Editorial in newsletter #9 2024
I am very proud that our national initiative on circularity, sustainability and innovation, the Circular Industry Accelerator, has now started. This is something completely new and unique in Sweden - an initiative that focuses entirely on utilizing industry's residual streams. The idea is simple but smart: to match large industrial companies with innovative start-ups and companies from all over the world, who can turn waste into new business opportunities and sustainable solutions. It is the waste that we call residual streams.
It is great that we have such brave industrial giants as pioneers: SSAB, Arctic Paper and Gevalia. These companies are showing their ambition in the green transition by participating in the accelerator process to find solutions for their particular waste streams. In other words, they are driving industrial reuse. With the kick-off last week, SSAB, Arctic Paper and Gevalia have started working with nine of the 40 identified companies with new ideas to find innovative ways to reuse their waste streams. The result will benefit both the environment and the economy, not only in Dalarna but also beyond the region's borders.
Over the next two years, more industries will have the chance to participate, as well as innovative start-ups and early-stage companies from around the globe. Through the accelerator, they will receive support in the form of networks, test environments and help with financing. Perhaps new entrepreneurs will also find their way to Dalarna and choose to seek a future here? Then the accelerator has generated double effects for Dalarna through both sustainability and growth.
You can read about the meeting between industrialists and businesses further down in the newsletter.
The launch of our industrial accelerator is an important step in Dalarna's green transition and one that many in Dalarna welcome. In our latest Innovation Panel, a digital survey conducted by Novus on behalf of Dalarna Science Park, we asked the people of Dalarna about their views on companies using recycled materials in their products. It turned out that as many as 84% of respondents are very positive about circularity initiatives. Almost half (43%) of respondents say that sustainability is a path to strong regional development and growth.
The work with our industry accelerator is just the beginning of something big and new. Many of us think it will be very exciting to see what happens next. If your company is an industrial company that wants access to innovative new ideas on how to circulate residual flows or if you have an exciting business idea linked to circularity, do not hesitate to get in touch!
Want to be inspired and learn more about innovation and sustainability? Then check out the program for Dalarna Innovation Days 2024!
We have a busy fall ahead of us. Sustainability, innovation and internationalization are as usual in focus when we at Dalarna's innovation arena work every day to create regional growth. We do this by taking initiatives and running projects where business, academia and the public sector work together for the good of Dalarna. Well met!
Angelica Ekholm, CEO Dalarna Science Park
