Clear differences in views on the pace of the transition 

There is a clear trend emerging from this year’s Innovation Panel. Women in Dalarna are more critical than men of how companies approach sustainability and the pace of the transition. At the same time, there is strong confidence that sustainability efforts can create new jobs. 

It’s easy to view these differences as a problem. I believe we should see them as something else. They reflect rising expectations. And expectations are precisely one of the most important driving forces behind the transition. 

When only 29 percent of women believe that companies take sustainability seriously enough, compared to 55 percent of men, it says something about the pace. Or rather, about the perception of the pace. At the same time, in our day-to-day work at Dalarna Science Park, we see that many companies are actively working to develop new solutions, business models, and partnerships with a focus on sustainability and circularity. 

There is a gap here. Between what is done and what is perceived. But also between what is done and what is expected. That gap is not an obstacle. It is a direction. 

Sustainability is a business issue

Last week, we brought together businesses, students, and community leaders to discuss this very topic. The event was Dalarna Talks, followed by a workshop titled Dear Economy. One clear conclusion was that sustainability can no longer be viewed as a side issue. It is a business issue. And, ultimately, a matter of competitiveness. 

More than half of the people in Dalarna believe that sustainability efforts lead to more jobs. That is an important insight. Because it means that the transition is not just about responsibility, but also about opportunities. 

We are already seeing examples of how new business models are emerging. How resources are being used more intelligently. How values that were previously overlooked are now becoming part of the decision-making process. It’s about moving from linear to circular flows. It’s about improving efficiency, thinking more intelligently, and creating long-term value. But it requires momentum. 

The results of the discussions were clear: many solutions already exist. The challenge lies in scaling them up and creating systems that enable more people to make the right choice. 

Expectations are an asset

Expectations play a crucial role here. When people demand more, clearer, and faster change, it influences how companies set their priorities. Dalarna is well-positioned to take a strong stance in this development. We have a business community accustomed to adapting, a tradition of collaboration, and a growing capacity for innovation. 

But then we need to take these expectations seriously—not as criticism, but as an asset. As a signal of where we need to go and how quickly we need to move. If we succeed in doing so, our sustainability efforts can become exactly what many already believe they will be: a driver of new jobs, new business, and a stronger region. 

Angelica Ekholm

CEO, Dalarna Science Park