and that they want to highlight the accumulated experience and technical know-how on the journey to success. David Forsberg from the company Kwikk was also present. The company offers a payment solution / e-commerce service that allows companies and associations to quickly start selling online.
"We make a difference for smaller companies and associations outside the metropolitan regions. Our service is simple enough for the smaller ones but at the same time good enough for the big ones," says David Forsberg, who also wants to pay tribute to the incubator program at Dalarna Science Park where they previously received help in their growth journey.
The innovation journey continues - from idea to action
At the end of the tour, it is clear that the power of innovation is in every corner of the county. Dalarna Science Park continues to be a partner for SMEs that want to take the next step towards a smarter, more sustainable and digital future in Dalarna. Find out more about how we can help your business develop:
Dalarna Innovation Days is an annual event with the aim of promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and increasing knowledge about sustainability. During four packed days, seminars, discussions about the future, interesting conversations, workshops and the opportunity to expand their network are organized. The 2025 edition was the largest so far with 26 activities in six locations in Dalarna and almost 2000 registrations. Many of the events were broadcast digitally and you can watch them here:
