Discover an extra resourceful region - Västerbotten Investment Agency

Discover an extra
resourceful region
Grow your business via Västerbotten
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”Welcome to a province full of possibilities!”
Västerbotten is a province that thanks to its solid foundation
where basic industry, innovation and cultural development
have long gone hand in hand, finds creative solutions for future
growth. My ambition as Governor is to pick out the best that
we have and mix different stakeholders to reinforce Västerbotten’s
position in both the national and the international
arenas.
Enormous investments are under way in northern Sweden in
the mining, energy production and forestry sectors. Energy
transition and climate adaptation are two prioritised areas
in Västerbotten. The proportion of renewable energy must
increase and we must take advantage of business opportunities
that arise from climate change. We have already initiated and
taken part in several environmental and sustainability efforts
on a broad front with many players.
and realise new ideas. We must become even better at taking
advantage of and refining our raw materials and competencies
and create attractive environments for further development
and international co-operation.
The whole province is working together to strengthen our
attractiveness to entrepreneurs and investors who are looking
to do good business. I see a very bright future for Västerbotten.
We invite you to be a part of it!
Enterprise and drive are strong in Västerbotten and there is a
broad diversity in both our geography and industry. We have
three universities with strong research environments and
centres that collaborate actively with trade and industry and
society. The Life Science Cluster at Umeå University is an
excellent example.
We also have steadily growing creative sectors with leading
positions in industrial design and digital communication.
Now we have to provide the very best conditions to try out
Chris Heister,
Governor of Västerbotten
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Golden business opportunities
in Västerbotten
The Västerbotten province in north Sweden is a productive
region at the forefront of R&D, with abundant natural recourses
and an attractive location as a gateway to Northern Scandinavia
and the Barents region. A strong industrial culture,
based on forestry, mining and manufacturing, is making way
for new high-tech industries, life science research, creative
media companies and world leading winter testing sites.
The region hosts most of Sweden’s energy resources and there
is an active development of eco-friendly energy and heating
solutions. Industrial electricity prices are the lowest in the
Nordic countries!
With an entrepreneurial legacy the region is characterized by
an open business climate that welcomes new actors. Companies
located in the region enjoy the attractive combination of
competitive costs for personnel, operations and facilities
together with a skilled work force and access to worldclass
R&D. Add to that the excellent infrastructure and technology.
Read more about business opportunities on page 6.
Advantage Sweden
Sweden is considered to have one of the most competitive
business communities in the world! With top levels of
innovation and skills, an excellent scientific and technological
infrastructure and high education standards, we stand out in
any international comparison.
As a meeting-point for Scandinavia and Northern Europe,
and with a long tradition of openness and free flows of trade,
investment and people, we play a vital part in the European
Union marketplace. An innovative business climate, demanding
users and rapid technology adoption make Sweden ideally
suited for development, testing and early commercialization of
new products and services.
More on Sweden:
• Excellent track record of innovation for global markets
• The world’s second largest per capita investor in R&D
• Low corporate taxes and living costs
• A major network hub for Internet traffic
• Tax-financed healthcare, welfare
and education
• Magnificent, unexploited
natural clean environment
• Abundant natural resources,
e.g. forests, minerals and
renewable energy
sources
The Nordic countries – Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway
make up the 10th largest economy in the world and they are all
ranked in the top 10 for business climate and competitiveness!
Norway
Sweden
Finland
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Sweden’s top region with the
brightest shining future
Fastest growing region in Sweden
Based on the latest national statistics Västerbotten has experienced
the highest GDP growth-rate of all Swedish provinces
since 2000, with an increase of 41% compared to the national
average of 23%.
Universities with globally recognized
research institutes
The region has four universities, which offer inspiring environments
for students, researches, and scientists, whom are world
leaders in many fields, for example wood and mining technology,
industrial design, microbial pathogenisis and plant science.
Huge market investments
In the years to come, north Sweden faces investments of 25
billion euros due to the huge extension of mines, hydro power
and infrastucture.
Excellent infrastructure
and communications
The region’s well-developed infrastructure with six airports,
deep sea ports, railroad communications, trucking service
and an excellent road network with three European highways
make it easy to travel and carry freight. Västerbotten also has
a world-renowned development of both mobile and fiber-based
broadband, and an extensive GSM and 3G network coverage.
Quality of life
In Västerbotten, life is family-friendly with very high standard
of living at an affordable level, whether you choose the city life
or the countryside calm. There are warm sunny summers and
snowy winters with moderate temperatures. The beautiful and
unexploited nature is just a short drive from the city.
Västerbotten also has the lowest crime rate in the country.
E45
E12
E4
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Did you know that the city of
Umeå is designated European
Capital of Culture 2014?
Did you know that award winning digital campaigns
for Toyota, Adidas and Coca Cola have been designed
and produced in the city of Skellefteå?
Did you know that
the ski resort Hemavan/
Tärnaby has fostered
the most downhill
world cup champions
per capita? Anja
Pärsson and Ingemar
Stenmark are just two.
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Business opportunities
in Västerbotten
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Environmental technology: Cutting edge
technology in the midst of an emerging
market
Västerbotten has a growing cleantech cluster with advanced
R&D and a number of successful recycling and environmental
technology enterprises. Some of the areas of specialization are
soil remediation, railway decontamination, sustainable building,
forest ecology and the recovery of metals from electronic
scrap.
The powerful expansion of the mining, metallurgy and pulp
and paper industries ensure that regional markets for environmental
technology are kept bubbling. Geographically close to
the mining and offshore industries in Norway, Finnish Lapland
and the Murmansk/Kola Peninsula region, Västerbotten also
provides an excellent base for the emerging markets for environmental
know-how, clean up projects and new decontamination
techniques.
Renewable energy: World leading
development of biomass and biofuels
The heavily forested Västerbotten region is well known for its
competence in forestry, wood technology and biofuels. Raw
materials from the sawmills and forests are being used in
unique processes in some of the world’s most efficient torrefaction
and CHP plants. Our world-class R&D institutes specialize
in combustion methods, biocomposite technology, forest
biotechnology and the development of new biofuels.
With extensive investments, cutting-egde research and a wide
range of biofuel and bioenergy related businesses, Västerbotte n
is generating an ever-growing need of developers, service companies,
consultants and environmental experts.
Wind power on the rise
With excellent geographical conditions, a low population
density, a leading research center for cold climate engineering
and a long time experience from hydro-power production,
Västerbotten is estimated by the Swedish Energy Agency to
hold the best potential for land based wind power in Sweden.
The future for wind energy in the Nordic market holds huge
potential. Heavy investments are currently being made, and
as the development proceeds, business opportunities for new
manufacturers and suppliers of wind power equipment will
continue to grow. Development of new de-icing solutions and
higher towers, as well as services from experienced consultants
will also be needed.
The next generation’s solar power
This region hosts Sweden’s biggest cluster of solar related companies!
It is a breeding ground for the development of the next
generation of solar concentrators, as well as research on PV and
solar thermal in harsh conditions.
The special conditions of the arctic sunlight with clear skies,
the extensive know-how in solar energy technologies and the
excellent logistics and infrastructure for export, make Västerbotten
an exceptional starting point for companies aiming to
meet the increasing demand for PV and solar/thermal energy at
a low cost.
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Wood: Advanced wood technology and
wide-ranging processing industry
As one of Europe’s leading wood clusters, Västerbotten is unique with its
wide business range covering the entire production chain, from longestablished
forestry and sawmill industries, manufacturers of forestry
machines and world-leading research and education institutes, to a large
number of construction, joinery and other wood processing companies.
Västerbotten is a leader in fields like large wooden constructions, glulam
products and R&D within wood technology and wood physics. With our
constant search for new areas of application, business opportunities are
seemingly endless, especially within the refinement market and the
development of engineered wood products. Västerbotten also has
Sweden’s newest school of Architecture, focusing on integrated design
in wood constructions.
Mining: One of the world’s richest and
most underexplored mining regions
Welcome to Europe’s most mineralized area. Västerbotten is the core of
an extensive and rapidly growing mining region, where most of the assets
are yet to be exploited. Locating here brings access to Scandinavia’s most
important polymetallic mineral deposits. Västerbotten is also an excellent
base for the mining and offshore markets in Norway, Finnish Lapland and
the Murmansk/Kola Peninsula region.
Thanks to the dominating role mining has played in our trade and industry
for centuries, mining infrastructure is well developed, with highly advanced
mining and metallurgy R&D. There is local access to national and international
mining institutions, 80% of Swedish mining education is provided in the
region. In addition the world’s largest and completely digitalized collection
of drill core is available for research, free of charge.
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Automotive: The world’s leading region for cold
climate vehicle testing
This is the world’s leading cold climate test region for vehicles, with
superior climatic and infrastructural conditions. Here, international players
find the right weather conditions and the secluded locations for confidential
vehicle testing and product improvement. The region’s research centers and
top-ranked design institute develop new test methods and safety solutions
as well as product and interaction design in close collaboration with the
industry.
With an exterior environment and a competence concentration matched
by few, Västerbotten offers new business opportunities for the automotive
industry.
Life Science: Expertise in antibiotics, medical
engineering and plant science
We invite you to take part of a thriving life science cluster with prominent
research, education and commercialization in biotech. Here, advanced R&D
is carried out by a number of important life science centers and laboratories,
where scientists cooperate across departments and faculties. High-tech companies
turn research results into new pharmaceuticals, vaccines, probiotics
/nutraceuticals as well as medical technology products. Västerbotten is a
frontrunner in medical engineering with a number of companies specializing
in distance medicine, computer aided medicine and medical devices.
The biotech programs at Umeå University and the Swedish University of
Agricultural Science open up endless possibilities for gaining skills and
specializing in biomedicine, molecular biology, genomics, forest genetics
and plant physiology.
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Manufacturing: A strong industrial cluster with
qualified manufacturing partners
The manufacturing industry in Västerbotten is a complex and wide-ranging
network of innovative companies. They all have a joint capacity for, and
experience of, extensive supply contracts. Thanks to a low staff turnover
and high work ethics, many of the companies have been able to build
unparalleled levels of competency over a long period of time.
The strong industrial culture, well-adapted infrastructure and strategic
position as a gateway to Northern Europe and the Baltics makes
Västerbotten the perfect place to find qualified partners or start new
manufacturing processes.
Let us know how we can help
The province of Västerbotten welcomes new investments
and Västerbotten Investment Agency is ready to help you in a
multitude of ways, including assisting with all necessary
permits and finding the right premises and manpower.
Companies establishing businesses in Västerbotten can apply
for financial and employment incentives from the government.
We are looking forward to working with you and addressing
your specific goals and questions!
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Get in touch!
Anders Wangby, Director
Contact person for the Mining
and Cleantech sectors
Phone direct +46 910 71 26 81
Mobile +46 70 595 19 30
anders.wangby@viavasterbotten.se
Björn M. Ursing, Ph.D
Investment Promotion Manager
Contact person for the Life Science sector
Mobile +46 70 811 12 68
bjorn.ursing@viavasterbotten.se
Olle Norberg, Investment Promotion Manager
Contact person for the Automotive,
Manufacturing and Wood sectors
Phone direct +46 910 71 26 83
Mobile +46 70 611 17 00
olle.norberg@viavasterbotten.se
Inger Edlund, Marketing Manager
Phone direct +46 910 71 26 82
Mobile +46 70 259 95 05
inger.edlund@viavasterbotten.se
North America
Kerstin Nicholson
Phone +1 312 664 50 86
Mobile +1 312 969 50 86
kerstin.nicholson@viavasterbotten.se
Norway
Jan Sundstén
Phone: +47 233 533 30
Mobile: +47 924 924 89
jan.sundsten@viavasterbotten.se
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Västerbotten Investment Agency (VIA) is a regional investment promotion agency dedicated
to make the Västerbotten province the most attractive choice for foreign investors
and companies thinking about establishing or expanding their business operations in
Sweden. With expertise in several key sectors, VIA offers information about business
opportunities as well as assistance throughout the investment and establishment process.
VIA is a regional partner to the government agency Invest Sweden.
Västerbotten Investment Agency | Phone +46 910 71 26 80 | E-mail info@viavasterbotten.se
www.viavasterbotten.se
An investment for the future
EUROPEAN
UNION
European
Regional
Development Fund