The High Coast Investment Magazine 2021

Digital twins put AI to practical use Better business by diversity Circular solutions bring fish and tomatoes to the table A family investment in quality of life

Member of Business Sweden’s Regional Network

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content

This is what we got in store for you ...

P. 4–5

WELCOME TO THE HIGH COAST

P. 34

P. 6–7

THIS IS HIGH COAST INVEST

P. 35

An introduction to our services and areas of expertise.

P. 8–9

BEST COUNTRY FOR BUSINESS Learn about Sweden’s outstanding track record for innovation, stability and competitiveness.

P. 10–11

THE NEW POWERHOUSE OF THE NORTH Green electricity and apt locations make northern Sweden attractive to battery producers.

P. 12–13

A WINNER IN THE LONG RUN Manisha Phadatare’s research aims to create the world’s best batteries.

P. 14–16

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P. 36–37

P. 38–39

P. 21

P. 40–43

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FLAVOURS OF THE REGION

P. 45

P. 46–49

GREEN DATA REVOLUTION Big opportunities for eco-friendly data centers.

P. 50–53

TALENTED PEOPLE: MATTHEW MCKENZIE

MEET THE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS Diverse in activity, unified in aspiration – meet some of the High Coast’s entrepreneurs.

P. 54

SUSTAINABLE IN STYLE Enjoy sustainable products from the High Coast.

PERMASCAND: HOME TO WORLD CLASS R&D

LESSONS FROM A HUNDRED YEARS OF EXPORT EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND BUSINESS How core values build future success.

P. 30–33

AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF AI Calejo is in the right place for research in AI when focusing on optimizing industrial processes.

P. 55

RECYCLING OIL FOR THE GREATER GOOD Rocco Oil reduces emissions and wants to put Ånge on the world map.

P. 56–57

RECENT INVESTMENTS The High Coast region is thriving with new and exciting projects.

Swedish international trade: Efficient and easy.

P. 28–29

TALENTED PEOPLE: NINA THELIN Stringo’s CEO leads a global success by local engagement.

Next-generation green technologies for industries all over the world.

P. 26–27

THE FUTURE OF FOOD At Peckas in Härnösand, a wild idea became reality – and is now ready for the world.

Work is life when it comes to making a difference in providing mobility solutions.

P. 22–25

CLIMATE HEROES Learn more about Sweden’s track record in sustainability!

Meet the Smit-Moerman family who swapped 6 m² garden in Holland for a life in the High Coast.

Several agencies work for a soft landing in the High Coast.

READY TO GO GLOBAL Founded in 2015, Haldor in Sundsvall is ready to scale-up its learning management system.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

HERE TO HELP YOU

COMPETENT AND COMMITTED Swedes in the High Coast area are well educated, efficient and engaged. Among other things.

Indulge in some of the region’s finest delicacies.

P. 18–20

TALENTED PEOPLE: KRISTINA ENANDER SCA’s Pulp Manager loves when the mill runs at top capacity.

A few words from governor Berit Högman.

P. 58–59

CHANGEMAKERS

SHORT BUT SWEET Some fun facts about the region to wrap up this edition of the magazine.

RISE Processum is one of the world’s leading biorefinery labs, and attracts researchers from all over the world.

This magazine is published by High Coast Invest highcoastinvest.com

Helena Elfvendal Head of Communications +46 (0)70 380 14 17

Production Devocy Communication ︱ devocy.com

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the high coast of sweden

The High Coast at a glance POPUL ATION

ARE A

L ANGUAG E

CURRE NC Y

Hej! 244,855

21,683.8 km2

Swedish

Swedish krona (SEK)

COUNT Y Västernorrlands län COUNTRY Sweden (Capital: Stockholm) MUNICIPALITIES Härnösand, Kramfors, Sollefteå, Sundsvall, Timrå, Ånge, Örnsköldsvik Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995.

TI M E

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welcome to the high coast

Dear reader C LO S E YO U R E Y E S and picture this: you are standing on the top of a mountain, gazing out over an endless landscape of mountain tops reaching for the sky and deep valleys with spectacular cliffs and never-ending forests. The air you breathe is crisp, and carries the scent of spruce forests and the sea.

Welcome to the High Coast. A unique and majestic place. A Swedish landmark where the landscape is constantly evolving and changing.

People from all over Sweden and the world come here to explore the nature and have adventures, all year round. And it’s not only tourist numbers that are increasing, a growing number of entrepreneurs also want to be part of the region. People who want to make a difference and at the same time live close to nature.

FO R M E , T H E H I G H COA S T is not only a magnificent place where you restore your energy and enjoy nature, it is a region that breeds entrepreneurship and business development. Here you will find some of Sweden’s largest industries in a number of sectors. You will also find relatively young companies, some that have already established themselves on the global market, and many that have sustainability and innovation at their core, be it bags, biofuel, solar products or tomatoes.

The concepts of sustainability and innovation involve more than just developing new climate-smart products,

they are also about integrating social dimensions into business life. Diversity and equality among employees are key ingredients for strengthening the county’s attractiveness to skilled workers. To attract the workforce of the future. The work has started, and we have come quite a long way, but more needs to be done.

We need even more brave leaders and I invite you all to join us on this journey.

T H E E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L tradition is strong in this region and during my years as Governor I have clearly seen an even stronger will among the different actors in our county to co-create, innovate and work harder to create an atmosphere where jobs are generated without compromising our fantastic living conditions. It is easy to be proud of the dynamic business landscape and the way in which entrepreneurs and businesses are contributing to Agenda 2030 in various ways.

Take the time to read this magazine, get inspired and make plans to come and visit us, be it to simply enjoy our destinations, invest or establish your business here.

The mountains and forests are waiting. And so are we!

We hope to see you soon. berit högman Governor of Västernorrland

high coast invest [ 5 ] welcome to the high coast

photo: fredrik lewander

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the thishigh is high coast coast of sweden invest

High Coast Invest at your service!

High Coast Invest support companies that, just like us, prioritize sustainability and wish to contribute to the fulfillment of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Ready for an expansion that will boost your business and make it more sustainable? Then you should reach out to High Coast Invest!

• • • • • • •

H I G H C OA S T I N V E S T is an investment promotion agency offering services to companies and people who want to establish sustainable businesses in the High Coast region. At High Coast Invest, your personal investment advisor will assist you with hands-on tasks, as well as provide relevant analyses and investigations to research your business opportunities.

All services are tailored to your needs and are free of charge.

Please contact High Coast Invest to discuss your ideas, goals, and needs!

Personal investment advisors Detecting the right investment opportunities Connecting with the right networks and business partners Identifying the perfect site for your project Information and analyses relevant to your business project Practical assistance in setting up a base in the High Coast Reinvestment and business growth services

highcoastinvest.com

Member of Business Sweden’s Regional Network

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this is high coast invest

BIOECONOMY

TOURISM

For a digitalised society to be sustainable, datacenters need to run on green energy. The High Coast can offer an abundance of green energy with the lowest prices in Europe.

In addition, our electricity flows through one of the world’s most stable power grids; our industries and datacenters have literally never had to experience a power outage.

And on top of our top quality electricity infrastructure, we can offer a world-class fibre network, a favourable, cool climate and large tracts of land just sitting here ready for new datacenters to be built.

Our long tradition of forestry has attracted leaders in the industry from all over the world. Today, there is a strong cluster of companies that see new application areas for our Swedish timber, and for other types of biomass as well. Fuel, paint, textiles, fish food and bioplastics all based on biomass are examples of products that have been developed and produced in the region. We have the perfect conditions for large-scale production, and also unique test and demo environments for those who want to work with product development.

Each year, more and more tourists are arriving from all over the world to experience what our region has to offer, drawn here by our deep forests, beautiful archipelago and breathtaking coastline. And also by new flavours and experiences that our World Heritage Site can offer; including both serenity and adventure.

The increasing number of tourists and our spectacular nature have also made the area attractive to entrepreneurs who want to offer visitors experiences they will remember. There is space here for companies to develop their own, unique travel packages, as well as roll out tried and tested business concepts in a new environment.

FOODTECH

POWER INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES

ICT

The High Coast region is home to start-ups and scale-ups who have found new methods for sustainable food production and is a center for research and development in the food tech sector. Circular food production is also growing fast and the North Sweden Foodtech Arena will be established in Härnösand.

You can find everything here from the world’s largest aquaponics plant to test facilities where insects are bred in municipal compost collection centers – and much more.

In northern Sweden, water and wind have been our most important sources of power for many decades.

A big propor tion of Sweden’s electricity is produced here and we have a huge surplus of green electricity. This, combined with some of Europe’s lowest electricity prices, is much appreciated by our many prominent processing industries. In addition to green energy, there is also a large pool of qualified industry personnel, helping suppliers and outstanding industries make the most of our well-developed logistics network that has been tailor made for the transport of goods.

Swedish IT stars put our country on the digital world map long before most people had even heard of the internet. Today, Sweden continues to be one of the most progressive IT countries, thanks to brands such as Spotify, Minecraft, Ericsson and Klarna. The High Coast region is one of the country’s strongest IT hubs with the highest number of workers in the digitalisation sector per capita in Sweden. IT operations, sensor technology and AI are three par ticularly strong areas. Mid Sweden University is one of the partners of AI Sweden – the Swedish National Center for applied AI.

OUR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

D ATA C E N T E R

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best country for business

Best acountry inable business F or sust

THE HIGH COA ST OF SWEDEN is a region with a great industrial history and a long tradition of celebrating entrepreneurship. As a part of Sweden, the best country in the European Union for business, the High Coast offers a stable and fertile ground for new business projects as well as established companies to grow and thrive.

Valuable brands Sweden stands out as the nation with the most valuable brands in the Nordics. Out of the top 20 brands considered most valuable in the Nordic region, 11 are Swedish. Swedish brands also rule the podium; IKEA, Volvo and H&M are the three brands that are ranked the most valuable of all Nordic brands. Four Swedish banks are among the top 20, which consolidates Sweden’s position as the biggest and most important economy among the Nordics. Sweden’s industrial prowess is also obvious in the top 20 rankings of Volvo, Scania, and Skanska.

The big brother of the Nordics With 27 million people living in the region, the Nordics is one of Europe’s largest economies. Thanks to its status as the largest of the Nordic countries, almost double the size of second largest Denmark, Sweden is often referred to as the big brother of the Nordics.

This combined with the country’s strategic central location, surrounded by Norway, Denmark and Finland, makes Sweden the natural choice for any company who wishes to reach the Nordic market.

T H E H I G H COAST

7 A D VA N TAGE S OF S W EDEN’S TA X AT ION SYS T EM • Corporate tax rate of 2o% • No regional or local corporate tax • Interests are fully deductible • Tax allocation reserves • No thin-capitalization rules • No withholding taxes on interests • No stamp tax or capital duties on share capital

SE T T ING UP A B U SINE S S IN S W EDEN IS E A S Y A ND S T R A IGH T F OR WA R D • Transparent system • Low level of bureaucracy • No restrictions on foreign ownership or need for Swedish partners • No restrictions on foreign ownership operations

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best country for business

#1 #1 B E S T C O U N T RY I N T H E E U RO P E A N U N I O N FOR DOING BUSINESS

H I G H E S T M AC RO EC O N O M I C S TA B I L I T Y IN THE WORLD

# 5 M O S T R E S P EC T E D “M A D E I N” L A B E L S I N THE WORLD

#8 MOST C O M P E T I T I V E EC O N O M Y IN THE WORLD

(Forbes, 2020)

(Global competitiveness Report 2019)

(Statista, 2017)

(Global competitiveness index 2019)

photo: kristofer lönnå

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the new powerhouse of the north

Northvolt

draws eyes to Scandinavia With the right conditions in place, the battery cluster of northern Sweden is an important part of the sustainable battery value chain. Now, foreign interest in joining the growing green battery manufacturing sector is increasing.

“This is partly due to more companies realising that there is an abundance of green, attractively priced electricity here in Sweden and that, at these latitudes, we can reliably build and run production all year round,” says Jaani Heinonen, Director Invest Advisory, Asia Pacific at Business Sweden. text: malin wiklund photo: northvolt

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the new powerhouse of the north

Northvolts mission is to build the greenest battery in the world.

H I G H COA S T I N V E S T is one of Business Sweden’s local partners and one of our many tasks is to help foreign companies establish themselves in the Swedish market.

Business Sweden has 15 offices in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, with China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan being the leading markets in the battery industry. APAC’s head office is in Shanghai, which is where Heinonen is based. His job consists of leading projects and supporting advisory teams. One of these is a specific regional battery team that was launched last autumn due to electricity-intensive industry being one of Sweden’s strengths, and in particular because of what this can offer battery manufacturing.

C H I N A H A S B U I LT up a successful industry in the last 30 years and the country has strong growth. Thanks to the EU’s strict environmental demands regarding transport and carbon emissions, an increasing number of Asian companies are realising that they will not be permitted to sell products freighted from Asia, which has led to an increased number of them wanting to establish subsidiaries in Europe. For the first time, many Chinese battery companies are interested in investing abroad, with all that this involves with new cultures and surroundings.

“It can be difficult to differentiate between the countries of Scandinavia. For a lot of Asians we are northern Europe, and sometimes Scandinavia,” says Heinonen.

For Business Sweden, this means that the first task is to draw attention to the positive Scandinavian traits of Sweden and its neighbours Norway and Finland. The main point to get across is that Scandinavia is a leading battery manufacturing region in Europe, with plenty of minerals, attractively priced green electricity, electric cars and last but not least the establishment of Northvolt with its manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in northern Sweden.

“Northvolt being centrally located in Scandinavia makes Sweden attractive to investors. Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå and Northvolt R&D in Västerås have also helped a lot thanks to increased brand recognition. There is a unique opportunity here to attract both battery investments and competence to Sweden,” says Heinonen.

B U S I N E S S S W E D E N ’ S battery team has had discussions with several potential Asian suppliers about, for example, battery cartridges, separator film, copper foil, and anode and cathode materials, and they can help any suppliers wanting to establish themselves in Sweden.

photo: business sweden

“We are building up an entirely new base industry in Sweden; this is something that only happens once or twice each century.

Our work in supporting this investment intensified in 2020 – Asia is several steps ahead of Europe where investing in the supply chain of batteries is concerned. Now companies see market potential and a necessity to move into Europe. And we are trying to make the most of that,” says Heinonen.

Jaani Heinonen, Invest Advisory Asia Pacific, Business Sweden.

One of these is the world’s leading supplier of battery cartridges, Chinese Kedali (KDL), who is already planning on a large manufacturing operation in Northvolt’s factory grounds in Skellefteå – it is expected to create 200 new jobs in the area and add valuable competence to the battery cluster.

This makes Kedali the first international company to invest in the northern-Sweden cluster and in addition to this, it is the company’s first production site outside of China.

Zhu Bin, Head of the Invest Advisory Greater China at Business Sweden, explains: “Our team helped Kedali review the European battery opportunities they find important and how the Swedish site can meet future needs of the supply chain. We started from a relatively low awareness level when it comes to Sweden’s role and capacity. The general impression in China is that Sweden is attractive but not affordable.

At Kedali this impression has now shifted.”

A unique aspect of Kedali’s factory is the automation factor. The factory in Sweden will be a pilot project aiming to explore ways of increasing automation to further enhance the company’s manufacturing capacity for caps and casings in both Europe and China.

“This focus on automation makes perfect sense. The EU has set a goal of completely replacing conventional cars with electric vehicles over the next 15 years, so battery demand will be huge. Sweden has skilled automation and IT expertise and advanced infrastructure. Kedali will explore how these advantages can be leveraged to boost the automation level and keep pace with demand,” Heinonen concludes.

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Battery research at the Mid Sweden University is conducted in collaboration with Uppsala University, which is a leader in cell chemistry and has the largest battery group in the Nordic region, an area renowned for its automotive industry.

a winner in the long run

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a winner in the long run

An interest in sustainable and energy-efficient batteries can take you far these days. In Manisha Phadatare’s case, it can take you almost 7 000 kilometres – all the way from India to Sweden.

Along with her research team at Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall, she has reached great success after intense research into supercondensers and lithium-ion batteries.

“In our lab, we have demonstrated better capacity performance than the best commercially available batteries,” says Manisha. text: sofia göth photo: olle melkerhed

The keys to a greener future A N I N T E R E S T F O R research and development is nothing new for Manisha, who was born and raised in India. Once she finished school, she studied physics at university and completed a PhD. After her years studying at D. Y. Patil University in Kolhapur, she took on a role as Assistant Professor there. And then she gained another interest – a man in a country far, far away.

Rohan Patil, also from India, was studying at Halmstad University and trying hard to get Manisha interested in Sweden. It didn’t take him long to succeed.

“He sent me so many links about Sweden. I liked what I saw, in particular the beautiful scenery.”

In 2017, she took the leap and applied for a post doctorate position at the Department of Natural Sciences at Mid Sweden University. She got the post, packed her bags and left India for the first time.

Destination Sundsvall. A new country, new

culture and new challenges awaited. And Rohan of course, who had also been given a position in the research team.

“My first impression of Sweden was very positive. One thing that really hit me was the fantastic working conditions.”

S I N C E T H E N , M A N I S H A and Rohan have worked together with a team of about 20 researchers from a long list of different countries, including Iran, Germany, China and Sweden. One of the team’s focuses has been on improving batteries, in part from an environmental perspective and in part from a capacity perspective.

“Our research has shown that a high production of grapheme with high throughput can be implemented industrially. This method results in better capacity performance than the best commercially available batteries.”

Now the team is aiming to further improve capacity and make the batteries as light as possible to minimise waste.

“I love my job and I have learnt so much from my driven, intelligent and knowledgeable colleagues. We have different ideas, and this has been great for our development.”

AT T H E S A M E T I M E as Manisha has had her sights on research success together with the team, she has also decided that her future is in Sweden, together with Rohan and their young daughter.

“We like living here and plan to stay. I love how it isn’t too big. In India, the distances are huge, but that isn’t the case here.

I also love the nature in the High Coast and we spend a lot of time exploring our surroundings.”

But Manisha sums up the the main difference as follows: “A big advantage of living in Sweden is that here you can have an effect on things and what you do can lead to positive change.”

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a place to call home

THEY FOUND THEIR FOREVER HOME IN

the High Coast inland The Smit-Moerman family had a garden of six square meters in the

Netherlands. In the village of Resele in the High Coast, they have almost three hectares of land with a farm house and buildings – their dream of working and living close to nature has been realised.

“We want to live here in Resele forever, that’s how we feel right now,” says Maaike Smit-Moerman. text & photo: ludwig grundström

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a place to call home

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S E V E N Y E A R S AG O, Maaike Smit-Moerman and Ibe Moerman decided to move, together with their two children, from their townhouse in the Netherlands to rural Sweden to fulfil their dream of living close to nature. They felt strongly drawn to the High Coast straight away and started to look for a house to live in.

“The nature here is fantastic and it just breathed possibilities. We fell in love with it,” says Maaike.

When visiting the region, Resele in Sollefteå municipality caught their eye. Resele is a village about 100 km from the coast on the river Ångermanlandälven. After a guided tour given by a local, they knew they had found the perfect place.

“We fell for the stories of entrepreneurship, and how many associations there are and the local engagement in the community.

We felt there is a good drive here, and a belief in the future. Then we visited the village school and there was so much love there that the decision was made,” says Maaike.

TO DAY, M A A I K E RU N S a rural development project and is also project leader for a number of tourism projects. Ibe is a jack-of-all-trades who sometimes drives a logging truck, and together the two of them run their own company Resele Ad-

a place to call home

ventures, with small-scale nature tourism and nature experiences in the inland area.

They are renovating their farmhouse and farm buildings and in the future they hope to be able to offer accommodation. It has never been hard to find something to do, rather the opposite, they say.

“I was like a kid in a candy store,” says Ibe when asked to describe their early days in Resele and Maaike adds: “There are so many possibilities here and before we knew what was going on we were involved in a lot of different things.

Holding ourselves back has been the challenge,” says Maaike.

the most of the opportunities they see.

“Make hay while the sun shines, as we say in Holland. And the sun is shining just now,” says Ibe. But the move to the High Coast was not primarily a move for work, it was a move to increase their quality of life. The family spends a lot of time outdoors and living where they do, there are endless opportunities for a rich outdoor life. They see the balance between private life and working life as being different here from the Netherlands.

“A big part of life here is family oriented,” says Ibe.

T H E H I G H COA S T is one of Sweden’s fastest growing tourist destinations and has been voted by the Swedish people as Sweden’s most beautiful place. In 2019, there was a 30% increase in visitors to holiday parks on 2018. And 2020 was another record year.

“You have the river, the sea, the mountains, the wilderness and the best of all four seasons here. Wonderful winters and fantastic summers. There is a lot of Sweden here in a relatively small place,” says Maaike.

Maaike and Ibe see the High Coast inland as having enormous unrealised potential and have decided to work hard to make

T H E S W E D I S H W E L FA R E system is famous all over the world. There is free healthcare, schooling and childcare here.

Maaike and Ibe think that it is easy to focus on their family here in Sweden.

“If you have sick kids, no employer here will tell you to sort it out, or raise their eyebrows. It is acceptable to stay home and take care of your children. It’s a luxury that there is this kind of understanding and respect for family life,” says Maaike and continues: “We want to raise our children here and live the rest of our lives here – this much is clear. I have never felt like a local patriot, but I have become one now.”

Maaike’s tips for those wanting to move to the High Coast:

1

Don’t try to organize everything before arriving.

It can be difficult to get a job in Sollefteå from the Netherlands. But you should dare to take the leap and trust that something will work out. Make sure you have enough money to live on for six months and learn the language. Within this timeframe you will find something.

2

Take your time to get to know the area before buying a house. Look for a community that you feel you will fit into. Start by renting a house or visiting on holidays at different times of the year. It’s not just the nature that is important but also the people in the area where you live.

3

Get involved in the community. When we moved here I saw on Facebook that volunteers were needed to clean up local picnic areas. Through this we were quickly welcomed by the local community and it was really good for learning Swedish, being accepted and we got lots of tips and advice.

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flavours of the region

A NATURAL BLUETOOTH Blåtand’s products (Blåtand is Bluetooth in English) have their origins in nature’s pantry: the forest. Maybe it is the flavours of the wilderness that have made their preserves, made from blueberries, cloudberries and lingonberries from northern Sweden’s forests, such a big success all over the world.

AWARD-WINNING SHEEP CHEESE

SWEDEN’S OLDEST FLATBREAD BAKERY

Strömmens gårdsmejeri is a multi awardwinning cheesery known for handmade cheeses made from organic sheep and cow’s milk. In 2020, they won two gold medals in the Swedish Championships in Artisan Food with one of the cheesery’s newcomers, Strömmen’s Lamb Brie.

Mjällom’s flatbread bakery bakes its flatbread in the same way as it did when it was founded in 1923 – according to Grandma Rut’s recipe. The procedure has been modified over the years but the basics are the same. A crispy, golden baked classic that keeps it flavour.

A region with

great taste FOR THOSE WHO DARE

VINEGAR MADE IN THE SUN

You can’t write about the food and beverages of the High Coast without mentioning fermented Baltic herring – known locally as surströmming. This unique way to prepare fish has its origins in the High Coast and the aromatic delicacy is still produced in several places in the region. Fermented Baltic herring is herring from the Baltic that has been fermented - as the name suggests.

Its distinct smell has been known to put some people off, but those who dare to try it are rewarded with a flavoursome experience.

When berries release their flavour in the traditional way in the sun, berry vinegar tastes even more like berries.

Award-winning Kvarnå handcrafted vinegar has been highly praised by people in the branch and can be purchased in the garden store at Kvarnå Trädgård, among other places.

BEVERAGE CLUSTER IN THE FAR NORTH Among the region’s many talented beverage producers are both micro breweries and well-known distilleries. Two of the brightest shining stars are Hernö Gin and High Coast Distillery. They have both won multiple awards in the world’s most prestigious competitions for gin and whisky.

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Welcome A WARM

When you establish a business in the High Coast of Sweden, you are never alone. You will find lots of good friends who can help and guide you along the way and offer a ”soft landing”. Let us introduce some of the people who, together with High Coast Invest, want to help you by opening the door and welcome you to our region.

#1

#3

#2

here to help you

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#1

Oliver Dogo CEO, Mid Sweden Chamber of Commerce

The Mid Sweden Chamber of Commerce is a member-owned, political persuasion organisation that works to strengthen local economic growth. Sweden is home to eleven independent regional chambers of commerce located throughout the country.

What are the most important factors for creating a successful business climate in the region?

“The most important areas as we see them

#2

Annelie Axelsson Business developer, Timrå Municipality

The municipality’s business department has an important role to play in assisting companies that are planning to establish themselves in Timrå. They are an important first point of contact before making big decisions and they will act as a partner that is there to help throughout the entire process, from start to finish.

#3

Anna Edblad CEO, Örnsköldsviks Industrigrupp

Working together on common issues, influences and competence growth – these are some of the issues at the heart of Örnsköldsvik Industry Group. Together with the Chamber of Commerce, they are working for good communications with the surrounding world. Industry Groups like the one in Örnsköldsvik, are found in several places in the region.

What issues do you primarily work with? “Örnsköldsvik Industry Group works prima-

are competence growth, infrastructure and international trade. Access to the right competence is vital for a company’s success, and is the first priority for all companies. After this, the current primary infrastructure issue we are working with right now is air traffic. It has to be easy to get to us.”

How do you facilitate international trade relations? “ The international aspect is the Chamber of Commerce’s strength as we are part of a network of over 12 000 chambers of commerce and between us we have over 50 million member companies. We take

here to help you

care of about 4 000 export errands each year, assisting with documentation, advisory services and markets.”

How is the business climate in the High Coast region currently, according to you?

“There is an impressive drive in the High Coast region at the moment, with a number of impressive developments, particularly in the tourism sector. Our various municipalities have worked well together – and this is something that I think will spread to other areas of development. We have realised that we are stronger when we work together.”

How do you help companies?

“We coordinate all the companies in the municipality and invite everyone who is interested to a first introductory meeting – key people from businessmen/women to administrative heads and politicians. These meetings give everyone some insight into what the company wants to do and what its vision and goals are. It helps us all get on the same page so we can achieve our goals together.

The next step is to raise each case with the team and make a decision.”

How long does it take for each case?

“It varies but we like fast decisions and work according to a clear strategy that puts companies first. This is based on a political decision made in the early 2000s.”

ry with issues regarding the improvement of conditions needed for growth in the industrial and technology sectors. Together with the Chamber of Commerce, we are working for good communication with the surrounding world. We are good at helping and coordinating – these are important factors in developing and reaching results that companies can find useful. One important issue is for example building competence.”

in different forums that we can influence.

We meet companies continuously to discuss factors that can create growth and we initiate concrete actions with the support of our broad network.”

Why should I as a business owner get in contact with you?

“In coordination with our member companies, we work to influence the public system and other decision makers regarding what education courses are needed. We initiate development projects and partake

Why is it important for these errands to be handled quickly?

“This is where we can make a big difference.

Fast and effective business services affect the business climate positively. Companies are vital to our economy and the future of the entire community.”

What do you see as current positive trends for companies in our region?

“There are many large investments being made in the region currently, primarily in wood pulp and paper but also in other industries. The increased focus on sustainability is an important driving factor for our industries – we have unique competence!

In Örnsköldsvik, larger companies’ global ambitions come together with local entrepreneurs of absolute world class.”

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#4

here to help you

#5

Almi is a state-owned group of companies that provide entrepreneurs with advice, business development help and business loans. Almi has 16 regional subsidiaries, one of which is in Västernorrland.

experience of the local market and how it works. On the business development front, we can act as a sounding board and help plan a successful launch with regard to the market and competitors in the region. Via our subsidiary Almi Invest, we can together with other investors go in with risk capital and advice for boards in start-ups we believe have a good chance of success.”

Why should potential investors/companies who want to establish themselves here get in touch with Almi?

“Almi can help with contacts, financing and business development based on our long

What issues do you primarily work with?

“Our focus is primarily helping small and medium-sized companies that want to grow and develop by offering finance and busi-

#4

#5

Fredrik Kuoppa Head of Operations, Almi Västernorrland

Peter Ekdahl Head of Support and Finance, Region Västernorrland

Region Västernorrland is the official organisation that, among other things, is responsible for regional development. In the recently adopted development strategy that will carry us through to 2030, one of the three aims is: “By 2030, Västernorrland will be a place where businesses and organisations choose to grow”.

Why is a strong economy important for Region Västernorrland?

“A strong economy is a prerequisite for our region to be able to continue on its development path. Growing companies with innovative and sustainable operations will create jobs in all parts of our region, which in turn will create the tax revenue we need to be able to finance welfare.”

How can you help me as a business owner if I want to establish my business here?

“We have a broad range of regional investment and development support schemes, which in many cases can facilitate getting established here, and help create better financial solutions for planned investments.”

ness development advice. Sustainability and all aspects of digitalisation are high on our agenda, as are issues of diversity and internationalisation.”

How do you contribute to a strong industry in the region?

“We strengthen our local companies’ competitive power and their long-term sustainability. We are an important and effective complement to banks, especially during these times when banks’ risk capital has been drastically reduced. Thanks to Almi, many proactive and creative investments that would otherwise have been put on hold have been made possible.”

How do you prioritise the companies that want to establish themselves here? Are there areas that are prioritised higher than others, for example depending on the sector or where they want to locate?

“In general, we see all investments that will create growth positively, and we always have a dialogue with the companies applying for support so we can arrive at the best possible solution. Regarding location, there is a little more support for investments in rural areas, in order to even out geographical differences. Branches that are of extra importance to the region are also slightly prioritised.”

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talented people - matthew mckenzie

Matthew McKenzie Attracted by Sweden’s strong reputation for innovative and sustainable technology, Matthew McKenzie moved from Australia to Timrå to work for Permobil. At the worldfamous company, Matthew can fulfill his wish to help people by developing and refining the original powered wheelchair.

Tell us about yourself!

“I come from a small town called Gomersal, located in the Barossa Valley of South Australia. After graduating high school, I worked for a local distillery where I built and repaired machinery. After six years at the distillery, I decided to try something new and began working as a wheelchair technician while completing a degree in Biomedical Engineering at Flinders University in Adelaide. Working with wheelchairs and their humble users, a fire began to swirl deep inside, sparking a passion for the assistive technology industry. I moved to Västernorrland in August 2019 to work as a test technician for Permobil and I now work as a test engineer.”

What role does work play in your life?

“I thoroughly enjoy my job and am passionate about the world of assistive technology. I spend a lot of my free time working on little ideas, so it is safe to say that work is my life at the moment.”

What is the best thing about your job?

“I get to make a difference in providing mobility solutions to people who are not as fortunate as I have been. Permobil wants to design and build the best wheelchairs with functions and features that really meet the needs of the people who sit in them day in, day out. So why not learn from the best, right?”

How do you think the location contributes to the success of your work?

“The businesses within the region drive a strong sense of progression and competence. I believe this is a great place to grow my career and become part of the technical community. The bonus for me is the access to the nature within the region. I grew up on a little farm, so spending time in the forests and beside the lakes is an ideal weekend recharge before returning to work.”

photo: permobil

Matthew McKenzie Lives in: Alnö Age: 30 Job title: Test Engineer Work at: Permobil

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permascand – home to world cl ass r&d

Global & green expertise thrives in small-town Did you know that groundbreaking solutions for a greener world are being developed in a little village in northern Sweden? Meet Permascand, one of few electrochemical competence centres in Europe. text: malin wiklund photo: permascand

[ 23 ] permascand – home to world cl ass r&d high coast invest

Permascand supplies catalytic coatings, electrodes and electrochemical cells to customers all over the world.

“For me, it is incredibly satisfying that we are putting our products on the world market together with international partners”, says Erik Zimmerman, R&D Manager.

“ I F I W E R E T O LO O K for a job like this somewhere else, I’d probably end up in a big city like Tokyo or Vancouver,” says Erik Zimmerman, R&D Manager at Permascand, located in the village of Ljungaverk in Ånge Municipality, northern Sweden.

Here, Zimmerman has both a lot of responsibility and a free hand when it comes to prioritising the resources used to develop green solutions for the future on a platform of electrochemistry.

Permascand is a company with about 150 employees that supplies catalytic coatings, electrodes and electrochemical cells to customers all over the world, including in the form of Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA). As pioneers in DSA technology, Permascand has made it possible for their customers to exchange environmentally damaging lead and graphite anodes for titanium-based anodes that last much longer and use significantly less energy.

Zimmerman is responsible for the

company’s research and development, but he also has a finger in the marketing and sales pie.

“It’s being able to work with a wide range of tasks that makes this job so good!

Having our own R&D department means we can guide development based on our knowledge of what the market is looking for and what our researchers and specialists can best contribute with. I’ve worked here for 25 years and I’ve never been bored.

I’ve travelled a lot and visited countless factories and I can’t imagine a better job anywhere. ” I N TH E AU T U M N of 2019, Permascand got its biggest order ever, worth more than SEK 223 million (approx. ¤22,2 million), for a water purification system for ballast water.

“It's such fun when challenging, long-term projects working to develop sustainable purification systems get recognised and when big actors in the shipping industry

start to show an interest. The order proves that we have a product that is strongly competitive,” says Zimmerman.

As far back as 15 years ago, as soon as the UN’s International Maritime Organisation decided that all ships needed a system to manage and minimise the spread of invasive species, Permascand started work on a solution for purifying ballast water.

“We wanted to be able to offer an effective purification system that kills bacteria in an ecologically sustainable way. After many projects and development investments, we now have a fantastic solution with high effectiveness, and it is entirely chemical-free.”

P E R M A S C A N D H A S A N unusually wide product range within the electrochemical field and is one of only a few competence centres in Europe. The company has customers in the manufacturing industry and hydrogen production, and

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customers that need Permascand’s help in balancing their electrical network and moving sustainable energy from offshore or wind-energy projects onto land using strategic components.

“There is a belief here, both in the region and in the company, that says; ‘If they can do it then so can we’. It is an environment where people are allowed to succeed and where there is a culture of finding solutions for problems. It’s in our blood. And this is perhaps why we are one of the world’s largest in this field. For example, for a product that purifies ballast water to go from Ljungaverk onto the global market, it really must be unique,” says Zimmerman.

permascand – home to world cl ass r&d

T H E C O M PA N Y H A S also recently launched a new brand, Norscand®, which is an electrochemical cell for the extraction of lithium – an important component in batteries for electric cars, for example.

Norscand supplies the company Nemaska with lithium for their factory in Shawinigan, Quebec, where they use an electrochemical process in the final step and extract lithium hydroxide.

Large-scale production of lithium is essential if the world wants to move away from fossil fuels and use more electricity.

This is due to the key role lithium hydroxide plays in the manufacture of batteries for electric cars, mobile phones and computers.

“Our solution makes it possible to extract lithium hydroxide using electrochemistry instead of traditional methods. Because we understand electrochemistry at atom and chemical level, we can use our solutions in other processes as well. One interesting area to research more is battery recycling, where batteries can be upgraded again via electrolysis,” says Zimmerman.

P E R M A S C A N D R U N S projec t s together with the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH), Norway’s University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and local university Mid Sweden University.

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“We regularly work with students’ research projects. This is also a fantastic way to recruit bright young minds.”

In addition to working together with these universities, product development often takes place in cooperation with partner companies in Europe and North America. 95% of production is exported.

“For me, it is incredibly satisfying that we are putting our products on the world market together with our international partners. This is proof that we have clever, hard-working employees, result-oriented development and well-functioning logistics.

But also that we have realised the value of good partnerships,” concludes Zimmerman.

permascand – home to world cl ass r&d

Permascand is a technology-driven manufacturer of world-leading electrochemical solutions.

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lessons from a hundred years of export

EUROPE EXPORT: EUR 110.5 B IMPORT: EUR 125.8 B

NORTH AMERICA EXPORT: EUR 13.3 B IMPORT: EUR 4.3 B

AFRica EXPORT: EUR 2.8 B IMPORT: EUR 1.6 B

central & south america EXPORT: EUR 3.1 B IMPORT: EUR 1.4 B

To further strengthen the region’s well-developed infrastructure, 78.5 million euro is being invested in Sundsvall logistics park.

When the logistics park is completed in 2024, it will be one of Sweden’s most important transport hubs.

#3 QUALIT Y OF TR ADE AND TR ANSPORT REL ATED INFR AS TRUCTURE

#2

EASE OF ARR ANGING COMPE TITIVELY PRICED SHIPMENT S

SOURCE The World Bank Logistics Performance Index, 2018

#2 LOGIS TICS PERFORMANCE INDEX

#2

EFFICIENCY OF THE CLEAR ANCE PROCESS

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lessons from a hundred years of export

ASIA EXPORT: EUR 19.2 B IMPORT: EUR 16.4 B

Oceania & antarctica EXPORT: EUR 1.9 B IMPORT: EUR 0.4 B

We know the flow T H E H I G H COA S T H A S A H I G H percentage of global and foreign-owned companies, as well as a long tradition of satisfying the needs of manufacturing industries. In other words, the region is accustomed to dealing with the practicalities of international logistics.

O U R I N D U S T R I E S S H I P T H E I R goods to all parts of the world. Large volumes of goods also pass through the region on their way to the rest of the world from the mines and the heavy industries further north in Sweden. This high demand on the region’s infrastructure has ensured that the region now has a highly developed and well maintained network of roads, railroads, ports, logistic centers and airports. All of which are tailored for the easy and efficient flow of goods and materials.

1 hour FROM THE HIGH COAST A I R P O RT S , I T I S L ES S THAN AN HOUR’S FLIGHT TO STOCKHOLM

Sweden is one of the most international economies in the world. Foreign owned companies employ 25% of the Swedish workforce and stand for 45% of Swedish exports and 36% of the private R&D spendings in Sweden.

a hop, skip and a flight away THE HIGH COAST IS SERVED by three airports as well as the high-speed railway, the Bothnia Line and the fast E4 highway. This means, no matter where you are going or where you are coming from, there is always an easy way to travel.

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equality, diversity and business

The companies of the future are companies that support gender equality. This requires hard work and a lot of effort, both of which abound in the region.

Not least at business incubators BizMaker. “Our goal is for more women to start businesses and for more investors to invest in women. We can help with advisory services, by contributing with our knowledge and experience and with our network,” says Cecilia Nordlund, business advisor at BizMaker.

photo: sarah olofsson

id ea f or web - b a s e d w e l l b e in g “ B I Z M A K E R H A S G R E AT LY facilitated the process for me. Their gender equality and diversity work has helped me a lot with my company,” says founder Pernilla Zsaludek Viklund.

It took time for Pernilla to develop her idea but it resulted in a well-grounded business plan.

“I studied health sciences at Karolinska Institutet and as part of my studies I developed a sustainable and scientifically structured health programme. Taking part in such a programme would cost at least SEK 25,000 (approx. ¤2,500) per person so I decided to focus on a web-based programme, which is significantly cheaper and

can reach more people as well. The webbased programme is nine months long and is based on a scientific model with sustainable factors for behaviour change, coaching and mental training.”

“I want to help people feel healthier.

The more people I help, the happier I’ll be.

I want to do good!”

A F T E R CO N TAC T I N G BizMaker, Pernilla was taken on and offered coaching, courses and support in how to further develop her company.

“BizMaker has also made it much easier for me as a woman. The programme is actually only three years long, but I’ve been

on it for over four years as I’ve had two children during this time. Their flexibility and positive approach has facilitated the process enormously and that has really encouraged me as a female CEO. They see me for who I am, and they work and make possibilities for each individual, whatever their situation is.”

Running a company that supports diversity, gender equality and sustainability is important for Pernilla.

“It is incredibly important to me as I believe this is the basis of a dynamic company. These aspects are fundamental in BizMaker’s programme, so it feels like it is a given to include them in my company.”

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equality, diversity and business

Gender equality & diversity

i ncrea se prof itability C A N W E A F FO R D to not support gender equality in business? That is an easy question to answer, according to Nordlund.

“No, the benefits of supporting gender equality are too big to ignore. The advantages, in the form of equality as well as hard cash in increased profitability, should be a given.”

BizMaker is a regional business incubator that works for sustainable growth and innovation. Together with Västernorrland Municipality, companies and stakeholders support start-ups with good ideas for new businesses and solutions. BizMaker both helps start-ups quickly reach success on the market and established companies grow and develop further.

M O R E M E N T H A N women run companies and hold leadership positions within companies. In addition, more men are on company boards than women.

However, thanks to a lot of hard work,

slowly but surely these numbers are changing and becoming more balanced. Many companies in the region consider this to be an important issue, and it is one that BizMaker has prioritised for several years now.

“We have taken a good hard look at ourselves from a gender equality perspective and we have kept our minds open. We have critically assessed our structure and left well-accepted comfort zones far behind us,” says Nordlund.

I N 2 0 1 8 , G E N D E R E Q UA LI T Y and inclusiveness were the main focuses. Later in the same year, their hard work led to BizMaker being awarded with a diversity diploma from the company Equalate through the project ‘Equal Regional Growth’. They were among the first in their branch.

“Research on investments shows that men are often asked more progressive, forward-thinking questions while women are criticised and challenged. Now we have

How can poor health be transformed into wellbeing and how can as many people as possible be reached? These were the questions that led Pernilla Zsaludek Viklund to founding start-up company Lifepulse and participating in BizMakers Excellence Programme.

identified this, we can prepare and support women more successfully and we can also draw attention to it.”

I N J U S T T W O Y E A R S , impressive results have been generated. In 2017, only six percent of the total finance put into BizMaker’s start-ups was given to companies run by women. In 2018 this increased to 20 percent and in 2019 it was up to 55 percent.

These figures include consultancy services, loans, grants and external equity. But good can be even better, according to Nordlund “The goal is for more women to start companies in our region, for more investments to be made in women and, importantly, for more women to be sitting on boards and in leadership positions.”

Gender equality and inclusiveness is an ongoing and prioritised part of BizMaker’s work that will continue.

“Dare to open your eyes! Small things can make a big difference,” concludes Nordlund.

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RISE Processum, based in Örnsköldsvik, is one of the world’s leading clusters in biorefinery development based on biomass. Something that has resonated – not least when it comes to recruitment. During the past five years, the company has recruited competent scientists from around the world. We talked to two of them about what attracted them to the High Coast and how they hope to contribute. text: malin wiklund photo: ludwig grundström

We make

a difference

changemakers

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changemakers

People from all over the world meet under one roof at RISE Processum in Örnsköldsvik. Researchers in biotechnology and organic chemistry collaborate across their respective areas of expertise, something that is common within the company.

From left: Mai Bui, Rabia Ayub and Jonas Fahrni.

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changemakers

”From when I was a child I have wanted to contribute to the environment.

RISE Processum is working with renewable resources and I immediately knew that it was the right place” Rabia Ayub / Researcher at RISE Processum

“ O U R N AT U R A L resources are becoming depleted. We have to take action and provide solutions,” says scientist Rabia Ayub, who was born and raised in Pakistan.

Through an ERASMUS Mundus PhD Scholarship in 2013, Rabia got the chance to study in Uppsala and then Stockholm, where she completed a PhD and a two-year Postdoc in organic chemistry.

“It´s to do with breaking lignin macromolecules into smaller ones via electrochemical processes,” she says.

In January, 2020, Rabia spotted a job at RISE Processum advertised on LinkedIn. “I really liked the profile of the company and found it exciting that it matched my post doc experience in the field of lignin chemistry. Ever since I was a child I have wanted to contribute towards saving the environment. RISE Processum works with renewable resources and I immediately knew that it was the right place for me.

I applied, got the job and started here in August,” she says.

Her colleague Jonas Fahrni has been on site for two years now and welcomed Rabia into the chemical research group where they work with hydrothermal liquidification.

In other words; with depolymerizing organic matter so that it forms a liquid, biological raw oil with higher energy concentration.

Jonas studied chemistry in his home country Switzerland, graduating in 2017 in Life Sciences. He specialized in nano materials for cloud research and contributing to the understanding of the climate dilemma.

“After my graduation I wanted to experience other cultures that match my personality and I wanted to work with forestry.

Therefore I was looking for positions in Scandinavia. I focused on Sweden since I found the Swedish language easiest to learn and the country is a role model with regards to social issues for many people in

Switzerland. Eventually I found RISE´s website and an open position in Örnsköldsvik.”

B O T H S C I E N T I S T S L O V E being outdoors. Rabia likes to explore her surroundings by bike and Jonas enjoys winter sports and thinks the forests of the High Coast are magical.

“The size of them – they go from one horizon to the other. It’s almost spiritual,” he says.

“I looked for a place with beautiful nature where I could cross-country ski a lot, so this is perfect both with regards to the country and my job. My ideas also match the philosophy of the company so well.

This is an opportunity that would be hard to find in Switzerland,” Jonas continues.

Rabia’s home country, Pakistan, is a hot and densely populated part of the world, but she explains that she was actively looking for something smaller and cooler.

“I will always choose cold places. Somewhere quiet. When I was driving up to Örnsköldsvik to join Processum and first saw the sea and the mountains of the High Coast area... I didn’t know anything could be so beautiful! After that I just wanted to stay in Örnsköldsvik forever, she says with a smile.”

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changemakers

Jonas Fahrni and Rabia Ayub were both attracted to the area by the opportunity it gave them to make an actual and practical difference to reduce climate change.

FACTS ABOU T RISE P ROCE S SUM R I S E P RO C E S S U M drives biorefinery development in close collaboration with industry, from laboratory to demonstration scale for sustainable growth.

T H E C O M PA N Y I S owned by RISE Research institutes of Sweden (60%) and Processum Interest Association (40%), and is thus a subsidiary of the RISE Group.

I N T H E L A S T F I V E Y E A R S , RISE Processum has grown from 16.5 full time employees to 33.5. In total, there are now nine nations represented in RISE Processum, from Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, Asia and even South Africa. In September 2020, 53% of the employees were women and 47% were men. About 50% of all employees have a PhD.

A LOV E O F N AT U R E and a desire to preserve it go hand in hand for these two scientists. As Jonas says: “I was looking for a position where I can contribute to something and I can do that here. In our pilot plant we are developing processes to make, for instance, raw oil for biofuels. Processes that can, and hopefully will, be implemented at industrial scale in the near future thanks to promising research results and innovative companies. Our goal is to be able to offer a renewable alternative to the fossil fuels that have suppressed our development for so long.”

Rabia has firsthand experience of when nonrenewable resources run out.

“In Pakistan, we use natural gas for the majority of our cooking and heating, and now there are shortages. Natural gas is not only used as a household fuel but many industries and the automobile sector depend on it as well. In the winter, we can’t get enough gas anymore and have to burn wood.

Soon we will face these problems all over the world. We need long-term solutions and I am happy to be part of developing such solutions,” she says.

R I S E P R O C E S S U M ha s cutting-edge expertise in organic chemistry and biotechnology as well as residual materials, energy, patents and system analysis, with specialists in all areas. Thanks to joint funding and a culture of cooperation, there is no internal competition between departments or areas of expertise.

“We have a good atmosphere in the company where we’re all part of one, cooperative unit. Thanks to our multicultural background we can also benefit from seeing and solving problems from different angles in our projects. We’re all scientists, so we have both similarities and differences,” says Jonas.

According to the employees, this sense of cooperation is not limited to the local industrial cluster but rather it is felt over the whole of the northern Swedish coast between private companies, universities and municipal bodies.

“We have a lot of joint projects within the cluster and we have easily got to know people. We help each other out when we can,” Jonas concludes.

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talented people - kristina enander

Kristina Enander Paper and pulp manufacturing has long been at the heart of the region’s industrial development. In 2018, the new expanded SCA Östrand mill in Timrå was inaugrated – and it’s now one of the worlds largest pulp producers. Mill Manager Kristina Enander grew up only a stone’s throw away, and enjoys life the most when she knows that the pulp mill is operating at its peak.

Tell us about yourself!

“I grew up only a stone’s throw from the Östrand Mill. After graduating from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, I moved straight back up here and started working for SCA. I started as a research engineer and after that I had various roles at Ortviken Paper Mill in Sundsvall where I became mill manager in 2009. In 2018 I returned to Timrå as Business Area Manager for Pulp and Mill Manager for the Östrand Pulp Mill.”

Have you always known that you would work in this industry?

“Yes! I worked in Ortviken in the summers when I was young and decided already back then that this was my thing.”

What is it that interests you?

“It’s the pulse of the mill, and that it is operating around the clock. And the way we work, how the operators, engineers and managers all work together. Then it has helped me a lot in my leadership role to understand how it all works, how it feels when a paper machine breaks down in the middle of the night.”

What is the best part of your job?

“I love the forestry industry and the mill, I live with it around the clock. I have been given the chance to develop my career at a good pace. I’m not in a hurry though, I like to stay in the same position for a few years so I can see the results of my work. And I like the variation of it, that I get to work with both the strategic and production side of things.”

What are the advantages for SCA of being located here?

“Well, in part that we are close to our raw material – the forest.

But we also have a great company climate, both in Timrå and in Sundsvall. We have good dialogues and relationships that help us in our development. When Corona hit, the local municipality’s commercial office called and asked us: How are things going?

Can we help you with anything? They are so thoughtful! And on top of everything, Västernorrland is a great place to live so we don’t have any problems recruiting good competence into the company. People want to live in Västernorrland!” photo: sca

Kristina Enander Lives in: Sundsvall Age: 52 Job title: Business Area Manager Works at: SCA

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proficiency trend 2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

#1

#3

#2

#1

#2

#4

/70

/72

/80

/88

/100

/100

Talent

& skills

H AV I N G CO M P E T E N T A N D CO M M I T T E D employees is key to running a successful business. In the High Coast region, you will find a well-educated and loyal work force with excellent English skills.

The availability of skilled labor is high in Sweden. Swedes are known for being well educated, 44% of the population between 25 and 64 years of age has completed tertiary education, and Swedish children are expected to spend an average of 19 years in school.

In Sweden in general, and in the High Coast area in particular, there is also a tradition of commitment to the employer. Employees tend to stay for a long time with their employers compared to other countries and regions. They also tend to become more engaged in the company or the organization they work for and take responsibility for its success. In addition to their high efficiency in completing the tasks handed to them, Swedish workers are known for being process oriented and for understanding their role in the greater picture of their organization.

competent and committed

#2

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL COMPE TITIVENESS [1]

#3

S TRONGES T ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE [2]

#3 S TRONGES T DIGITAL SKILL S AMONG ACTIVE POPUL ATION [3]

#4

NUMBER OF WOMEN ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS [4]

Let’s take it in english!

Swedes in general have excellent English skills. One reason is that English is being taught in Swedish schools from early ages. There is also a high consumption of American and British media and popular culture, and there is no strong tradition of dubbing movies or TV shows into Swedish. This means that most Swedes are regularly exposed to English from very early childhood. In the EF English Proficiency Index 2017, Sweden was ranked number 4 out of 100 countries. Sweden scored 625 points, well above the index average of 492.

SOURCE [1]The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2019 [2] U.S. News & World Report Best Countries Ranking 2020 [3] The global competitiveness report 2019 [4] Global gender gap report 2020

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ready to go global

Learning

to go global 2020 was a turbulent year for many of us – not least for EdTech company Haldor in Sundsvall. When schools all over the world started closing, a sudden increase in demand for remote learning tools came about and these are exactly what Haldor develops. Now, CEO Sara Zetterberg and her team are getting ready for the next step.

Sara Zetterberg, CEO at Haldor, has been in a rush to meet the demand of remote learning tools as covid-19 struck the world.

text: albin grahn photo: marlene berg H A LDO R , FO U N D E D in 2015, develops and sells user-friendly educational tools for education at all levels. It all started at school, where one of Haldor’s founders saw a huge gap in the market for digital tools.

“Teachers were communicating with students via Facebook, which is a bad idea in so many ways,” says Sara Zetterberg, CEO, who has a background as an innovation advisor.

It was based on this finding that the company was founded and the product Haldor Education was developed to facilitate the everyday digital life of both teachers and students. Their main customers are municipalities and independent schools, and they can choose between different modules for planning, assessment, contact with parents/ guardians and much more. Everything is fully integrated with Microsoft Teams and the various modules can be easily added – much like apps can be added to a mobile phone.

“A lot of our competitors come from the administrative side of schooling. Our background lets us see things more easily from teachers’ and students’ perspectives.”

A N U M B E R O F C L E A R milestones along the way prepared Haldor for the eventful year known as 2020. One of them was back in 2017 when Haldor decided to focus entirely on Microsoft Teams. With this decision has come a clear objective – to be the best in a single system. Another was in 2018 when they decided to invest in an external chairperson for their board. The

same year, Haldor was named as Microsoft’s “Partner of the Year”, which was confirmation that they had made the right decision.

“That a little start up from Sundsvall in northern Sweden could manage that – when we were up against established companies in the industry – that was a big deal for us for sure. Microsoft saw that we had something that the others didn’t have – a higher level of innovation and implementation of customer solutions in their products.”

R I G H T B E FO R E the pandemic hit, Haldor strengthened their team with a sales and partnership manager. With closed high schools and the threat of primary schools following suit, more and more schools started using Microsoft Teams to work together. This led to an explosion in interest for Haldor’s tools and just in the spring of 2020 they signed up 50 new accounts, which more than doubled their client base.

Sundsvall is not only home to Haldor’s head office, but also Mid Sweden University and its IT department. The team of twelve, however, is spread out all over Sweden.

Remote working is a part of the core of the business, and Haldor practices what it preaches.

“We have never met some of our customers in real life. That might sound a bit strange but it isn’t unusual in this branch,” says Zetterberg with a laugh.

2021 will be the year that Haldor starts

to move into the international market. In part Norway, where they already have an established client base, but also the UK and the Netherlands: two countries where both the school system and the language will allow a straightforward establishment. They are also aiming to raise more capital.

“So far we have been working with seed money as it is called in the investment world. But now we are considering doing the big A-round so we can upscale our softw are-a s-a-ser vice product range to reach the global market.”

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ready to go global

Digitathliesawtiino!n for

“The Sundsvall area is one of the three strongest IT hubs in Sweden.

Here, public and private actors work to ensure that digitalisation and technological development create societal benefits and business development.

We also have the highest number of workers in the digitalisation sector per capita in Sweden.”

LARS PERSSON SKANDEVALL

CEO Bron Innovation

#1

EU INNOVATION LEADER [1]

#2 GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2020

#1

HIGHES T PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE ICT SPECIALIS T S IN THE EU [2]

#2 DIGITAL ECONOMY AND SOCIE T Y INDEX [3]

SOURCE [1] European Innovation Scoreboard 2020, the European comission [2] Digital economy and society Index, 2020, the European Commission [3] The European Commission, 2020

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The

Sustainable Swedes SWE D E S A R E K N OWN for being environmentally conscious consumers. They are aware of the effect their consumption has on the environment, and they want to marginalize the footprint they leave on the planet. About 7 out of 10 of them want to buy from companies that work on limiting climate change, and many are willing to pay more for products or services from such companies. As a result of this, Swedish companies have become world leaders when it comes to green innovation and the development eco-friendly products and manufacturing processes.

S WE D E S A R E CO N F I D E NT that an environmentally friendly lifestyle does not necessarily mean that you have to lower your living standard.

And this assumption seems to be true. In recent years, Sweden was the first country that managed to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing its GDP. Between 1993 and 2014, Sweden’s GDP grew by 66% and energy production nearly doubled. During the same period, CO₂ emissions were reduced by 24%.

Recycling in sweden Recycled materials 2019 vs. government target 2020.

RANKED NUMBER #1 #1 H I G H E S T S H A R E O F R E N E WA B L E E N E R G I E S I N G R O S S F I N A L E N E R GY C O N S U M P T I O N I N E U [1]

#1 M O S T E C O I N N O VAT I V E E U C O U N T RY [2]

#1 S U S TA I N A B L E COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

[3]

1# L O W E S T I N D U S T R I A L ELECTRICITY PRICES IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPE

#1 S U S TA I N A B L E DEVELOPMENT REPORT

[4]

#1 G L O B A L C L E A N T E C H I N N O VAT I O N I N D E X [5]

CARDBOARD

75%

GLASS

93%

PLASTIC EXCL. PET

Recycled vs. target 65%

Recycled vs. target 70%

Recycled vs. target 30%

49%

SOURCE [1] Eurostat 2020 [2] Eco-innovation index 2017 [3] Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2019 [4] Sustainable development report 2019 [5] The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2017

climate heroes

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climate heroes

photo: leif wikberg

HITTING TARGET BEFORE DEADLINE Sweden was the first European country to meet the renewable energy targets for 2020 set by the European Union, eight years before deadline.

(Eurostat, 2018).

Industrial symbiosis SWEDEN HAS SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVES IN PLACE TO S U P P O R T S U S TA I N A B L E O P E R AT I O N S

Sweden is rich in industrial symbiosis networks, feeding heat into residential homes, turning gas into biofuel, wastewater into fertiliser etc.

S W E D E N I S O N TA R G E T T O R U N E N T I R E LY O N R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y BY 2040

“Eco-innovation is a key component in Sweden’s national environmental policy strategy and the country is in the forefront in developing new technologies in areas like bioenergy, smart grids, green building, waste and recycling, green vehicle technologies, water resource management, ocean energy and solar power. Sweden has also shown that it is possible to combine economic growth with a decreased carbon footprint. (…) As a new long-term climate goal, Sweden will have no net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2045.”

THE EUROPEAN COMISSION

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the future of food

Circle of life A closed-loop system where tomatoes and rainbow trout support each other – and are the solution for both food shortages and environmental pollution. It sounds like science fiction but here in the High Coast, it is reality.

And now, Peckas Naturodlingar in Härnösand is preparing to sell their concept on the global market. text: albin grahn photo: ludwig grundström

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the future of food

“On average around the world, it usually takes about 200 litres of water to grow one kilo of tomatoes.

We use about five percent of that” Daniel Brännström / Runs Peckas Naturodlingar

T H E E N O R M O U S greenhouse on the outskirts of Härnösand is surrounded by plastic manufacturers, car yards and furniture stores. The long rows of tomato plants suggest that this is just another largescale plant nursery, but something entirely unique is happening here.

The idea came about in the 1990s when fish farmer Per Erik “Pecka” Nygård saw the environmental problems his conventional fish farm was causing in the sea. Food waste and fish excrement were contributing to the over fertilisation of the Baltic and consequently a decline in the water environment.

So he asked himself: Would it be possible to use all this nourishment for something?

The solution was to move the fish farm on to land and lead the rich wastewater to a hydroponic plant nursery. In the nursery, tomato plants absorbed the nourishment in the wastewater and then the water was filtered before being led back to the fish – for the process to start all over again.

The only thing that is added is organic fish food, oxygen and a small amount of new water. “ PECK A” TE S TE D his system for many years before deciding it was time to take the next step in 2013. Entrepreneurs Daniel Brännström and Hugo Wikström jumped at the idea and in 2015 the company Peckas Naturodlingar AB was founded. With his in-

vestors behind him, Pecka built a large plant in Härnösand and began the next stage.

“I felt that this was too good of an idea to ignore,” says Brännström.

Pecka is still active in the company, and his hand-drawn, schematic diagrams of the closed-loop system from 1996 are among the first things that Brännström shows visitors to the plant. The environmental advantages of the closed-loop system are many. All the nourishment in the system is used, nothing is released back into nature.

And reduced water use per tomato is another big win.

“Even with specifically aimed watering of tomato plants, a lot of water is wasted around the plants. On average around the world, it usually takes about 200 litres of water to grow one kilo of tomatoes. We use about five percent of that – ten litres,” says Brännström.

T H E I R T O M AT O E S also need less nourishment than conventionally grown tomatoes – so much less that other growers can be worried about “starvation food”, says Brännström. But it works. The tomatoes are just as red and delicious as all the other tomatoes.

“Closed-loop systems are special, something happens that can’t really be explained.”

Pecka’s concept is environmentally friendly in so many ways: Nothing is dis-

charged into the sea, and it uses very little water and added nutrition. Today, organic fish food from a Danish producer is used, but through his producer organisation, Peckas is researching a new, sustainable alternative.

“Insects, yeast protein and bacteria biomass are some of the new raw materials that are in the test food in small quantities,” says Brännström.

TO M ATO E S M A K E U P the main part of the company’s production and sales, and they make up about 90 percent of the company’s income. Before entering the tomato nursery, all visitors have to go through a lock where hands and shoes are disinfected. In addition to the normal routines in place for food safety, these measure are in place to protect the nursery from a tomato virus that can be found in several places in Europe. If the virus should make its way into the nursery, Pecka would be forced to start again from scratch.

Outside the secure nursery, there is a lot of activity. One of the directors is welcoming international guests. Interest in the concept is impressive and each week the company is contacted by hungry entrepreneurs who want to get going with the concept right away. So far interest has been mainly from Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, but even from further afield.

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Brännström and Peckas Naturodlingar AB have been waiting for the right time. They want to be able to show a complete, largescale operation – and the time is almost here.

F U R T H E R I N , contractors are working on an extension to the fish farm. The company employees, about 30 people, are busy taking care of all the different jobs around the place. Many of his workers came to Sweden as refugees in 2015.

“In countries such as Syria, people still have good knowledge and experience of how to grow vegetables. Our production leader Marwan Samaan comes from a family that had 2000 tomato plants in Syria. When he

started here, it wasn’t the first time he had looked after a tomato plant, you could say!”

Brännström disappears into one of the offices and is gone for a minute. Some urgent issue has arisen and needs his attention. When he comes back, he is on a kick bike, which gives the real feel of a start-up company. And that is exactly what Peckas is today. After the initial big investments made for the greenhouse and technology, the company is working on fine-tuning the system and now with the help of artificial intelligence, they are optimising the growth of both their tomatoes and fish.

The goal is to be able to sell a complete, well-functioning concept with both the

the future of food

hardware and software being part of the deal, including computer systems that will simplify cultivation and make it possible to provide support for the system remotely.

Recently, the company opened its own fish hatchery as well so it is self sufficient for juvenile fish.

“Now that we have completed our closed-loop system with the fish hatchery, fish farm and the green house, we have a system that is ready for the market. We are currently in discussions with a number of interested parties and I am optimistic that sales will be made. We genuinely believe that this is the food of the future,” says Brännström.

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the future of food

Marwan Saaman works as production leader at Peckas. photo: peckas

Interested in green innovations?

HERE ARE SOME MORE ...

Plant nursery for millions

From waste product to main course

Sundsvall company PlantVation has developed a closed cultivation system for fir and spruce seedlings for the forestry industry. Cultivation takes place over eight floors that are kept at optimal climate conditions all year round. The result is that all of two million plants can be cultivated in just 100 square metres of space, and by the time twelve months have passed they are the size of two-year-old seedlings. Energy and water use is kept at a minimum. The system is already being used by forestry company Holmen, and PlantVation is now looking at scaling up their idea both in Sweden and internationally.

At RISE Processum in Örnsköldsvik, researchers have developed a method of manufacturing protein from forestry waste material. Now the researchers are taking the next step to make fish food from the single-cell proteins that have so far been produced.

The background is that fish farming is expected to become more and more important in the future and the need for fish food is increasing. With the help of food made from twigs, branches and other waste products from the forest, fish farming will become more environmentally friendly, primarily due to the demand for fish food made from fish and soy flour being reduced.

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talented people - nina thelin

Nina Thelin Stringo is the world’s leading manufacturer of vehicle movers, with a client base that includes Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota and Tesla. Founded in the village of Nyland in Kramfors Municipality, northern Sweden, the company has expanded and opened branches in both the USA and Japan. Recipe for success? “Passion and focus: We are the only company in the world that only makes vehicle movers,” says Stringo’s CEO Nina Thelin. The company’s High Coast origins are imprinted on Stringo’s DNA, and this can be said of Nina as well.

Tell us about yourself!

“My father is Göran Fahlén, the founder of Stringo, so the company has been part of my life since I was born. I started working here in 2006 and became CEO in 2015. I live in Salsåker in the High Coast and have two children.”

What is the role of your job in your life?

“Growing up with Stringo has naturally made it a big part of my life. People start and run companies for different reasons, and no reason is better than any other. My father is very engaged in the community, you can say he is a real local patriot, and running Stringo means that we see every job opportunity here in Kramfors as important. My passion for the company can, however, mean that the boundary between work and private life can get a little blurred.”

What is the best part of your job?

“Feeling like I am part of a team, and that we are heading somewhere together.”

When you receive visitors from abroad, how do they experience the High Coast as a place to live and work?

“They are usually surprised that we are based in a rural area. We supply a world-leading product and we work with the big guns in the car industry such as Volkswagen, Ford, GM and Toyota. And they think that it is fantastic that we are so close to nature – that we can put on our cross-country skis at the door and off we go. It also becomes quite obvious that our culture of freedom, trust and flexibility is quite unique. Sometimes they can be a bit overwhelmed by it! We are not just colleagues, we really care about each other.”

photo: peder sundström

Nina Thelin Lives in: Salsåker Age: 38 Job title: CEO Works at: Stringo

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at the cutting edge of ai

Digital twins make industries smarter Artificial intelligence (AI) has countless advantages and possibilities. At present, AI is impacting our everyday lives, and in the future machine learning will mean it will play an even greater role.

Sundsvall-based company Calejo is at the cutting edge of AI research with a focus on optimising industrial processes. text: sofia göth

T H I N K H OW M U C H a computer can do already today. So what will it be able to accomplish in the future? We are all aware that computers are going to play an increasingly important role in our lives as they become even more intelligent.

AI is the intelligence demonstrated by computers and machines. Put simply, the aim is for computers to be able to manage tasks for us.

The advantages of AI are many. For example, AI technology can analyse large amounts of complex data in a flash and we can also create robots where the geographical positioning is of little importance. And with this comes new jobs.

In 2018, the Sundsvall-based company Calejo was founded. It may seem like a very young company but it has hugely competent and experienced owners; Carl Johard, Johannes Holmberg, Jonas Berggren and Leonard Johard. The latter is considered to be one of the world’s most prominent experts in the AI area of Reinforcement Learning. Johard has developed several patents at the cutting edge of AI research, one of which involves grey box modelling of digital twins for industrial processes.

“AI as a technology is only important if it is applicable, and this is why so few AI solutions have found earlier success in the industry. A digital twin, whose input is not updated with constantly changing and

ongoing industrial processes, is not of any use to anyone. We have solved this problem with our version of grey box modelling.

With Calejo Optimize, our customers get an actual mirroring of current processes and can create future prognoses and make necessary adjustments for optimal production from quality, sustainability and profitability viewpoints,” explains Johard.

TH E D E V E LO PM E NT of this is moving forward, but it takes time.

“We have realised that the industry’s digitalisation maturity is not as far ahead as our research. Caution is a barrier to investing in test pilots. And now with the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen a definite difference between ambition levels and attitudes towards digitalisation in the industry.”

Interest in the model is good and customers can be found in the mining, energy, water/wastewater and forestry industries.

“We are currently working with traditional processing industries, but we have also dived deep into the area of Smart City Logistics. We are in the early phases of a project where we will build a digital twin for the entire forestry process, from logging to processing timber. With Sweco we are also helping several Swedish municipalities better understand and manage their water/ wastewater systems. We have also noticed

that the automobile industry has a growing interest in us. Our technical solutions are generic and can be applied to all industrial processes.”

R E S E A R C H E R S A R E often looking far into the future, and the team at Calejo is no exception.

“In five years we will have established a firm foothold in Europe and started upscaling in other parts of the world, in particular Asia, North America and Latin America. We are growing with the help of our strategic partners who include technology, IT and technical consultancy companies.”

Today, about 20 researchers, serial entrepreneurs, industrialists, and automation and marketing experts make up the team.

Operating in Västernorrland comes with a range of benefits – from a good business climate to a strong footing in the international forestry industry.

“The Sundsvall region has a fantastic entrepreneur and business climate and for us here it feels obvious that we will stay in the region where we were founded. It is the perfect size and in close proximity to necessary contact areas. Everything is easy in Sundsvall. We have received a lot of help from BizMaker, Almi and Norrlandsfonden and on top of this, the region is a strong base for the international forestry industry,” finishes Johard.

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The datacenter industry is responsible for a large proportion of our global annual energy consumption. Yet the general public is not generally aware of the emissions caused by binge-watching TV series or attending video conferences. When reality hits, our region will be ready with our excess capacity in the form of available land and an abundance of 100% renewable energy. text: malin wiklund

The green solution for the datacenter industry

green data revolution

high coast invest [ 47 ]

green data revolution

high coast invest [ 48 ] invest

data revolution thegreen high coast of sweden

Consumers are making more conscious choices I N V E S T M E N T A N D D E V E LO P M E N T H U B Node Pole carries out annual studies of consumers’ attitudes towards companies’ climate actions and policies. Their latest study found:

9 10

75%

WOULD CHANGE TO A COMPANY THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS REDUCING THEIR IMPACT ON THE CLIMATE.

UP TO 72% OF PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO PAY MORE FOR A CLIMATE-FRIENDLY PRODUCT/SERVICE.

OUT OF

WE AR E LI VI NG in a world that is just getting more digitalised, with activities that are stored and processed in datacenters and server rooms all around the globe. Today, data storage is responsible for over two percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and three percent of the planet’s energy consumption, and these numbers are growing rapidly. Increases in energy use that might have normally been seen over a year are now being measured over just days. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the changes it brought about with regards to the masses sitting about at home streaming data, datacenters’ energy consumption was expected to increase to approximately ten percent of global annual energy consumption by 2030.

However, it seems that the lack of awareness among consumers of the climate effects brought about by data storage is due to ignorance rather than disinterest. In their work to establish more green datacenters, High Coast Invest is collaborating with consultant company Node Pole to simplify investing in energy-intensive industries in Sweden. And it has been seen in Node Pole’s annual global consumer survey that

CONSUMERS SEE COMPANIES AS HOLDING T HE HIGHES T RESPONSIBILI T Y FOR SOLVING T HE CLIMAT E CRISIS. 51% OF RESPONDEN TS SAW COMPANIES AS HOLDING T HE HIGHES T RESPONSIBILI T Y WHILE 41% BELIE VED T HAT POLI T ICIANS DO.

Node Pole’s CEO Patrik Öhlund. photo: paulina holmgren

awareness is increasing. In their most recent survey, as many as 88% of respondents stated that they would seriously consider changing to an Internet provider that is working to combat climate change.

“This places more pressure on national and international companies. At the same time, companies’ own awareness is increasing regarding the way they manage their data and how this does actually affect the environment. This has made them see that they have to make changes to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions,” says Node Pole’s CEO Patrik Öhlund.

M O RE A ND M O RE cloud-based companies are investing in fossil-free alternatives. Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Google have all chosen Sweden for a number of their large investments, which has led to a 14% annual growth rate of the datacenter industry. The reasons behind their move to Sweden include access to suitable and well-priced land, the cold climate, the well-developed fibre network and remote heating/cooling systems, the green electricity and the fact that Sweden has the lowest electricity prices for the industry in the entire EU. “Digital infrastructure needs to be more climate smart. Datacenters that are investing in sustainability give us hope for decreasing the amount of fossil-fuels used in the IT branch. Sweden is good at this. And I have to say that this part of Sweden is leading the way with its sizable sustainable energy supply located right in the heart of Swedish electricity production. Our network is built to supply heavy industry with power and it has been proven to be reliable,” says Mikael Aamisepp, Director of Investment at High Coast Invest.

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“Companies own awareness is increasing regarding the way they manage their data and how this does actually affect the environment.”

Patrik Öhlund / CEO, Node Pole

IN O R DE R TO G IV E a competitive edge to power providers who meet strict demands for energy efficiency, have low carbon dioxide emissions and use 100 % sustainable energy, Node Pole is offering a certification for green datacenters called Fossil Free Data.

“One of the criteria for our Fossil Free Data certification is that providers are working to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, and this is facilitated by establishing plants in northern Sweden.

Another example is a system that makes it possible to reuse any heat produced such as our publically accessed remote heat system,” says Patrik Öhlund.

By offering datacenters the possibility of becoming certified, Node Pole hopes to create a transparent standard for sustainable data and increase the incentives for companies to invest in fossil-free datacenters. A number of datacenters in Sweden are now certified, the most recent being GlobalConnects datacenter in Sätra.

High coast invest has the knowledge and understanding of the demands placed on a site for establishment and

has worked with developing the region’s attractiveness for many years. Today, there are several attractive sites, such as both Greenfield and Brownfield.

“We are ready to help datacenters become more environmentally friendly, with green electricity and natural cooling systems for servers all year round. Investing in sustainability is both cost effective and future safe,” says Mikael Aamisepp.

SEE HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FOSSIL FREE DATA CERTIFICATION AT: W W W.FOSSILFREEDATA.COM. ALL APPLICATIONS ARE EX AMINED

BY A THIRD-PART Y CERTIFICATION PROCESS BEFORE BEING ACCEP TED

data revolution thegreen high coast of sweden

high coast invest [ 50 ]

meet the local entrepreneurs

The investments

that keep giving Three entrepreneurs that fuel each other. Three high achievers who never sit still. And also three people with endless knowledge of how Skuleberget can be lifted to a new level and become Sweden’s leading outdoor destination. Meet Tero Libell, Fredric Wedin and Jerry Engström, all with companies that generously provide for nature lovers in the High Coast. text: malin wiklund photo: höga kusten destination, ludwig grundström

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meet the local entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs of Skuleberget

“A N YO N E C A N B U I LD a bigger shopping mall or an even cooler rollercoaster.

But we have Sweden’s most beautiful nature and that will never change. Skuleberget is just getting higher every year thanks to the constant land uplift, we have a phenomenal archipelago and the E4 highway makes the area easily accessible for visitors. Everything we are doing to give them even more reason to stop here are investments that will pay for themselves in the long run,” says Fredric.

And investing is what these three entrepreneurs have done. Fredric runs Naturscen Skuleberget located at the foot of the mountain, where his company Verkställande Byrån organises concerts featuring top Swedish artists. On the other side of the highway, he has Skuleberget Havscamping, a seaside holiday park, and he also has several rental properties with rental apartments in the nearby town of Docksta. Tero together with colleague Latte Eklund runs Europe’s largest Via Ferrata climbing facility with climbing routes of varying difficulty located on the mountains steep eastern slopes.

And Jerry runs holiday park FriluftsByn where outdoor enthusiasts can stay and take part in countless activities, adventures and festivals – including dining at Skulebergets toppstuga, the restaurant at the top of the mountain with views to die for.

W H AT D O T H E E X I S T I N G three entrepreneurs think of the big investments in the area being made by Kramfors municipalitythat include a new chairlift and mountain bike trails?

“I have always gained energy from others who also want things to happen. We were pretty much all on our own in investing in outdoor activities here in Skule, but when Fredric and Jerry arrived in 2013/14 we could change it up a gear and work to attract visitors together. And now we are changing it up another gear, says Tero who broke all previous records with his almost 400 climbers in a day this year.”

Jerry agrees.

“When there are lots of us wanting similar things, it creates a sense of security. It is an important signal that Kramfors municipality and other stakeholders are now investing in

Big P l a ns f or Sk ul eberge t KRAMFORS MUNICIPALITY, together with local stakeholders from within Höga Kusten Turism – High Coast Tourism, has big plans to develop Skuleberget into one of Sweden’s best outdoor year-round destinations. A brand new chairlift to the top of the mountain, downhill mountain bike trails and other infrastructure are all part of the project. If all goes according to plan, the developments will be completed by the spring of 2022. The project has a budget of SEK 38.5 million (approx. ¤3.8 million) and is funded by

Skuleberget and local tourism. It gives us a clear direction in our work as a destination and I wouldn’t be surprised if we have up to five new entrepreneurs setting up here within the next twelve months. As for my plans, I’m going to extent our restaurant at the top of the mountain and work hard to attract more conferences.”

ALL THREE EMPHA SISE the value of the local population in the Docksta area having a positive attitude to both their own developments and the municipality’s planned ones. The same day as the large SEK 38.5 million (approx. ¤3.8 million) project was announced, the DBTK released the news that they would extend the local school with a new kindergarten wing.

“For a long time, the people here have understood the connection between local business and, for example, a new school extension, better public transport options and longer opening hours in local shops.

They aren’t just along for the ride either, they are keen to help out in rain or shine when needed. This makes life as a business owner so much easier”, says Fredric who has plans to invest in boat charters from his seaside holiday park next summer so visitors can take themselves out into the archipelago.

Kramfors municipality and the High Coast Destination Development team have received a lot of praise for their bold move.

“The municipality paves the way for us as business owners. In particular when it comes to granting resource consents, they are very

the municipality together with EU Structural Funds, Region Västernorrland, High Coast Destination Development Inc. and Docksta Table Tennis Club (DBTK). This investment into the area will open new opportunities for others who are interested in investing in tourism in the High Coast, as well as for those who are already involved in the tourism industry in the region. It has been estimated that the project will bring about SEK 20 million (¤2 million) annually to Skuleberget and the greater High Coast region.

solution focused. And High Coast Destination Development Inc, and Höga Kusten Turism work hard to increase the attraction of the area and the number of visitors finding their way here. And we are so happy to join them on this journey,” says Tero.

W H E N J E R R Y, Tero and Fredric are given the chance to dream about future investments in the Skuleberget area, it is clear how easy it is for them to put thoughts into action. Instantly a discussion breaks out where the next trails for mountain biking can be put in and what location would be best for year-round accommodation and a hotel.

Everything that supports activities during the period April – November is prioritised, they say. For this reason, they would also welcome a big investor here who would benefit from the modern chairlift in the winter and support it with snowmaking that would be able to ensure snow for the ski season and make it longer. Jerry summarises: “There is a lot left to do and a whole new season to explore! We have already noticed how the demand for accommodation has increased, both due to people moving here and increased visitor numbers. When the new lift and mountain bike trails are ready and new entrepreneurs and the three of us add more events and activities to the yearround calendar, this demand will increase further. So anyone who is interested in being part of making Skuleberget Sweden’s number one outdoor attraction – the timing has never been better!”

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meet the local entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs of Skuleberget

“We will bring the world to Docksta” New products are constantly being developed within the walls of the soon one-hundred-year-old Docksta Sko shoe factory. And leading the way is Lisa Edin – entrepreneur and CEO with a passion for sustainability and diversity.

“We will take Docksta to the world and bring the world to Docksta. In all senses of the concept. Thanks to all our different people and their diverse perspectives, we can build this business and make it successful,” she says.

text: malin wiklund photo: marlene nilsen

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meet the local entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs of Skuleberget

T H E R E I S A LO N G craft tradition in the High Coast area. For a couple of decades during the 20th century, this region was the country’s shoe center with about a dozen shoe factories. Docksta Sko is true

photo: leif wikberg

A N E W P R O D U C T I O N line for accessories in the form of clothing and homeware, collaborations with known Swedish fashion designers, new slipper models and an even better webshop with an improved payment method. These are just a few of the things in the pipeline for the shoe company, which, despite having 70 stockists, has 85% of their turnover coming from sales directly from their own outlets – their webshop and their modern factory store in Docksta, at the foot of Skuleberget.

The store has made Docksta Sko one of the High Coast’s prime attractions and Edin has definitely noticed an increase in tourism in the region.

“This summer, I think that every single visitor to the area stopped by our store.

We get all types in here, from families to business people to adventurers.”

Multi-million-kronor investments are being made at the moment to make Skuleberget Sweden’s primary outdoor destination by 2022, and this will benefit Docksta Sko as well,” according to Edin.

“The new ski lift and ski slopes are an investment for the autumn, winter and spring.

This is likely to lead to visitors coming here all year round, and then they will visit us as well. We are really busy during the summer, but in the winter we are pretty quiet in the factory store. The investments made locally give us the confidence we need to stay here in Docksta.”

Lisa Edin, CEO Docksta Sko.

to its long tradition of making shoes by hand and continues to do so from local, durable materials such as linen and leather.

“Today, 90–95% of products on the Swedish market are imported and there is very little variation. We want to keep building on our tradition of making products by hand. For me, sustainability is about both practicing responsible production methods and making products that last a long time. We have an extra eye on our material choices and the techniques we use, which means that we almost never get any of our products returned,” says Edin.

D O C K S TA S KO also has concrete experience of integration and diversity leading to growth. This not only concerns craftsmanship, but also personal development.

“Half of our employees were born outside Sweden. Thanks to their experience, we have learnt an enormous amount about different techniques and materials and we have come into contact with shoe producers all over the world. It is great to come in here in the morning and hear different languages being spoken! And all the different life stories we hear give us a healthy perspective on life here. Our employees

have access to Swedish language classes and we make sure that they and their families are okay both here at work and at home,” she continues.

T H AT D O C K S TA S KO is welcoming in the world also means that they would like to see more businesses establishing themselves and making investments in the area, such as seaside hotels and high-class restaurants. Edin thinks that the basis for this kind of investment is already in place.

“The sea bay of Docksta is one of the most beautiful inlets in the country, with enormous potential. We have top quality kayaking, hiking and climbing right here.

The one thing I miss is something to draw in all the families with young kids that pass by. We need an alternative like a seaside hotel and a really good restaurant down by the water.”

Edin points out that the whole area will jump onboard when someone decides to invest.

“Docksta has a high number of businesses based here. There are many experienced business people here ready to give help and advice. The network of entrepreneurs, organisations and private people who are there for each other is invaluable! I think that those of us who have taken a chance and invested here – and succeeded – inspire others. We are in an upwards spiral right now and we need to take advantage of that!”

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6

sustainable products from the high coast

CARRY SUSTAINABILITY OVER YOUR SHOULDER ...

Bag makers Sandlund/Hossain have two head offices: Härnösand in the High Coast, where founder Anders Sandlund’s family has run a tannery for four generations, and Dhaka in Bangladesh, home to the second founder, Tulin Hossain. Production is carried out responsibly and sustainably and the bags are of exceptional quality.

… OR ON YOUR BACK Fjällräven in Örnsköldsvik revolutionised schoolbag fashion back in the 1970s with its classic backpack Kånken. The company, that has been working with sustainability and recycled materials for many years, has now taken things a step further. High Coast Rolltop 26 is an everyday backpack with its main fabric made from 100% recycled nylon.

HAND SANITISER FROM THE FOREST Cleantech company Sekab in Örnsköldsvik reacted at record speed to Covid-19 and converted some of their forest-based ethanol to hand sanitiser. A first limited series of 250 litres of hand sanitiser was delivered to the local health care in less that a week.

INCREASED MOVEMENT WITH PERMOBIL Permobil produces state-of-the-art wheelchairs and has the vision of seeing everyone in society leading full lives and meeting their full potential. With a high focus on quality and the end user’s needs, Permobil sets the highest standards for safety, performance, and reliability and has the ambition to always exceed their user’s expectations.

ABSOLICON MAKING THE BEST USE OF ENERGY With help from their solar energy system, Absolicon wants to solve the world’s energy problems. Solar collector T160 can power industrial processes with temperatures of up to 160°C and has the highest ever measured optic efficiency of commercial products of its kind – over 76%.

PLACING VALUE ON FOSSIL-FREE ALTERNATIVES Organofuel has developed a range of green high-tech solutions to transform biomass into sustainable products. By using green catalytic technology, they have found cost-efficient ways of producing not only biofuel, as the company’s name suggests, but also fine chemicals and materials from renewable starting materials.

sustainable in style

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recycling for the greater good

Rocco Oil in Ånge is pioneering a new method of recycling and re-refining used oil. The method gives oil an almost infinite life and has a number of advantages; the primary one being reduced environmental impact. The factory will be running at full capacity before long, marking the beginning of an exciting journey with new operations and new job opportunities.

“We will put Ånge on the map,” says Hans Lejdebring of Rocco Oil Sweden.

Re -refining industrial oil in A u n i qu e recyc ling system

T H E CO M PA N Y was founded in 2018, with a clear plan to establish a processing plant for sustainable lubricating and hydraulic oils. But the journey has not been without its difficulties.

Finding financing was challenging.

“We decided to focus on local investors who have a connection with Ånge, who want the best for the community. It was harder than we first thought but after some time we secured some investors with a background here and they led the way for others.”

Three of them are elite ice hockey players Emil and Elias Pettersson and their father, the latter of whom is Torbjörn Pettersson, now the company’s CEO. “When well-known international football trainer Lars Lagerbäck also chose to back us, it felt like we had the capital we needed to get started. We all have the same vision

– to put Ånge on the map with this unique cleantech solution.”

T H E I D E A I S B U I LT on sustainable technology and a circular business model.

Companies can rent oil, and have it cleaned, re-refined and delivered by Rocco Oil Sweden. The re-refined product is not yet on the market but interest in it is substantial among production industries, the forestry industry, mining, machinery manufacturers and timber mills.

“We notice that when we work with large companies, they listen. At the same time, no one has done this before so it can take a bit of convincing.”

The method has a vast number of advantages, both in the short and long term. Recycling and re-refining oil costs less than purchasing new oil and clean oil reduces wear on machinery. But the biggest advantage is something entirely different.

“Our absolute foremost driver is the environment and our goal to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Normally, used oil is burnt, but instead we take it, clean it, re-refine it and recycle it so it can be used again – it’s a process that greatly reduces emissions.”

The company has seven employees and before long they will be recruiting more.

“We could never have dreamt that we would be able to do so well with finding the right people. We have had a lot of help from Ånge Municipality and the Trade and Industry Agency. In a small town, people help each other out and are more likely to work together with local businesses,” says Hans and continues: “It is such a good place to start a business. Decisions are made

photo: leif edh/ljunganbladet

T H E Å N G E - B A S E D company Rocco Oil Sweden is investing large and aiming high.

“This can develop into something really big, says Hans Lejdebring, who, along with the company’s owners and investors, sees great potential in the product.”

In 2021, the factory will reach full capacity with re-refining and selling industrial oil on an exclusive Swedish licence from the SKF-owned cleantech company RecondOil. The factory in Ånge is currently the first in the world to re-refine industrial oil to its original quality. The new method they use is revolutionary in many ways and more factories are being planned, both in Sweden and abroad. At the time of writing, Rocco Oil Sweden is negotiating to open two more factories in Sweden.

Hans Lejdebring, Marketing and sales at Rocco Oil.

quickly, there is plenty of land available, an excellent supply of electricity, a wellestablished railway network and last but not least, competent personnel.” Å N G E M AY B E little in size, but it is a player on the world stage. This is something that Hans and his family found out when they moved back after many years of working abroad.

“When the kids were small we chose to move home for the quietness and here in Ånge we can still work in an international environment.”

This kind of background is shared by many of the employees at the company.

They make up a loyal team that sees a good future in the region.

“It is great here and we plan to stay! Good competence will choose to stay here if there is a good quality of life. You don’t actually need the highest salary in the world, there is so much more on offer here – living costs are extremely low, for example. Money isn’t everything, and of course our investors will get their cut. But we are doing this to drive development, and to contribute to the local schools and community activities in the region.”

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#1

RENEWCELL PLANS TO BUILD A NEW FACTORY IN ORTVIKEN

#2

HOCKSJÖN’S WIND POWER PROJECT REVIVED

#3

#4

#5

#6

recent investments

Renewcell is a Swedish company with a self-developed process for the chemical recycling of textiles that was used by fashion giants such as H&M and Levi’s in their collections in 2020.

Within two years the company wants to produce its own recycled material on a large scale and the plan is for a new factory to be built at the SCA paper mill in Ortviken, just outside Sundsvall. Renewcell has signed a multi-year rental agreement with SCA and the new factory is expected to open in 2022. It will be able to process 60,000 tonnes of textile waste each year – which is equivalent to half of Sweden’s annual consumption of textiles.

The land and environment court has granted an extension on the start date for Hocksjön’s wind-power project east of Sollefteå. The decision means that preparations for the construction of the wind-power park have resumed, and the plan is for the park to be operational by December 2022. The number of wind mills will be in the range of 23 to 25 and the park is expected to produce approximately 450 GWh of renewable power annually – the amount needed to supply about 90,000 households. The wind park will be connected to the EON power grid and on to Svenska Kraftnäts new main grid station. The investment made is approximately ¤160 million.

CLARION BUILDS NEW HOTEL IN SUNDSVALL Nordic Choice Hotels continue to invest in Sundsvall and in the spring of 2021 a new Clarion Hotel will welcome its first guests onto its premises. Ground was broken in March 2019 for the company’s third hotel in the city. “I feel honoured that I was given the chance to transform what was possibly Sweden’s best located parking lot into the city’s new meeting place and Sundsvall locals’ new living room”, commented Nordics Choice Hotel’s founder Petter A. Stordalen. The hotel, which is located in Norrmalm in Sundsvall, will have 540 beds, a conference and banquette hall and a spa and fitness centre.

METSÄ BOARD INVESTS IN FOSSIL-FREE OPERATIONS Metsä Board owns the Husum factory outside Örnsköldsvik and plans to invest ¤300 million into converting it to be entirely fossil-free by 2030, with a new re-covery boiler and turbine.

The project is expected to double power production based on sustainable biomass and a pulp mill that will produce 80% of the electricity needed to run the factory. Metsä Board has applied for a change of environmental status before going ahead with the investment and is expecting a decision before the summer of 2021.

SCA CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE REGION In 2019, the world’s largest needle-sulphate pulp mill opened in Östrand after an investment of ¤780 million. The investment has doubled production capacity and the mill is now a world leader with regards to quality, cost efficiency and environmental impact. SCA is also investing ¤60 million into its timber mill in Bollsta where a new grading unit that is used for sawing timber will replace the current one in the middle of 2022. This investment will give the company the possibility to increase its competitiveness in the long run and continue working towards the goal of producing 800,000 cubic metres of cut timber each year.

DIGG HAS MOVED TO SUNDSVALL The Agency for Digital Government – DIGG – has been given the task of coordinating and supporting the digitalisation of common platforms. The Swedish government has decided to locate the agency in the High Coast, which will further strengthen the region’s already strong position in the IT and digitalisation sectors. DIGG is working to increase the speed in which the public sector’s digitalisation takes place by developing building blocks, principles and services that help other public departments with digitalisation. The agency will also ensure that digital public services are accessible to everyone.

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recent investments

From a new factory that recycles textiles, a revived wind-power project and new hotels to large investments being made by Metsä Board and SCA – new ventures and exciting projects abound in the region.

A few of many

Investments

in the region

#7

CONCEPT HOTEL FOR HERNÖ GIN IN HÄRNÖSAND Hernö Gin is going ahead with plans to build a destination and concept hotel at Kanaludden in Härnösand. The Municipal Executive Board in Härnösand has decided to approve an order with the company stipulating that the hotel will abide by the newly passed zoning plan of the area. The hotel will follow the concept of Hernö Gin, one of Europe’s most awarded gins, and will have approximately 120 rooms plus conference facilities, a restaurant and bar and offer guests a holistic experience. It is to be located right on the sea and the total amount invested is thought to be in the area of ¤12,5 million.

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fun facts about

1

NO.

OUR REGION IN FULL BLOOM! The world’s northernmost tulip festival is held each year in Sollefteå.

the high coast of sweden

A WINTER SPORTS MECCA In the 2018 olympics, 9 of Sweden’s 14 medals was won by an athlete who was either from the region or lived and trained here.

AN ACQUIRED TASTE The local delicacy baltic fermented herring, appreciated by so many, was invented by chance in the 1500s when a shortage of salt prevented fishermen from conserving the herring in the traditional manner. Today, almost one million cans of the delicacy are produced every year.

OH SO PRET T Y! The High Coast has Sweden’s most beautiful nature according to the readers of magazine Sveriges Natur (Sweden’s Nature). Also, Härnösand was voted one of the top three best summer towns in Sweden 2020.

CENTRE OF AT TENTION Flataklacken – the geographical center of Sweden is located in the region.

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the high coast of sweden

THIS IS WHERE FORSBERG’S MAKE IT BIG GET HIGH WITH US The famous High Coast Bridge, with a total length of 1,867 metres, was opened in december 1997.

The suspension bridge is one of sweden’s highest constructions – it towers a dizzying 182 metres above the river’s surface.

A SIGNIFICANT SITE The High Coast was designatedby Unesco to World Heritage Site 2000. In 2006, the World Heritage Site was extended to include the Kvarken archipelago.

The region has fostered several famous professional athletes, and coincidently many of them share the last name Forsberg. Ice hockey player Peter Forsberg, often referred to as one of the best NHL players of all times, was born and raised in the region, as were Biathlon star Magdalena Forsberg, soccer player Emil Forsberg, NHL goalie Anton Forsberg and sky runner Emelie Forsberg. As far as we know, none of them are related.

photo: leif wikberg

Welcome to the region that runs on clean energy and breathes fresh air. This is where sustainability is a natural way of living – and of running businesses.

h i g h c o a s t i n v e s t, s w e d e n

@hc_invest

h i g h c o a s t i n v e s t. c o m

@highcoastinvest