The Smart City Sweden demonstration platform showcases the best Sweden has to offer in smart and sustainable cities and welcomes visiting delegations from around the world. This work has resulted in over 6500 visitors from almost 100 different countries and some 20 new studies and research projects around the world. Dalarna Science Park has project responsibility for central Sweden and has contributed to export business in Somalia, among other things.
- There is a great interest in sustainable solutions from Sweden. Smart City Sweden plays an important role in spreading Swedish know-how and Swedish solutions internationally. It increases cooperation with many countries and contributes to both increased sustainability and business," says Marie Fossum Strannegård, CEO of IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, which runs the platform on behalf of the Swedish Energy Agency.
Smart City Sweden showcases Swedish solutions in areas such as urban planning, mobility, energy, waste management and social sustainability. The aim is to inspire other countries while creating export opportunities for Swedish companies.
During the years 2019-2021, Smart City Sweden has had over 6500 visitors from 97 different countries. Most of the visitors come from China, Germany and the Netherlands and the areas of interest range from waste management to urban planning and mobility solutions.
- Smart City Sweden has become an established brand internationally, and is therefore a good resource for many Swedish actors in the export and investment promotion work, says Annika Nilsson, responsible officer at the Swedish Energy Agency.
The visits have led to the launch of some 20 studies and research projects around the world, with Swedish companies contributing both technical solutions and know-how. One example from Dalarna is that the company QC Renewable Energy has installed street lighting powered by solar cells in Somalia. Another example is in Rugao, China, where the possibilities of using biogas as a fuel for buses and trucks have been investigated. Several projects have also been carried out in Central and South America, including in the capital of El Salvador, San Salvador, where the possibility of establishing a plant to convert waste into energy in the form of electricity and heat is being explored.
Digital visits
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the visitor platform was made digital to continue cooperation with other countries through webinars and digital meetings. Several films and also VR tours of various facilities, such as the Hammarby Sjöstadsverk research facility, have been developed to show visitors what Sweden has to offer.
In 2022, Smart City Sweden, which has six offices around Sweden, including at Dalarna Science Park, will continue to receive visitors and international delegations - both physically on site and digitally when it suits. This opens up for more countries and actors to participate, while reducing travel.
Companies from Dalarna export innovative sustainable solutions
Dalarna Science Park is the host organization for Dalarna, Gävleborg, Värmland, Västmanland and Örebro counties.
- It is really great that we have contributed to innovative and sustainable results in export and business development together with companies from central Sweden. In total, we have received more than 150 visitor groups from 15 countries and matched them with companies and organizations in the region. Somalia and countries in Asia have been very interested in what our companies in central Sweden can offer, especially solutions in waste management and smart energy solutions. The interest has continued and during the spring of 2022, delegations from Malaysia, Kenya and Nigeria have had digital visits with companies from Dalarna, says Ann-Louise Larsson, project manager for Smart City Sweden/Dalarna Science Park.
About Smart City Sweden
The Smart City Sweden visitor and export platform is run by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute on behalf of the Swedish Energy Agency. Smart City Sweden also includes six regional nodes which, in addition to IVL, are run by Dalarna Science Park, North Sweden Cleantech through Kompetensspridning i Umeå, Business Region Göteborg, Cleantech Östergötland and Sustainable Business Hub.
Contact: Ann-Louise Larsson, project manager Smart City Sweden, node center, 070-695 62 29.
