Smart City Sweden showcasing Swedish sustainable urban solutions

Since 2018, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has been running Smart City Sweden – an investment and export platform designed to help increase Swedish exports of sustainable solutions.

IVL is operating the Smart City Sweden platform on behalf of the Swedish Energy Agency. Through a secretariat, IVL handles all visitor requests, manages the communication work and helps visits to progress to business deals. Smart City Sweden showcases the best that Sweden has to offer when it comes to smart and sustainable cities. The goal is to inspire others and promote Swedish exports.

Five regional offices that receive visitors, seven authorities contributing expertise within their specific areas as well as Business Sweden are also included in the assignment. More than 100 sites right across Sweden are linked to the platform, a number of which can be visited virtually.

DIGITAL INVESTMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC The business has been adapted to the circumstances during the pandemic, with a digital Smart City Sweden being launched in March. Since then, the platform has had hundreds of digital visits and has run webinars with more than 2,000 participants in total. They have come from every continent, with countries such as China, the Netherlands and Canada at the top of the list. The delegations have widely varying areas of interest – everything from energy efficiency, transport and waste management to social sustainability and digitalisation.

As part of the digital investment, Smart City Sweden has produced a film presenting Swedish solutions for more sustainable cities. Webinars have been held in a number of areas, while virtual tours have provided visitors with a 360° view of some of the wonderful examples that Sweden can showcase.

VISITS TURNED INTO EXPORT DEALS Through Smart City Sweden’s operations, the level of cooperation between Sweden and other countries has increased and several Swedish companies have moved a step closer to business deals. An initial feasibility study regarding waste in Colombia, a return visit relating to smart electricity grids in Germany and a feasibility study on sustainable transport solutions in Morocco are just a few examples of visits over the past year that have led to further business dealings.

ABOUT SMART CITY SWEDEN

In progress: 2018-2021 Financed and coordinated by: Swedish Energy Agency Business partners: Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova, Business Sweden, Swedish Transport Administration, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Lantmäteriet, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, Ministry of Finance, Business Region Gothenburg, Sustainable Business Hub, North Sweden Cleantech, Dalarna Science Park, Cleantech Östergötland, Swedish Cleantech