One way to increase opportunities for internationalization for Dalarna's companies is to make contacts and increase the possibility of cooperation and knowledge exchange between different countries.
At Dalarna Science Park, there are almost always one or more international projects underway that aim to create new opportunities for Dalarna and the companies located here. The international projects often contribute to a higher purpose that benefits both internationalization, sustainability and innovation in Dalarna.
Green and circular industry
Dalarna Science Park launched the establishment of an industrial accelerator in the fall. The aim is that the first initiative of the industrial accelerator will be to create completely new products from existing residual products from Dalarna's many industries. The industrial accelerator will thus contribute to the goal of attracting both national and international startups to Dalarna. These startups will have the ideas and solutions on how the waste from our existing manufacturing industries can be circulated.
Strengthened position
This means that costs associated with industry's waste streams can instead be converted into revenue and, most importantly, contribute to the development of a circular business - both for industry and start-ups.
In this way, these companies, both industry and start-ups, contribute to a more sustainable Dalarna. At the same time, Dalarna is strengthening its position as a place for the development of a sustainable and circular industry. Something that can be the way to continue to attract more innovative individuals and companies to the region. From both near and far.
Concrete solutions ahead
The industrial accelerator is currently run primarily by three dedicated people from Dalarna Science Park: a project manager, a sustainability strategist and a business coach and innovation leader. They are initiating the work of mapping available industrial residual streams in the region.
- I work with our industry accelerator, which aims to attract start-ups to the region. Startups with ideas and innovative solutions for how we can circulate the waste from our manufacturing industry. It feels fantastic to be involved in strengthening Dalarna's innovative power and to experience the incredible commitment of the startup companies to dare to invest forward and at the same time be open to working in completely new and sustainable ways," says Cecilia Carter, project manager for the Industry Accelerator.
Central matching
Once the residual streams are identified, the challenge is to match industrial companies with innovative and circular solutions developed by innovators somewhere in the world. This is where the search for suitable start-ups begins. The search is regional, national and international. In addition to finding effective solutions for reusing industrial waste, another objective is to attract innovators to Sweden, if they are not already active in the country. The long-term goal is also that those involved in the work from other parts of the country or the world will see a future market in Dalarna and therefore want to move their business to the region.
Success factors and challenges
The Industry Accelerator sees several important and crucial success factors with the residual streams project. These success factors are equally challenges ahead. The most significant factor is whether there are enough residual streams that are worth processing further. Equally important is that there are entrepreneurs and innovators somewhere in the world who have sustainable solutions for these residual streams. This will be crucial to success. Another central part of success will of course be that both the industrial companies
and the startup companies have the opportunity to take the time it takes to go through the accelerator program together.
Innovation Report 2023
This is an article from Dalarna Science Park's Innovation Report 2023.
Read the full Innovation Report 2023
