The Swedish Invitation

More than a visit

As part of Sweden’s export strategy some of Sweden’s most innovative environments welcomed specially selected experts from Brazil, India and the USA to present projects that combine sustainability and innovation inspiring Brazil, India and the USA in their work on sustainable urban development and encouraging business opportunities with Sweden.

As a result, three action plans for further collaboration has been developed focusing on food waste in the USA, 

international entrepreneur network with Brazil, and procurement of smart city solutions in India.

to Sweden, by Sweden

The Swedish Invitation is designed by Swedish Incubators & Science Parks together with four of Sweden’s leading innovation hubs Science Park Mjärdevi, Johanneberg Science Park, Kista Science City and Ideon Science Park on behalf of the Swedish Institute.

“Expect the Swedish Invitation to be more than a visit. It is designed to not only explore, but also to encourage continuous interaction and business opportunities between Sweden and Brazil. At the same time it is a unique opportunity to meet key experts from other countries working on urban sustainability through innovation, with selected sustainable development goals of the UN in consideration.”

On October 3-5, 2016 participants from Brazil, India and the USA met representatives from Sweden's most innovative sectors with an ambition to increase cross-nation dialogue and new business opportunities within sustainable urban development.

As a result three action plans for further collaboration has been developed between the four countries: focusing on food waste in the USA, international entrepreneur network with Brazil, and procurement of smart city solutions in India.

For more information, please contact at the Swedish Institute.

Why Brazil, India and the USA?

All the four countries have taken strong initiatives for sustainable urban innovation.

In Brazil, the digital sector is rapidly growing and transforming business – one extraordinary example being the Sustainable Innovation Zone in Porto Alegre, striving to become the most sustainable region in Latin America.

India has taken important commitments through the Smart Cities Mission, developing 100 cities all over the country to make them sustainable and smart.

The USA can present a number of leading urban sustainability initiatives from cities as New York and San Francisco.

Sweden is not far behind. The Swedish government has taken the bold goal to reach a fossil free society in 2030, working hard for the Swedish recycling revolution, in an innovative, creative and sustainable way transform our urban lifestyles.

Sustainability policies from 1999 to 2016

It all begun with proactive moves in the 1960’s and 1970’s, with the biggest change in 1999, along with the Swedish Generation Goal: handing over to the next generation a society in which the major environmental problems in Sweden are solved without increasing environmental and health problems outside Sweden’s borders.

Fast forward to 2016, Swedish cities have taken climate change to task. Sweden has a new climate policy framework and clean air strategy to reach long term based climate goals (listen to the interview with Anders Wijkman, chairman of the Swedish environmental cross-party committee, on the needs of a new “climate law”).

In June, the government launched strategic collaboration programs to support future key industry sectors in sustainable development. The chosen industry sectors are smart cities, next generation travelling and transportation, circular bio-based economy, life science and connected industry and new materials.

They are now accelerating rapidly in Sweden, crossing several industries, interacting with global initiatives, and inviting other countries to join in. 

As such, Sweden is a global leader in the field of sustainable development, emphasizing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals that are to be achieved by 2030.

(For instance, the Swedish Government has brought together nine leaders from various parts of the world, forming a High-Level Group to ensure the global goals are met and the 2030 Agenda is implemented at all levels of society.) 

The Swedish Invitation particularly relates to three of these goals:

1. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all.

2. Building a resilient infrastructure, promote an inclusive and sustainable industrialization and promoting innovation.

3. Making cities and settlements including, secure, resilient and sustainable. 

How can implementation look like in Sweden? 

Bo01 Skåne (home of Ideon Science Park)
In 2001, the Future Living Exhibit located in the Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen), Malmö, became Sweden’s first city district with a smart focus.

Älvstaden River City Göteborg (home of Johanneberg Science Park)
The largest urban development project in the Nordics is found in Gothenburg. As part of The Swedish West Coast Package the districts of River City is now developing in Gothenburg where sustainability, test beds and urban development are key. 

Vallastaden Linköping (home of Science Park Mjärdevi)
Sweden’s most Innovative City Development Project! The smart city project Vallastaden in Linköping is under development and set to be ready in 2017. 

Hammarby Sjöstad Stockholm (home of Kista Science City)
Stockholm’s largest urban construction project. 26,000 people will live in 11,500 apartments when completed in 2017. The ‘Hammarby model’ has become a tool for environmentally friendly cities development around the world.