The future is electrified Vattenfall and Volvo Car on strategies for meeting the increasing demand for electrification on a global scale.
Reinventing the timber industry SCA and Stora Enso on new technologies, biofuels and future skylines made of wood.
LINK Dedicated to the Swedish-British business community since 1906
“Instead of being informational, make it inspirational” Ciaran O’Malley, Trustly, and Steve Edge, Steve Edge Design, in conversation on disruption and innovation.
No.349
Swedish games lead the way Sweden is a global hotspot for the games industry, but how can the Swedish game wonder be explained?
The LINK
ABOUT
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the United Kingdom is the ultimate business platform for Swedish and UK businesses. We help businesses establish, grow and develop, through our wide range of business services, matchmaking, events and programmes. We represent some 400 businesses, from start-ups, to SMEs, unicorns and large multinational corporations, from across all sectors and industries. Founded in 1906 - by business and for business - we have connected the Swedish-British business community for over a century. Join us today, if you haven’t already.
SCC PATRONS
THE LINK ISSUE 349 Editors: Jonas Eklund, Sara ApĂŠria and Hedvig Astberg Cover photo: Renz Andres
NOT A MEMBER YET? Visit www.scc.org.uk or contact us on +44 (0)20 7224 8001 / info@scc.org.uk
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LINK
DEAR MEMBER
2020 will be a time for strengthening the relationship between our two nations A new year is upon us, and perhaps more so than usual, it feels like an opportunity for a fresh start, the dawning of a new time. Sweden and the United Kingdom have a longstanding history of trade and friendship and signed a treaty of commerce and friendship already back in 1654. Swedish businesses have been present in the United Kingdom for centuries and have contributed to the UK economy, as have British businesses in Sweden. Today, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce represents some 400 businesses, and Swedish companies and investments create 100,000 job opportunities across the breadth of the country.
launched our mentorship programme for young professionals, and introduced a brand new training programme on understanding Swedish and British business cultures. We introduced new platforms for businesses to meet across the North Sea through the Swedish-British Summit, bringing together 200+ business people and influencers, and a reciprocal dinner in Stockholm in the summer. We strengthened our business service offering, with more talent, and more time to support with matchmaking, market entry and educational visits. We’ve focused on providing value, and will continue on this journey in 2020. Let us know what you’d like to see more of.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce has always respected the decision made by the people of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. It is a matter for the British people. Swedish business and industry hopes to continue building on our very close and special relationship in the future.
Brexit will naturally be a part of the conversation in the new year. It feels suitable to quote Winston Churchill: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” With a withdrawal agreement agreed, dusted and ratified, the important future trade relationship comes into focus. 2020 will be a year of negotiations, discussions and further UK-EU interaction. It is also a time for strengthening and articulating the strong relationship between our two business communities.
That special relationship has been in focus when we reflect on our accomplishments over the last year. We launched an accelerator programme for Swedish tech in partnership with the Swedish Agency for Economic Growth and the UK Department for International Trade and a mentorship programme connecting Swedish start-ups with the London-based investment community. We launched a new and more user-friendly website, and a fresh Link magazine focused on the people behind our member businesses. We welcomed 8 new patrons and 65 new members, all adding to the diverse network we take pride in representing. We re-
In this issue of the LINK, you will hear from a number of successful entrepreneurs and businesses in the community, and we will listen to how some of our members and industries are tackling the sustainability challenges posed to us all through climate change. Happy reading, and I hope to see you all in 2020.
Lastly, the network continues to grow, and we are happy to welcome the following new members in this issue: Deligate, Edulution, Enigio Time, Påmind, Railway Metrics and Dynamics and Wastefront. Also, a warm welcome to our newest patrons Donnelley Financial Solutions, Quinyx and Securitas.
Peter Sandberg, Managing Director Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK sandberg@scc.org.uk
SCC TEAM EVENTS AND PROGRAMMES
MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY
Finance and Operations
Carina Dios Falk, Events and Programmes Manager Anna Dahlqvist Thuresson, Scholar Philip Rask, Intern
Sofia Larsen, Membership and Community Manager Henrik Barkman, Scholar Emilia Nordin, Intern
Peter McNamee, Financial Controller
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Business services
Contact us
Jonas Eklund, Marketing and Communications Manager Sara Apéria, Scholar Hedvig Astberg, Intern
Anna Crona, Business Services Manager Madeleine Hjalber, Scholar Baltsar Lindgren, Intern
Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK Sweden House, 5 Upper Montagu Street, London W1H 2AG +44 (0)20 7224 8001, info@scc.org.uk
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Don’t just hope for a better future. Plan for one. What does the future look like for you and your loved ones? We are all about helping you achieve your aspirations, and we acknowledge that everyone has a unique set of challenges. That is why we are genuinely committed to understanding you and your ambitions for the future. To find out what we can do for you, contact Helena Whitmore or Daniel Wikehult on +44 (0) 20 7246 4225 or privatebanking@seb.co.uk
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB sebgroup.com/privatebanking
This publication is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a financial promotion. Our London contacts are available to introduce you to the Private Banking network in SEB, but Private Banking services such as asset management are not provided from the UK and therefore any contractual relationship will be with the SEB entity actually providing such services. Please be aware that the value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance. Future returns are not guaranteed and a loss of principal may occur.
CONTENTS THE LINK • ISSUE 349 • FEBRUARY 2020
Community Brexit Support Bronte Aurell at SCC member Scandikitchen, initiated Buns’n’ Brexit to help EU citizens apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.
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Ahead of the curve since 1873
Scientific breakthroughs don’t happen in a vacuum
As Atlas Copco celebrated 100 years in the UK, we met with Kevin Prince, General Manager and Director at Atlas Copco Power Technique UK & Ireland, to discuss innovation in a changing world and how the company continues to stay ahead of the curve.
Professor Ole Petter Ottersen, President of SCC member Karolinska Institutet on the importance of collaboration across borders and sectors.
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Pages 17-18
Max Martin Takes on London’s west end
stop chasing and start attracting investors
Meet Count Bertil Bernadotte
Shakespeare’s masterpiece Romeo & Juliet gets remixed with music by Swedish producer and songwriter Max Martin in the new musical &Juliet.
Jenny Tooth, UK Business Angels Association and Malin Holmberg, Target Global, on how early stage businesses can break through the noise and start attracting investors.
Last December, Count Bertil Bernadotte was presented the Extraordinary Member Award 2019, at the Chamber’s Annual Christmas Luncheon.
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IN THE LINK 20 YEARS AGO “We have just entered the so-called IT epoque, we are thrilled and excited about it and think that machines can do everything. They cannot. They need us and must always be complemented by the human touch.” These were the words of then Chairman of the Chamber, in the November edition of the Link in 1999, Issue No 193. Since the turn of the century, IT and technology have progressed. With the evolution of technologies such as AI, one can question if machines of the future need to be managed by people in order to evolve.
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2020 Vision
2020 Vision
the future is electrified
Entering a new decade encourages greater thinking and ideas about the future. Together with SCC members and peers from the network, the Link will look to the future of business, tech and society.
Fuelled by a growing population, urbanisation and a united fight against climate change, the demand for electrification is increasing on a global scale. Stewart Dawson, Managing Director and Carolina Escudero Concha, Business Development Manager at Vattenfall Networks, uncover the promising opportunities of electrification and Kristian Elvefors, Managing Director at Volvo Car UK, reveals the hidden potential of the electric car industry. BY: SARA APÉRIA
Throughout the history of modern society, electrified technologies have come and gone. The previous waves of electrification have largely revolved around moving the transport and energy sector forward, resulting in revolutionary inventions like lightbulbs, washing machines and electric high-speed trains. In contrast, the next wave sweeping business and society is the development of electrification, decarbonisation and renewable
resources. Corporations are increasingly realising the value of electrifying their businesses to reduce the carbon footprint. “That fits exactly with our vision of becoming fossil free within one generation. Starting this year, we are getting more enquiries for the electrification of domestic and commercial sites,” says Stewart Dawson at Sweden’s largest energy company, state-owned Vattenfall.
Kristian Elvefors, Managing Director, Volvo Car UK. Photo: Volvo Car UK.
”Our aim is to drive full electrification faster than other industries”
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In pursuit of a climate neutral future Vattenfall describes electrification as an essential force in pursuit of a sustainable future: “It is definitely a key enabler for minimising climate impact, if we make sure that electricity is generated from fossil free resources and fosters sustainable innovation,” says Carolina Escudero Concha. For example, Vattenfall undertakes a number of projects to decarbonise the heavy transport industry, which is one of the biggest polluters globally. “In order to reach a net zero in carbon emissions and meet the demands of society, we must make significant changes,” says Carolina. A bit of a pioneer in the automotive industry, Volvo Car is working towards ambitious sustainability goals. “The debate about fossil fuels, climate change and sustainability are affecting the car industry as well as other industries. Our aim is to drive full electrification faster than other industries,” says Kristian Elvefors. Essentially, Volvo Car strives towards becoming climate neutral across its entire value chain by 2040 – a decade ahead of the well-established Paris Agreement Goals. “We believe that it can be a competitive advantage to be ahead of any agreements, as well as to regard sustainability and environmentally friendly products as a key factor to success.” In addition, the automotive manufacturer highlights the importance of educating consumers on sustainability by providing tools to lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle. “A central challenge is to educate the consumer on how to drive an electric car, how to charge it, how to reduce one’s energy consumption when driving and how to use it in an optimal manner,” says Kristian. Adapting towards electrification and innovation Recently, Volvo Car redesigned its business model in alignment with innovation and electrification. Most importantly, Kristian stresses the importance of focusing on customer demands in terms of mobility, ownership models and how customers will use the car in the future. Volvo Car recently launched a subscription service in Germany and in the Netherlands, in which cars are ordered and paid for online on
LINK
2020 Vision
Parc Cynog Wind Farm is Vattenfall’s wind farm located in Wales. Photo: Vattenfall.
a monthly basis. He describes the service as a hassle-free and all-inclusive product, which stems from customer demand. Kristian explains: “It is super important to develop what the consumer wants and to test the ideas in order to see whether they are successful or not.” Volvo Car also operates a research programme for the recycling of parts of the car and the usage of sustainable materials in the manufacturing process. Vattenfall is adapting its power grid in order to meet the increasing demands for electrification. Stewart describes: “To manage to go from a centralised power system for consumers to a more decentralised system with smart grids, that is where we see our expertise and experience coming in to help decarbonise and grow our business.” Thereafter, focus should be directed towards the implementation of
”Electrification can no longer grow linearly; it needs to be a fossil free exponential growth” sustainability, as well as the development of suitable solutions for customers in a rather complex energy landscape. He states that if the integration of the decentralised energy sources is efficiently and smartly managed, then this could mitigate the need to increase the capacity of the network. Collaborations across industries To Vattenfall, collaborations and partnerships are fundamental for business and a variety of cross-industrial partnerships have been initiated over time. Particularly, it focuses on partnerships aimed at transforming services that are associated with fossil fuels, such as the steel and heavy transport industry. It entered a joint venture with LKAB and SSAB, aimed at employing hydrogen. Hydrogen is produced from electricity from renewable resources and
is used in steel-making processes to produce fossil free steel. Using hydrogen as a fuel can significantly decarbonise society, by reducing carbon emissions from industry, transportation and heating. In the automotive industry, it has partnered with local transport authorities for an extensive project called eRoadArlanda, developing an e-road for electric trucks to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and with Echandia Marine on operating electrical ferries in the Stockholm Archipelago. “We know that we need to work with suppliers that are cutting edge in innovation, in order to find the best possible solutions for our customers,” says Carolina. Collaborations across industries is an essential key to success for Volvo too. “It is vital to collaborate with different industries, as you cannot afford to do all the developments yourself in the future,” Kristian says. He highlights a project in collaboration with Google, which aims at optimising the internal communication system within the cars through effective GPSsystems. “This main product will have a large and positive consumer impact. Similar projects are performed with UBER, self-driving cars and taxi companies. Looking forward, such collaborations are very good for our future development,” says Kristian. Challenges and obstacles In the quest of pursuing a fully electrified future – and indeed often businesses – there are challenges and obstacles that both Vattenfall and Volvo Car need to overcome. First and foremost, Volvo Car faces a challenge when transforming a traditional method of manufacturing into a new way of building cars. “When operating in traditional industries, you need to be disruptive and challenge the old patterns, whilst adapting to new ways of working. If you are not bold or disruptive enough to do the change, you will end up in trouble,” says Kristian. In specific, the automotive industry faces two practical issues that crave innovative solutions; how to replace combusted engines and how to ensure that the batteries of electrified cars easily and conveniently can be charged.
Stewart Dawson, Managing Director, and Carolina Escudero Concha, Business Development Manager at Vattenfall Networks. Photos: Vattenfall.
the UK National Infrastructure Commission estimates that £20bn of investment are needed from now until 2050. Hence, a central challenge for Vattenfall is to greatly increase the efficiency of the network through essential investments, without increasing the costs for the consumer. “At the end of the day, the consumer wants a cost-effective power supply. We cannot spend billions of pounds investing in this and expect the consumers to pick up the costs,” says Stewart. The future of electrification In alignment with the increasing pace of population growth, urbanisation and globalisation, Kristian predicts that the future demand for transportation solutions will remain high. However, he stresses that the intensifying need of mobility in combination with the increasing customer demand for sustainable solutions, will result in the emergence of environmentally friendly transportation options, such as the electrified car. “In the future, we will still want to see things and use transportation as a tool for living, but we will do it as sustainably as possible. The electrified car will have substantial importance in this development,” Kristian says. For Vattenfall, the demand for fossil free electricity is going to face a paramount increase in the near future. Carolina concludes: “We recognise that climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Electrification can no longer grow linearly; it needs to be a fossil free exponential growth.”
In order to transform the traditional power industry into a more flexible energy system,
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2020 Vision
This is The World in 2020 Since 1994, The Economist releases its vision and predictions for the year to come in the annual “The World in…” report. Daniel Franklin, Executive and Diplomatic Editor of The Economist, shares his views on the most influential highlights of The World in 2020. The US presidential election “There are some pretty big events in the year ahead. Clearly the United States election is going to be the political drama that will dominate the year and fascinate the world, right through to November.” Brexit “There was a lot of uncertainty in the years following the referendum, but the election in December clearly gave Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party a very strong mandate. Brexit is happening but it doesn’t end the story of what Brexit really means Daniel Franklin, The Economist. in practice. 2020 is going to be a crucial year for negotiating trade deals, both with the European Union and with other countries, particularly the United States. We will still be in a transition period, where bigger changes won’t kick into effect.” Prospects for the UK and Europe “It’s not going to be a fantastic year for the UK economy, but probably a respectable year by other European standards. Europe in general is
not growing very strongly at the moment. It’s the United States that has the more dynamic economy.” Climate change “The 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow is important because that’s where countries are supposed to present their national targets of how to reach the Paris targets. We have the Greta effect and the question is whether these activities at corporate, national and international levels, remain mainly talk or whether it translates into really significant action.” Decade of the “Yold” “The demographic of baby boomers is reaching retirement age, and it’s the biggest ever generation of that age group. We are calling it the decade of the ‘Yold’, the young old. This is going to be the most active, the fittest and richest cohort of that time. They are going to be shaking up labour markets for example, have a big impact on spending in all sorts of areas, particularly travel and experiences, and they will be influential politically as well.” That one thing they got wrong over the years “The one that sticks out in my memory when I look back, is the year 2008 and my article that year was headlined ‘About 2008 – sorry’. We had missed the global economic crisis which came along. That teaches you to be rather cautious about the whole predictions business.“
THE SOCIETY OF SWEDISH ENGINEERS IN GREAT BRITAIN Svenska Ingenjörssällskapet i Storbritannien utlyser stipendium till en svensk THE SOCIETY OF ingenjör för studier i Storbritannien
SWEDISH ENGINEERS IN GREAT BRITAIN
Svenska Ingenjörssällskapet i Storbritannien (SIS) erbjuder ett stipendium till en ung, motiverad och driven svensk ingenjör, som planerar eller redan studerar i Storbritannien på en doktorand eller på magisternivå (PhD eller Masters). SIS bildades 1924 för svenska ingenjörer aktiva i Storbritannien. SIS har sedan bildandet delat ut stipendium för att möjliggöra studier och forskning för svenska ingenjörer på brittiska institutioner, inom alla ingenjörsområden inklusive kemi, el, mekanik, arkitektur, data, geologi, medicin och miljöteknik. Stipendiet SIS stipendium för 2020 är på £5000 (fem tusen pund). Ansökan Din ansökan skickas till Per Olof Emaunelsson på chairman@swedishengineers.org.uk, och skall vara SIS tillhanda senast 17 april 2020. Ansökan skall inkludera CV, namn på det Universitet/Institution i Storbritannien där sökanden studerar eller kommer att studera vid samt ett personligt brev om hur stipendiet skall nyttjas. www.swedishengineers.org.uk
LINK
IN CONVERSATION
In Conversation on
Disruption & Innovation WITH STEVE EDGE & CIARAN O’MALLEY In conversation is a feature series – and podcast – where members of the Chamber network meet and discuss ideas and explore different perspectives on a joint challenge. In this issue, Steve Edge, Owner and Creative Director of Steve Edge Design, and Ciaran O’Malley, Head of Commercial Strategy at fintech company Trustly, talk about disruption and innovation, the opportunities and consequences for business, and how to navigate a world in constant change. BY: JONAS EKLUND
Steve: I have a brand and design agency. We have been in Shoreditch for over 35 years. We brand all things, because, a bit like this podcast today, it’s about shaking up the establishment, bringing difference and finding difference, but true difference. Companies come to us from all over the world, whether it’s branding the America’s Cup yacht, or branding a very old established company. It’s about finding difference and making sure that, that company is successful. Ciaran: I’m Head of Commercial Strategy at an innovative payments company called Trustly. We’re headquartered in Stockholm and we’ve
been growing across Europe ever since 2009. Trustly takes all the hassle out of making online purchases and allows you to buy straight from your bank account, without a card. It’s simple, safe and secure. Looking for “new” Steve: Disruption is very interesting for me. It’s about change. When we discuss disruption, we assume that it’s a new concept and discuss it as a new phenomenon. Actually, it has always gone on. How did they build the pyramids without disruption? To build such a gigantic, distinct structure with no precedent is disruptive. Disruptive and,
in turn, innovative. Innovation comes from disruption, it’s about creating and finding something new amongst all that change. What’s interesting about innovation is that it’s about finding change and something distinctly new. So, we’re looking for ”new” when it comes to innovation and disruption. The two go hand in hand. What the customer wants Ciaran: I want to pick up on that “hand in hand” point. I look at disruption and these changes perhaps a little differently and they are really interesting things to observe. If you focus on just disruption there is a potential you won’t achieve anything. What we need to chase is customer obsession. We’re trying to solve something that the customer wants or needs, but they may not fully understand how to solve it. You solve it in a new and very simple way. Then you get disruption. You solved a problem and delivered change. Steve: You have to have a reason. If we look at true disruption, usually what comes out of the disruption is something you didn’t think was going to happen. If we look at disruptive companies such as Facebook, it was designed with certain objectives in mind, but in the end, it is achieving something completely different. All companies say that they’re different. They all want to be perceived in the market as different; offering a different approach, offering new products and ideas. But do they really believe they are offering something so new? And if they are, are they comfortable with it? Because disruption brings change and change can be good, but it can be disastrous. A great example of that is Coca Cola, in the turn of the century. It sold brown sugar water, and guess what, everybody nicked it globally. Everybody was selling Coca Cola. And the only way for Coca Cola to really control it was to disrupt it. They did it by creating the Coca Cola bottle, that was expensive to produce, difficult to
Ciaran O’Malley and Steve Edge at Steve Edge’s design studios in Shoreditch, London. Photo: Renz Andres.
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IN CONVERSATION
Steve Edge, Owner and Creative Director of Steve Edge Design, and Ciaran O’Malley, Head of Commercial Strategy at Trustly. Photo: Renz Andres.
make, but they knew that would be the power of their brand. Coca Cola had their lion’s share and today we love that Coca Cola bottle. Non-linear change Ciaran: It’s about having non-linear change, not just doing more of the same thing you have been doing. I look at phones as a great example. We were in a place in 2005/2006
“If you focus on just disruption, there is a potential you won’t achieve anything. What we need to chase is customer obsession” Ciaran O’Malley
where phones were getting a little bit more powerful year by year. They all had keyboard, they were all much of the muchness and they just got a bit funkier each time, but it was always in the same way. Then, all of a sudden, out pops the iPhone and it was such a different way of solving problems. As a consumer I looked at it and thought that I’d never buy one, because it didn’t have a keyboard – and I loved a keyboard. But as time moved on, that disruptive technology allowed me to do things I really valued, that I never imagined would be solved by a phone. How crazy is that. That’s why I like this idea of not just “linear” movement. It’s something out of step. Your example with the Coca Cola bottle had almost nothing to do with the taste of the product. But actually, it does, as we know the brand affects people’s perception of taste. But at that time, they probably
didn’t realise how important such a non-linear change would be. Steve: It’s always about having a goal, as you say. Regardless of the brands around the world, it’s for us to look at finding difference. Everybody has a great story to be told, but they don’t tell it. They don’t sell it in a way that is innovative or exciting. There is always too much information. Instead of being informational, to bring about difference, make it inspirational. People want to be inspired, to be around inspiring people and get excited by inspiring companies. Keeping it simple Ciaran: It’s so funny how you’re focused on a completely different end of the spectrum, what motivates people to make a purchase or use a brand. For Trustly, it’s all about simplicity. It’s about saying ”let’s not get in the way of the experience you’ve worked so hard to create, with clumsy payments”. What they need is a technology that allows them to move money from their bank account, into the merchant or service provider’s bank account, with as little fuss as possible. They just need simplicity. To that end I think, one of the great innovation areas we’re experiencing, which will allow people to spend less time doing functional things and more time doing things that inspire them, is the ability to prove who you are through identity technology. If I can easily prove by a fingerprint, or face id, that I have the money, I can get on with enjoying what I paid for. Steve: It’s exactly that. We all want a simple life. Nobody’s got time anymore. We see everybody on the underground on their iPhone, and nobody makes eye contact. It’s an interesting world we are living in and we have to embrace it. At the end of the day, you can still get back out in the woods, make a fire, smoke your pipe and look at the stars.
Rounding up Ciaran: From my side, what has been really interesting, is how you [Steve] help people with disruptive products, or a way of innovating, explaining it. It’s so challenging to explain something complex simply, so people really can engage. In general, what I would like people to take away is a positive attitide to technology. It can reduce difficulty in our lives, and allow us to spend time doing things we really love. Steve: I agree. To chat around a table is always good. It’s inspiring and you come away with something that is probably something you hadn’t thought about. When we look at technology and we look at futures, I get very excited by it all. We have to embrace technology, we have to embrace futures, but remember; don’t get hung up on it and don’t let it frighten the life out of you and if it’s too difficult, give it the elbow and move on to something that you could enjoy and use. But above all else, it’s definitely a fun time.
The podcast The conversation goes on beyond what you can read in the Link. Listen in on the whole conversation between Steve and Ciaran at scc.org.uk, on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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OUR WAY OF THINKING PROTECTS YOUR WAY OF LIFE Saab is a global defence and security company, present on all five continents. We are global and international, but remain rooted in Swedish values of trust, reliability, innovation and loyalty. Saab has been active in the UK for over 40 years, delivering advanced defence and security solutions to British Armed Forces and the Emergency Services. This strong relationship has not only improved British defence capabilities, but has also strengthened both Swedish and UK economies, whilst keeping our people and society safe. www.saab.com/uk
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FEATURE
Max Martin takes on London’s West End with new musical The new West End musical &Juliet mixes the pop tunes of Swedish producer and songwriter Max Martin, with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Photo: Watch This Space Entertainment.
What happens if you mix the well-known pop tunes of producer and songwriter Max Martin, with Shakespeare’s classic masterpiece Romeo & Juliet? You get “&Juliet”, the new West End musical with a modern twist, asking what would have happened if Juliet’s famous ending was in fact just the beginning of the story. The Link spoke to Max and spouse Jenny Petersson about the new musical, the global success of Swedish music and the evolution of the music industry. Over the decades, a large number of successful Swedish artists, songwriters and producers have established Sweden as one of the world’s leading music nations. In 2017, the Swedish music industry turned over SEK 10,7bn, an increase of 60% from 2009. In the same period, Swedish music export doubled in earnings, to SEK 2,1bn in 2017. But what is the reason behind the success? “I think there are multiple reasons,” says Max. “One, I believe, is that we have a unique sense of melody. It’s like a mixture between happiness and melancholy that speaks a universal language.” He continues: “It’s great to see that forward thinking and innovation thrives in our country. An obvious example of this is Spotify, but there are many others on the way. I find that fascinating and I think it’s going to keep on evolving. We’re going to continue hearing music all over the world that is created and provided by Swedes.”
Jenny Petersson and Max Martin. Photo: Alamy.
Gives the songs a new meaning Now, as the hits from Max Martin’s music catalogue – spanning over three decades – enter the stage in London’s West End, Jenny recalls how they came up with the idea of creating the musical: “We could see a new trend of musicals. It started as a nineties music idea, but soon evolved to be music from Max’s full catalogue. I think it’s a great celebration of both old and new music and the musical gives the songs a new meaning.” Unexpected combination When Jenny and Max started reading scripts, they were pitched a script by David West Read and as Jenny describes it, they “fell in love” with the alternative story of Romeo & Juliet and what would have happened if Juliet hadn’t died in the end. “The script is thrilling and written in a very clever way. David used the music lyrics brilliantly and it has a feminist tone that we felt was important. It was also unexpected to combine Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet with Max Martin songs. It might look odd on paper, but it really works.” Involved in the whole process Both Jenny and Max have been involved in the creative process, choosing the cast and the creatives, while Max has played a major role in the music and recording the cast album. “We have had great people with a lot of musical theatre experience who have helped us. We are very lucky that we found such talented people who made this all happen,” Jenny says. “One of the greatest aspects of this musical is that David managed to place the songs in a way where it feels like they were written for the story and not the
other way around. It was all David, and we still can’t believe how he did it. He’s amazing like that.” Inspiration for others Looking back at his musical journey, Max credits the public music school system in Sweden for awakening his interest in music. “To me, it was the introduction to the world of music making in a way. The idea of learning an instrument was the beginning for all of this and for that, I will always be grateful. I find it extremely important that society endorses arts in general. It has such an impact on all of us every day and should not be taken for granted. My hope is that my journey can inspire other creators that it’s absolutely possible to do what you love the most on a daily basis.” &Juliet premiered in the West End in November 2019. Learn more about the musical on andjulietthemusical.co.uk.
Max Martin Swedish songwriter and producer Max Martin, is known for hits such as Britney Spears’s “...Baby One More Time”, The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl”. He has written over 20 Billboard number-one hits over the last three decades and has won the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award a record eleven times.
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Feature
Reinventing the timber industry Leading timber corporations – such as SCC members SCA and Stora Enso – have made a determined effort of reinventing the conventional industry in the last decade, by intensively investing in innovation, research and development. Anders Petersson, Innovation Director at SCA Wood and Greg Pickett, Sales Director UK & Ireland at Stora Enso, disclose the main focus of the timber industry’s ambitious innovation agenda. BY: SARA APÉRIA
Photo: Stora Enso
By introducing renewable solutions, SCA and Stora Enso are driving the transition from a society largely depending on the consumption of fossil-based materials to a sustainable future based on bioeconomy. The timber industry is rapidly approaching a future in which anything that is made of fossil-based materials also can be produced from a tree. “The fossil world is about to come to its end. The world needs a new approach to materials, so there is an increasing demand for raw materials that are renewable, recyclable and fossil-free,” says Greg Pickett. As the largest private forest owner in Europe, SCA influences the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in two ways. The net sequestration of the vast and growing forests of SCA amounted to 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2018. Also, the products made of renewable fibre can replace materials, products and fuels with a higher carbon
footprint. “The combined effects are equivalent to a positive climate effect of 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – an amount corresponding to the combined climate impact of all domestic flights and truck transports in Sweden,” says Anders Petersson. Aligning with global sustainability goals For Stora Enso, it is essential to align business operations with global sustainability goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Greg describes: “Sustainability at Stora Enso covers the social, environmental and economic responsibility of our operations throughout the value chain.” Stora Enso contributes by minimising the use of fossil-based fuel at the production units, reducing travelling and using less wood for more products. Similarly, the UN Sustainable Development Goals make up the map of SCA’s sustainability agenda. “We take a holistic approach and base our work on the whole value chain, from forest
SCA runs its R&D centre in Sundsvall in the north of Sweden. The Sundsvall terminal is also the site of SCA’s head office. Photo: SCA.
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resources through our various processes and to our products, used by our customers and often reused, recovered or recycled,” says Anders. SCA recognises that the timber itself has a considerable impact on the possibility of achieving these goals: “Wood is a key component in this value chain, not least by being a climate friendly material from a climate friendly production process replacing materials with a much heavier carbon footprint.” The future skylines are made of wood Timber has the capacity of completely transforming the construction industry as well as the urban development of modern society, according to Greg. “We see a rising global demand for timber, so we aim for future skylines to be made of wood. With timber and massive wood, it is possible to build higher, stronger and lighter than ever before.” The principally engineered wood products of Stora Enso include CLT and LVL – cross laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber – enabling creative and modern architecture from a renewable resource. Another example of an innovative material is the so-called LVL-G, which is 15% thinner than CLT wall panels and therefore adds valuable additional gross internal floor area in the same building footprint. According to Greg, these innovative products are increasingly suitable for pioneering projects around the world: “We believe that we can take market share where existing materials have reached their limits.” For example, Stora Enso has developed massive wooden elements, which replace steel and concrete in high rise buildings and lignin, which replaces phenols in glue and paint. Innovation, research and development With a heritage dating back to 1288, Stora Enso regards continuous innovation as a key to longevity in business. The business spends approximately €150mn annually on projects aimed at research and development. “The significant focus and investment into R&D and innovation is a strategic move aimed at meeting growing urban construction needs and enabling Stora Enso to serve new geographic areas and markets globally,” says Greg. This is
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“With timber and massive wood, it is possible to build higher, stronger and lighter than ever before”
The future skylines are made of wood. Photo: Stora Enso
further demonstrated by the fact that the share of totally new products has increased from 1,5% to 9% of the total sales revenues, from 2015 to 2018. The Stora Enso production site Sunila Mill in southern Finland will start producing batteries from 2021 and onwards. Other recent crossindustrial collaborations include supplying the textile industry with dissolving pulp, as well as having developed a biodegradable straw to replace plastic straws in partnership with the start-up Sulapac. Stora Enso has collaborative projects with Lendlease in the UK and in Australia, for its building concepts with consulting engineering groups such as Scott Brownrigg, Gardiner, JLL and Ramboll. “Our aim is to make the best possible solutions available for our clients – therefore, partnerships with various kinds of suppliers and construction companies are key to our transformation from a sawmill producer to a provider of innovative wood-based solutions,” says Greg. SCA runs its own research and development centre in Sundsvall in the north of Sweden. They too run various collaboration projects, such as with RISE – the industry’s common development centre and Wood Centre North. SCA operates a pilot plant in the Obbola mill in Umeå in the north of Sweden, where black liquor from the kraft pulp process is being used as raw material for green chemicals, such as liquid biofuels – a crucial component in the transition from fossil-based transport to transport fuelled by renewable resources. The process of extracting green chemicals and liquid biofuels from black liquor will be further duplicated in the northern Swedish city of Timrå, where SCA will inaugurate a full scale biorefinery in connection with the Östrand pulp plant. New technologies as a key to success From Stora Enso’s point of view, new technologies in the wood industry result in more extensive design opportunities than ever before. The emergence of new technologies makes it easier for architects, engineers and site managers to design and build with mass
timber. “Our current focus is on ‘end-to-end’ design and delivery with digital tools, which enables site managers to easily and accurately locate panel positioning, and capture site data during the build,” says Greg. It is also developing specialised sensors, which will be able to monitor the levels of moisture, volatile organic compounds, humidity and carbon dioxide during the lifetime of a building. “This means that important performance data of the building can be monitored for further future improvements in building physics design.” There is a surprisingly wide variety of technological methods and equipment in use at the sawmills of SCA, such as complex vision systems, X-ray and laser technology. “The use of technology is important to ensure that we make the right choices as early as possible on how to produce, what products to use and to give the customer a stable and consistent quality.” For instance, SCA extensively utilises innovative technologies in order to deeply analyse the properties of the timber, where after the log is enriched with the required properties. “This will result in completely new possibilities in the future in terms of getting the right properties to the end-consumers. It will be a true game changer, although it may take a while due to heavy investments,” says Anders. The future of the timber industry There will be two main routes defining the future of the timber industry, according to Anders. First of all, there will be an increased industrial building of wood, with a variety of solutions in an increasing amount of countries. Second of all, an intensifying pace of urbanisation will result in a greater customer demand fully finished products, which are low maintenance and entail a wide variety of options. In order to meet the increasing customer demands, SCA is in close dialogue with its customer base: “We need the input and influence from the market and the customers. We must explore what their real demands and needs are.”
Stora Enso has an optimistic view of the future. “Stora Enso’s global position gives us a unique worldview and we can see international trends and attitudes evolving,” says Greg. He states that the company is working at the cutting edge of the switch from traditional construction materials to wood. The trajectory is based on the sustainability agenda of metropolitan cities, as well as the priority from investors to invest in long term sustainable targets. Greg concludes: “Key to the industry’s ability to stay onboard with this trajectory is the need to be open to modernisation and investment in R&D to fully meet the ever changing needs of consumers and the construction industry, especially in terms of digital and design advancements.”
About SCA Founded in 1929, SCA is a timber, pulp and paper manufacturer headquartered in Sundsvall in the north of Sweden. It’s product portfolio includes solid-wood products, pulp and forest-based biofuel. SCA is Europe’s largest private owner of forest and has 4,100 employees, with operations across Europe.
About Stora Enso Stora Enso provides renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. The Stora Enso group has some 26,000 employees in more than 35 countries and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Stora Enso manages converting plants in China, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden.
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FEATURE
How to stop chasing and start attracting investors With an extensive ecosystem of early stage businesses, angel investors and venture capital funds, London has become the epicentre of the European start-up scene. In the midst of this plurality of enterprises, how can entrepreneurs stop chasing and start attracting investors? Jenny Tooth, CEO of the UK Business Angels Association and Malin Holmberg, Partner at Target Global – both speakers at the London Bootcamp 2020 programme – elaborate on how newly established companies validly can break through the noise. BY: SARA APÉRIA London Bootcamp is an accelerator programme that focuses on helping Swedish tech businesses and start-ups to build a presence and connection with London and the UK. “The London Bootcamp programme is a very good way of giving Swedish entrepreneurs an opportunity to interact with investors. It is an ideal way of starting to make yourself attractive to investors, and not be chasing them or being on the outside,” says Jenny Tooth. With two decades of investment experience, Jenny is the CEO of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early-stage investing. Steering in a clear direction First and foremost, early stage businesses ought to develop a deep comprehension of the British market through essential market analysis. Jenny says: “Businesses must be very clear on how they can scale in the specific market. Investors are not just supporting a start-up, but also a potentially scaling business.” Furthermore, an integral strategic move is to establish a strong competitive position. Jenny continues: “It is incredibly important to bring either innovation or disruption to the market, in order to differentiate from the competitors.”
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you, especially during the downs.” In addition, depending on the size of the market capitalisation, either crowdfunding, angel money or venture capital is the optimal access point for investment. Standing out from the crowd In order to distinguish itself and effectively attract capital, Malin means that an early stage business must convince investors of three specific parameters: “It has a solution to a real problem, it is targeting a large market and the team is the best suited to solve this problem and build a global unicorn. Exemplar storytelling and early metrics demonstrating product market fit will catch investors’ eyes.” Jenny stresses the importance of distinctly communicating the rationale behind the business, as well as the personal incitements and passion of the entrepreneur. “It is really good to have a strong story about why you are setting up your business,” says Jenny. Malin agrees on the significant role of storytelling: “It is important to have a clear storyline and to deliver it with passion. A short, clear and inspiring deck shortens the time to get to a pitch meeting, provided that you hit the hygiene factors of a large addressable market and stellar team.”
Prior to joining Target Global, Malin Holmberg was the CEO of Tele2 Netherlands. She has more than fifteen years of experience in telecommunication and over a decade of experience in M&A and due diligence. Due diligence is important for the type of investor that you are seeking. Malin says: “Even the most successful start-ups have ups and downs. It is vital that you have the right people supporting
As a matter of fact, one of the most important aspects of a business is the composition of its team, which according to Jenny must be balanced in two principal aspects – gender balance and balance of team skills. She explains: “I am very keen that there are females in the team that take on strong leadership positions. In terms of skills, we especially look at the capability of the team to move that business forward,” says Jenny.
Jenny Tooth, CEO at UKBAA and Malin Holmberg, Partner at Target Global, will both be speaking at London Bootcamp 2020.
Establishing a local market presence Since geographical proximity facilitates the investors’ capability of business support, Jenny’s recommendation is to establish a local market presence in the United Kingdom in an early stage of business. “To establish here will certainly help you become more interesting to investors, by giving you opportunities to showcase yourself and raise awareness through pitching events,” says Jenny. Besides, a market presence does not necessarily require physical offices or production sites in the market. Jenny explains: “If you are an e-commerce or have a strong presence online, then understanding
Panel discussion at London Bootcamp 2019.
your customers can be completely global.” Alternatively, a wise option is to “hire a local person with insight into the specific UK market and spend a significant amount of time together on the ground in the UK,” says Malin. Early stage businesses can also choose to partner with businesses with existing ties to the British market, or enter softly through an accelerator programme, according to Jenny. “Obviously, the one that the Swedish Chamber of Commerce is running is very valuable. The mentoring programme that is being offered is a good way of getting to meet and know investors.” Strong potential and promising opportunities Fortunately, Swedish businesses have a good reputation and bright outlook in the UK market, according to both Jenny and Malin. “I would characterise them as being quite focused, pragmatic, straight-forward and humble,” says Malin. Jenny agrees on the promising opportunities of Swedish start-ups in the British start-up scene: “I think that the real opportunity for Swedish businesses is first of all to establish the market access across the Nordic countries, as well as having a business that easily can transfer, thrive and grow here in the United Kingdom.”
London Bootcamp 2020 London Bootcamp is a one-week accelerator programme especially designed for Swedish tech businesses and start-ups looking to build a presence and connection with London and the UK. The programme takes place during London Tech Week, 8-12 June 2020, and is now open for registrations. London Bootcamp is a collaboration between the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK and Startup Sweden, in partnership with the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), the Department for International Trade, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency. Learn more on scc.org.uk.
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Feature
Swedish Games Lead the way BY: SARA APÉRIA
Playing games has been a vital part of human civilisation since the dawn of time. As the birthplace of multibillion success stories like DICE, King and Mojang, the Swedish games industry has a strong position in the thriving business of digital entertainment. In this feature, Per Strömbäck, Spokesperson for the Swedish Games Industry, reveals the fundamentals of the sensational Swedish game boom. Swedish trade has historically focused on the export of paper and pulp, raw iron and lorries. According to the Swedish Game Developer Index, the combined annual turnover of the Swedish game industry was SEK19,2bn in 2018, which roughly equals that of these more conventional exporting industries. According to Per, a fundamental key factor to success is the beneficial characteristics of creativity as a raw material, which Sweden has a uniquely high supply of: “Creativity is an unlimited raw material, which has no impact on the climate. The Swedish business journalist Pontus Schultz once said that ‘creativity is the new steel’, and I think that we have proven him right.” A pattern of success Two parallel revolutionary happenings turned the tide and paved the way for the growth of the industry. In 2014, Microsoft acquired Mojang, the Swedish game developer that created the world-renowned game Minecraft, for a staggering $2,5bn. In comparison, the Chinese automotive company Zhejiang Geely acquired Volvo Car for $1,3bn in 2010. “The blocks of Minecraft were surprisingly worth almost twice the cars of Volvo, which really changed the perspective,” says Per. The following year, the true game changer was when Activision Blizzard acquired King, the Swedish developer which famously makes the Candy Crush Saga, for $5,9bn. This deal was the second biggest acquisition in the history of Swedish enterprises at the time. “That really proved that it is not a coincidence – the pattern of success is there.” These iconic acquisitions subsequently opened the eyes of the finance community about the impressive potential of the industry. In consequence, the Stockholm Stock Exchange has become somewhat of a game hub, where an increasing number of both domestic and foreign game companies choose to go publicly listed. “The Stockholm Stock Exchange is one of few in the world that is popular and has the necessary business environment for game companies,” explains Per. Fundamental societal values Examples of nations that have impactful game clusters beyond Sweden include Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States and
Upcoming event Meet Per Strömbäck at the SCC Business Breakfast on 5 March, where he will reveal the secret recipe behind Sweden’s game boom. Register your interest at scc.org.uk.
Japan. Interestingly, there are a few common denominators that enable these countries to provide games on the global market. Per says: “These countries all have a well-educated workforce, computer skills, broadband access, a good political climate in the sense that there is peace, freedom of enterprise and freedom of speech.” Social safety an enabler In addition, the Swedish social safety net is a prerequisite for both the creation of new game companies and development of talent. For instance, Swedish youth can benefit from government-funded education and there are currently fourteen higher educational institutions in Sweden that specifically offer programmes for game development, there among reputed universities such as Uppsala University, Linköping University and Luleå University of Technology.
been developed for a decade. “The UK has always been the role model for the European game industry, but Sweden is catching up fast,” says Per. Looking forward, Per predicts a bright future for the Swedish game industry: “I think we can only blame ourselves if we don’t have continuous success. We have a good education system, Sweden is an attractive labour market and the appetite for playing our games is bigger than we can deliver for. I don’t see any of the important indicators changing anytime soon.”
Today, a valuable success factor of the prosperous Swedish market is its highly active audience and rich culture of grassroot events. To illustrate, the Swedish Youtube phenomenon PewdiePie, with more than a hundred million subscribers, made his first viral videos playing Swedish games like Minecraft and Amnesia the Dark Descent. Also, the Swedish player community is famous for its top-scoring e-sporters, as well as the arrangement of the world’s largest LAN party DreamHack. A bright future ahead According to Per, Swedish games are famous for their attention to details and ambition of quality, whereas the British game industry is known for its pure, sarcastic and somewhat controversial elements of comedy. Per says: “In our ambition to detail and quality, the comedy part is sometimes lost. Looking forward, I think that the Swedish game developers should be inspired by the British sense of humour.” As a matter of fact, the Swedish game industry has ever since becoming a commercial endeavour in the 1990s been inspired by its British counterpart, which had then already
Per Strömbäck, Spokesperson for the Swedish Games Industry. Photo: Henrik Gahnström.
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PATRONS Highlight
Ahead of the curve Since 1873 SCC patron Atlas Copco is one of Sweden’s largest businesses, with the highest stock-market value among businesses headquartered in Sweden, but is still relatively unknown to the general public. As the company celebrated its centenary in the UK, we met with Kevin Prince, General Manager and Director at Atlas Copco Power Technique UK & Ireland, to discuss innovation in a changing world and how Atlas Copco after more than 100 years continues to stay ahead of the game. BY: JONAS EKLUND
When founded in 1873, Atlas Copco started as a manufacturer of products for railways. Since then, the Swedish business has grown to be a global, industrial company providing compressors, vacuum solutions, generators and pumps to industries all over the world. “We are an industrial company and we make equipment that is often tucked away and hidden in factories and on sites. I think people in the manufacturing industry, in the industrial and the construction sector know us, but your average consumer doesn’t,” Kevin says. He often finds himself explaining to uninitiated people what the company actually does: “I always say that Atlas Copco is an industrial company making equipment that pretty much touches every aspect of your life. Whether you go to the dentist, the hospital, have a car or a mobile phone; somewhere, Atlas Copco has touched your life, even though you didn’t know it. Every factory in the world uses compressed air. Whether it is in the process, or in supporting the process through bolting or using air as part of the manufacturing system, it touches everything.”
The patronship The SCC patronship consists of a core group of SCC member businesses committed to supporting the Swedish-British business community. The patronship comes with a range of added benefits – if you would like to know more, please contact membership@scc.org.uk.
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One step ahead of competition When discussing the reasons behind Atlas Copco’s growth and long-lasting success, Kevin’s answer is plain and simple: “There are two main things. The first is innovation. Atlas Copco has always been the innovator, always one step ahead of the competition with the latest technology and ground-breaking concepts, which makes it difficult as a competitor to keep up. The second thing is the absolute commitment to the customer. Atlas Copco has always been a company that has put the customer at the heart of our business. We are there supporting the customer through thick and thin and they know that, and we build close relationships. A hundred years of history proves that.” Exciting time for engineering In a world with rapid technological advancements, how does a large company with a rich heritage like Atlas Copco keep pace with development? “The pace of new product development is clearly ever increasing, and we have to think about how we can reduce the time to market for new products. How do we increase the pace? And how do we look at new technologies for the future that might be interesting? In all of this, it is important to listen to and work with your customers, to hire the best minds you can get and align with universities for academic thinking,” Kevin says and goes on describing the company’s approach to new product development of its business. “We fund the R&D to make a prototype, which takes about three to six months. The prototype is then tested, and if it passes the tests, it is funded to go to serial production. By then, you might have tested three to four prototypes. It’s an exciting time for engineering. There are so many new ideas and concepts that they are playing with. And that is great for attracting graduate engineers to the company.” Working in a Swedish business setting Before joining Atlas Copco, Kevin worked for another Swedish company, SKF, and he shares his impressions of working in a Swedish busi-
Advertisement for “The Swedish Method” from the 1950’s; a drill so light that it could be operated by only one man was a revolution within the mining industry. Photo: Atlas Copco.
ness setting: “I have only worked for Swedish companies. They really care about their people and they really care about the environment. Environmental aspects are now really at the forefront of consumers’ minds, whereas 20 years ago they weren’t. But Swedish companies have always been like that.” Throughout his years at Atlas Copco, he has worked in several positions, in product marketing, sales management and business management, and was given the chance to study for an MBA. “Atlas Copco is really good at giving you opportunities, to grow as an individual and develop your career,” Kevin says and continues: “We usually say that you can go somewhere else and make a lot more money, but would you have as much fun, and would you have the same opportunities? Would you be able to work for a company that is as socially conscious as Atlas Copco and many
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Patrons Highlight
Kevin Prince, General Manager and Director at Atlas Copco Power Technique UK & Ireland, at the centenary celebration at The Shard in London.
other Swedish companies? That is one of the reasons I have stayed.” People at the core For Atlas Copco, the element of its people is at the core, which is embodied through its graduate programmes. “What is really important for the future is to bring more young people to secure the future. We know that our graduates today don’t see it like I did some 40 years ago, there aren’t jobs for life. If you can’t keep them motivated and engaged, they move on. The great thing about Atlas Copco is that there are so many opportunities in the group that they can stay and find that next step in their career,” Kevin says and explains that the company is working actively for diversity: “It’s still a male
dominated industry, but we see that changing. We have a lot of activities and initiatives to promote our company into schools and universities, to both male and female graduates. For example, my management team is 50% female, I think that’s very healthy.” Continued innovation Looking ahead, Kevin believes that the facets that have made Atlas Copco special in the last 100 years, still apply for the foreseeable future. “It is about continued innovation, none of us want to be a Kodak. They never anticipated digital photography. Imagine something happens and you don’t need air compressors anymore. It is not likely, but it could happen. The mindset at Atlas Copco is that there is always a better
way. I think that is a good mindset to have for everything you do. No matter how good you are, you can be a bit better.” And it seems it is this constant willingness to embrace change, that has kept Atlas Copco relevant and ahead of the curve to this day. Kevin says: “If we look at where we started with steam engines and railway equipment, we don’t make any of that today. Change is inevitable, and I think you have to. If you cannot accept change, you’re going to struggle. I think the world of work is changing, technology is ever changing, and innovation is increasing. It’s a really exciting time.”
Atlas Copco’s riveting applications are used in e.g the automotive industry. Photo: Atlas Copco.
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Previous Events
NORDIC CHAMBER BUSINESS FORUM 28 OCTOBER The Nordic Chambers jointly hosted the annual Nordic Chambers Business Forum. The 2019 edition marked the sixth forum and focused on “Investing in Sustainability�. The forum provided the audience with valuable insight from leading actors in the field.
Lars Andersen Resare (SAS) and Mikko Marttala (KPA Unicon)
Astrid Trolle Adams (LOGOS Legal Services)
BUSINESS LUNCH WITH MARCUS SAMUELSSON 15 NOVEMBER This business lunch featured acclaimed Chef, Restaurateur and Author Marcus Samuelsson, who shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey. The event was hosted at Red Rooster Shoreditch and the discussions were chaired by Steve Edge, Owner and Creative Director, Steve Edge Design.
Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster) and Steve Edge (Steve Edge Design)
Peter Sandberg (SCC) and Johanna Kriisa (Kriisa & Co)
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Maria Tamander, Ann-Charlotte Gerdne (Art Concepts London) and Richard Hildebrand (Tandon Hildebrand)
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Previous Events
LINK UP DRINKS AT IKEA 6 NOVEMBER The SCC hosted its fourth Link Up Drinks of the year at IKEA’s Planning studio on Tottenham Court Road to discover creative ideas – from modern, traditional or spacesaving kitchens to smart storage solutions and fitted wardrobes. The event had a Swedish buffet and mocktails.
Peter Jelkeby (IKEA) and Peter Sandberg (SCC)
Sabrina Johnson (Get Around)
IKEA Planning Studio at Tottenham Court Road
LINK UP DRINKS IN MANCHESTER 21 NOVEMBER SCC members were welcomed to the fifth Link Up Drinks of the year, hosted at The Albert Square Chop House in Manchester. This event was kindly sponsored by Fieldfisher.
James Corlett (Fieldfisher), Annette Borén (Hilti and Chapter Chair) and Sofia Larsen (SCC)
Katarina Verdan Olsson (IKEA)
Rickard O’Connor and Mike McDonagh (Sweco)
Tim Hague
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Previous Events
LIFE SCIENCE FORUM 14 NOVEMBER The SCC’s Life Science Forum was hosted at Deutsche Bank, discussing productivity in big pharma, connecting big pharma with future technologies, how the life science venture model had changed and where the investments were heading. The event was generously sponsored by AstraZeneca, Deutsche Bank and the Embassy of Sweden in London. H.E. Torbjörn Solström (Ambassador of Sweden to the United Kingdom)
Some 100+ guests joined
Jan Olsson (Deutsche Bank)
Leif Johansson (Astra Zeneca)
Active Q&A
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Dr Johan Christenson (Healthcap), Ross Hammerman (Deutsche Bank) and Dr Kristina Lagerstedt (1928 Diagnostics)
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Previous Events
BUSINESS BREAKFASTS The Chamber’s Business Breakfasts bring together speakers with tailored and differently composed groups of professionals for roundtable discussions. A selection of the recently featured breakfasts include: 25 NOVEMBER: Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer for TheCityUK. Hosted at 1 Lombard Street. 22 JANUARY: H.E. Torbjörn Sohlström, Ambassador of Sweden to the United Kingdom and Mikael Olai Milhøj, Senior Analyst at Danske Bank. Hosted by Danske Bank. Ciaran O’Malley (Trustly), Erik Berggren (Volpi Capital) and Matthew Jervois (KREAB)
Carina Dios Falk (SCC), Katre Saard (Alpcot), Christian Hvamstad (Jagca Capital), Miles Celic (TheCityUK) and James Randall (Rawlinson & Hunter)
Ulrica Stolt-Kierkegaard (Handelsbanken), Petter Nilsson Wihlbäck (EF) and Pär Roosvall
Brexit Breakfast at Danske Bank
Sofia Larsen (SCC), Neil Cooper (Sweco) and Linda Griffin (King)
Carsten Amdi Jensen (Danske Bank) and Peter Sandberg (SCC)
Tracey Davidson (Handelsbanken) and Ulric Almqvist (Danske Bank)
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Previous Events
SWEDISH-BRITISH SUMMIT: OUTER THINKING 5 DECEMBER With 25+ speakers, 200+ delegates and 6 hours of discussions and networking, the Swedish-British Summit 2019 brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and academics from both Sweden and the United Kingdom, to address the greater trends facing us – from technological revolution and disruption to climate change, the future workforce or global trade – and how to navigate them as a 21st century leader. Sponsored by AstraZeneca, King, Klarna, Saab and Skanska. Drinks reception sponsor: Jämtland Härjedalen Tourism.
Linda Wasell (Jämtland Härjedalen Tourism), Karin Gydemo Grahnlöf and Pernilla Enqvist (Skistar)
Ham Yard Hotel in Soho
200+ guests joined
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (Confederation of British Industry)
Katrina Dowding (Skanska) and Daniel Franklin (The Economist)
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Magdalena Gerger (Systembolaget) and Niklas Nordström
Gabriel Mellqvist (Dagens industri) and Tracey Davidson (Handelsbanken)
H.E. Torbjörn Sohlström (Ambassador of Sweden to the United Kingdom) and Jan Olsson (Deutsche Bank)
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Marie Wall (Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation) and Hélène Barnekow (Microsoft)
Edward Hallett (iZettle), Luke Griffiths (Klarna) and Jessica Barlow (Karma)
Previous Events
Marie Wall, Steve Edge (Steve Edge Design) and Magdalena Gerger (Systembolaget)
Ham Yard Hotel in Soho
Yalena Coleman (Connected Places Catapult), Peter Jelkeby (IKEA) and Katrina Dowding (Skanska)
Håkan Buskhe (SAAB), Linda Griffin (King), Mark Prisk (Former Business and Housing Minister and MP) and Fraser Nelson (The Spectator)
Håkan Buskhe (SAAB)
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Previous Events
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON 2019 6 DECEMBER The Christmas Luncheon has a long history dating back over a century. Today, it is the pinnacle of the business calendar, bringing together some 500+ business professionals from across the Swedish-British community. The Luncheon featured a traditional Lucia procession, firstclass entertainment and unique networking opportunities. Sponsored by Handelsbanken Wealth Management. Christina Liljeström (British-Swedish Chamber of Commerce) and Henrik von Sydow (Carnegie) with guests
Norrsång Choir
Simon Dixon (Handelsbanken Wealth Management)
Count Bertil Bernadotte
Elin Hammenfors (Quinyx), Adine Grate (Skiff Capital Advisors), Jan Olsson (Deutsche Bank) and Patrik Högberg (Loomis)
Mikael Sørensen (Handelsbanken) and PK Patel (Handelsbanken Wealth Management)
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Gunilla Lerenius and Bo Lerenius (CBE)
Magnus Lewis-Olsson (SAAB) and Sandra Reid (SAAB)
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Jan Olsson (SCC)
Sofia Buhlin (Fogel & Partners)
Previous Events
HĂĽkan Winberg and Peter Sandberg (SCC)
Steve Edge (Steve Edge Design) and Gabriel Mellqvist (Dagens industri)
Kristian Elvefors (Volvo Car) and Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist (Swedish Youth Abroad)
Sofia Bressler (Fika Communications), Alex Haddon (IC Design), James Badenhorst, Christer Holloman (Divido Financial Services), Gunnar Larsson and wife
The Grand Ballroom
Pomp and Circumstance with the SCC Team
Anders Fogel (Fogel & Partners) and Jacob Spens
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Previous events
The Ballroom
Rikard Havander and Nicholas Lofberg (Pictet)
Dr Astrid Maria Dahl (AstraZeneca) with Nik Gowing
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Countess Jill Bernadotte and Count Bertil Bernadotte
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UPcoming Events
Upcoming events See more events at scc.org.uk/events Business Breakfast feat. Per Strömbäck, Spokesperson for Swedish Games Industry
Business Breakfast feat. Luka Crnkovic-Friis, CEO at Peltarion
19 Feb | SEB, 1 Carter Ln, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £75 Welcome to this roundtable discussion featuring Luka Crnkovic-Friis, CEO at Peltarion. Luka will discuss the main reasons why organisations fail or succeed when implementing AI into their businesses. Hosted by SEB.
Meet the Swedish press 27 Feb | The Royal Oak, 74-76 York St, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £45 Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to meet, network with and pose questions to Swedish journalists based in the UK. Guests will meet Daniel Alling, Sveriges Radio (SR), Charlotta Buxton, Svenska Dagbladet (SvD), Katrine Marcal, Dagens Nyheter (DN) and Jonas Sverin, Sveriges Television (SVT), and hear what topics the correspondents from some of the biggest Swedish publications cover, how they work and what stories people living in Sweden prefer to read about the UK.
5 Mar | King, 178 Wardour Street, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £75 In recent years, Sweden has become a global hotspot for the games industry, but how can the Swedish game wonder be explained? At this Business Breakfast, Per Strömbäck, Spokesperson for the Swedish Games Industry and Chairman of Nordic Game Institute, reveals the secret recipe for Sweden’s gaming boom. Hosted by King.
Business Culture Course 17 Mar | SEB, 1 Carter Ln, London SCC member price: £96 YP member rate: £54 Non-member price: £288 Are you – or your team members – new to Swedish or UK business culture? The Business Culture Course gives you insights into Swedish and British business cultures and the tools necessary to understand and excel in your workplace environment. Hosted by SEB.
Business Breakfast feat. Kristian Elvefors, Managing Director, Volvo Car UK
18 Mar | Danske Bank, 75 King William St, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £75 Welcome to this roundtable discussion with Kristian Elvefors, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, on the future of Volvo, electrification and how to lead a purpose-driven organisation. Hosted by Danske Bank.
Meet & Pitch: Life Science
27 Mar | TBC, London Are you an investor interested in meeting the next generation of Swedish Life Science tech businesses? At this Meet & Pitch you will have the chance to connect and network with the brightest up and coming Swedish businesses within life science, biotech and healthtech and to listen to Tony Young, National Clinical Director for Innovation at NHS England, presenting on future innovation in the NHS and NHSx. NB: This event is open to investors in Nordic Life Science.
Business Breakfast feat. Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive at British Retail Consortium
8 Apr | TBC, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £75 Join this roundtable discussion with Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at British Retail Consortium (BRC), about current trends and the future of the retail industry in the UK, its transformation going forward and opportunities ahead.
Business Breakfast feat. Tove Lifvendahl, Political Editor-in-Chief at Svenska Dagbladet
6 May | TBC, London SCC member price: £25 Non-member price: £75 Welcome to this roundtable discussion with Tove Lifvendahl, Political Editor-in-Chief at Svenska Dagbladet, on the current political situation in Sweden.
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Young Professionals
Young Professionals Entering a new decade Founded in 1994, the Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce has for more than 25 years fostered the new generation of business leaders from across the Swedish-British community. Most importantly, we are grateful for the loyal support of our members. Without you neither the valuable business and educational events, social networking opportunities nor personal and professional development programmes would ever have been possible. Thank you for being the true essence of the Young Professionals. As we enter a new decade, we are proud to carry on the legacy of the YP to future generations of business professionals in Sweden, the United Kingdom and beyond. We are so excited about all that the future will bring and look forward to developing it together with you. Our very best wishes, Anna, Henrik, Madeleine and Sara Henrik Barkman, Sara Apéria, Emilia Nordin, Anna Dahlqvist Thuresson, Madeleine Hjalber, Aleksandar Trkulja and Erica Möller.
The Power of Non-verbal communication Did you know that about two thirds of human communication are made up of non-verbal communication – intangible signals – which often are way more powerful than words could ever be? On 20 February, the Young Professionals invites you to meet Henrik Fexeus, one of the world’s most famous mental illusionists, to unravel how to master the art of persuasion, influence and negotiation in business and everyday life. Interpret non-verbal communication “It is extremely important. It can be the difference between creating a trusting relationship and losing an important client. We are communicating on the non-verbal level all the time and often the non-verbal message is as important as – or even more important than – the spoken one. If we can interpret it in the right way, that is. For instance, researchers at MIT report that investors make completely different – and much better – investment decisions, after a meeting where non-verbal communication is possible, compared to when non-verbal communication does not take part.” The Art of Reading Minds “We are actually already doing it. The human being is hardwired to communicate feelings, emotions, values and important thoughts via our non-verbal communication. This was an important tool with which we built social groups in order to survive, long before we had any spoken language. And the tools are still there. Unfortunately, we have built a modern world where we do not get enough training in, or opportunity, to use them. So, the first step is to create meeting situations where the use of these tools is possible. The second step is to be aware of what they actually are and use them correctly.” Risks of misinterpretation “The potential outcomes range from small misunderstandings to severe conflicts. When you interpret someone’s signals, that interpretation will influence how relate to them. But it will do so automatically and on a subconscious level. So for instance, if you see that someone is angry, you will think that it is because of you and you will treat them accordingly. Perhaps you get angry, afraid or irritated yourself, which is unfortunate if what you mistook for anger actually was a display of heightened attention, which can look about the same. The other person just had a hard time hearing you and all of a sudden you are acting angrily.”
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Develop comprehension “Again, the tool set is already there – we just need to start using it better. To do that, we need to create more physical meetings so we can both use these tools and get feedback from it. Another really good idea is to actually study our own – and others – behaviour on a conscious level, to see what it is we are doing and what results different behaviours get. And of course, if we want to take a short cut through all that, we can read a book or two on the subject and apply that knowledge to our daily communication.”
Henrik Fexeus, Mental Illusionist and Author. Photo: Daniel Stigefelt.
Learn to master persuasion and influence “First you need to master how to create trusting relationships, as it is much easier to influence someone who is already predisposed to like your ideas. Actually, a lot of persuasion is really about the ability to create trust. You could also learn certain specific gestures in body language and ways of speaking, to influence how others make decisions. But again, those techniques will work better if a good relationship is in place first.”
YP Master class on
Non-Verbal Communication with Henrik Fexeus Join the Young Professionals on 20 February for an evening focused on mastering practices of non-verbal communication with Henrik Fexeus. The event is kindly hosted by Tailify. Learn more and sign up for the event at scc.org.uk.
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Young Professionals
YP ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER 22 NOVEMBER On 22 November, we welcomed guests to the Young Professionals’ Annual Christmas Dinner, hosted at 1 Lombard Street. The celebrations marked the end of the 25th anniversary of the Young Professionals, and brought together both new and loyal friends from the network. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed delicious food, a grand raffle and great networking opportunities. Isabelle Lloyd-Pugh (Goodwille), Louisa Adde (KPMG) and friends
Julia Jonsson (Visit Sweden) and Omar Sheikh (Klarna)
Eric Jakobsson (ExodusPoint), Thomas Arvidsson (V. Group) and friends
MENTORSHIP MEETUP AT DNB 28 JANUARY On 28 January, mentors and mentees were welcomed to the first meetup of the SCC Mentorship Programme 2020. Programme Director Dr Aarti Anhal gave a lecture on the foundations of effective mentorship, followed by an interactive workshop aimed at setting goals and creating an alliance between the mentor and the mentee. The evening ended with a networking session. This event was kindly hosted by DNB. Mentors and mentees of the SCC Mentorship Programme 2020
Speed networking session
Johan Collin (KPMG), Axel Berning (DNB), Maj-Britt Krejcir (SEB) and Thomas Arvidsson (V. Group)
More photos available on social. Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber
ypscc
Young Professionals of the SCC
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Brexit & EU Settlement Scheme Brief 24 February | London
Feature
The Nordic Embassies will be organising an information meeting about Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme open to all Nordic citizens. Learn more at swedenabroad.se.
Community Brexit support After years of negotiations, preparations and many months of delay, the United Kingdom officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020. The long process and uncertainties regarding what a deal or no-deal Brexit means, have caused both Swedish businesses and Swedes living in the UK, their own sets of concern. Luckily, the community has been there to support. SCC member ScandiKitchen’s event Buns’n’ Brexit has assisted a large number of individuals with applications for the EU Settlement Scheme, while the Swedish Chamber of Commerce has provided a platform for businesses to discuss Brexit related concerns and to learn from each other. BY: HEDVIG ASTBERG
EU citizens living in the UK, will need to apply for settlement status in order to stay in the country after Brexit, and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. When Bronte Aurell, Founding Director of ScandiKitchen, was helping friends and coworkers with the EU Settlement Scheme application process, they realised that the need of support was much greater than that, which is how the idea of Buns’n’Brexit was born. “We all felt that having to do something that most perceive to be a negative thing, is best off-set by a warm cinnamon bun, a friendly face and in an environment where nobody feels uncomfortable,” Bronte says. Practical and emotional support Since the autumn of 2019, ScandiKitchen has hosted five Buns’n’Brexit events helping EU citizens to apply for settlement status; both with the practical aspect, such as accessing the application app and scanning passports, and yet more importantly, with emotional support. “People turn up because they want to do their Settlement Scheme in the company of people who care, who can guide and who understand exactly what they’re going through, both practically and emotionally.” Supporting the community The events have had a high turn-out with about 100 applications processed at each event, with each application taking between 10 and 30 minutes. “We are all volunteers who give up our weekends to do this. We feel it is really
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Bronte Aurell, Founding Director of ScandiKitchen. Photo: ScandiKitchen.
important to provide this sort of space with support for people – especially for the elderly in our community and for people who have worries or concerns about their own specific situation.” Deal or no-deal scenarios From a business perspective, there is another set of uncertainties regarding Brexit. One concern is whether there will be a comprehensive deal, some part deals, or no-deal. Peter Sandberg, Managing Director of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, explains the remaining risk of the latter scenario: “There is still a risk of a no-deal Brexit at the end of December this year. A no-deal exit would mean absence of a trade agreement with the EU, and the UK would revert to the rules of the World Trade Organisation with all that it entails, such as tariffs and impact on supply chains and much more. Even a part-deal would impact businesses.” Assess the exposure It is essential for Swedish businesses active in the United Kingdom to assess their own exposure, and what impact a no-deal or other scenarios would have on supply chains or legal contracts: “The concerns your business should have about Brexit depends on your specific situation, your business, your sector, and your exposure. Generally, there will most likely be an impact on for example the import and export of goods and services, data traffic and on the supply and movement of European talent.“ Peter says.
Supporting member businesses “The Chamber is a platform for businesses to meet, discuss, share concerns and to learn from each other. Brexit is one of these platforms, and we have hosted numerous roundtables and seminars in the last couple of years alone. We offer a meeting place and will continue help guiding businesses throughout this process,” Peter says.
Information for businesses Businesses can find help in assessing their business exposure by using the official UK government website, gov.uk/brexit. Visit scc. org.uk/about/brexit for useful information, links and updates, or get in touch with the Chamber at info@scc.org.uk.
Information for Swedish/EU citizens EU citizens need to apply for the UK Settlement Scheme in order to continue living, working or studying in the UK. The deadline for applying for settlement status is on 30 June 2021 with a deal. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal the deadline to apply is 31 December 2020. Find more information on the official UK government website, gov.uk/brexit and on the Embassy of Sweden’s website, swedenabroad.se. Also, see ScandiKitchen’s website for upcoming Buns’n’Brexit events, scandikitchen.co.uk/bunsnbrexit.
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Guest Column
Collaboration across borders and sectors more important than ever PROFESSOR OLE PETTER OTTERSEN, PRESIDENT OF KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET, STOCKHOLM
Whilst it is always difficult to make meaningful comparisons between different countries, it is easy to see what British and Swedish healthcare systems have in common. In both countries the healthcare sectors are characterised by and rely on close collaborations between academia, healthcare providers, industries and patient organisations for development and improvements. As a leading European university, we know that scientific and medical breakthroughs don’t happen in a vacuum: they are born from the exchange and incremental development of ideas through cross-sectoral and cross-border collaborations. Karolinska Institutet is a driving force in realising Sweden’s potential in life science. Embedded in our vision is a wish to bring together and forge stronger links with world leading public and private actors – many of which are found in the UK. We take pride in the fact that we have longstanding collaborations with top universities in the UK, including the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and King’s College in London and the universities in Manchester, York and Edinburgh. Since 2015, close to 5000 scientific publications have emanated from collaborations between Karolinska Institutet and UK. Swedish-British partnerships are pioneering medical research in a broad spectrum of disciplines including oncology, psychiatry and neurology, and in a range of topics within the realms of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
pharmaceutical industry. The aim is to create next generation medicines for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Cross-border and cross-sector collaborations are required to improve the health of people all over the world and to build sustainable healthcare systems. From my different vantage points – as a scientist working with distinguished colleagues in the UK, through my long standing engagement in the European Research Council, and now in my capacity as university President – I have seen how the UK serves as a fulcrum in these collaborative efforts. I am convinced that the UK will maintain and strengthen its role in medical research, no matter what happens after Brexit. The drive towards excellent research and innovation is simply too strong to be restrained by politics. There is no doubt: new and creative solutions for international collaborations will be found in the ecopolitical landscape of post-Brexit Europe. Karolinska Institutet is set to help develop such solutions. My vision is that precision medicine will serve as a major and irresistible unifier in the years to come. In the cancer field we now see how the power of our own immune system can be harnessed for new therapy, and we see
how diagnostics increasingly move into the realms of molecular biology and artificial intelligence. Simply put; medicine is experiencing a transformation that will require and stimulate collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Patients will push for these new opportunities and health providers will embrace them if the costs allow. A major challenge in all this is access to – and sharing of – patient and health data. “Big data” is a key resource that must be handled like any other resource – with due attention to ethics and security. Innovative use of such data is likely to be key to the further development of UK/KI collaborations. After Brexit we will do whatever we can to uphold our collaborative links with Britain and to establish new ones. With our recent investments in research infrastructure, new technologies and health data we have an excellent starting point. SCC member Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. As a university, KI is Sweden’s single largest centre of medical academic research and offers the country’s widest range of medical courses and programmes. Since 1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
Karolinska Institutet successfully cooperates with several pharmaceutical companies. One of our most important partners is Swedish-British AstraZeneca. Established in 2013, the Karolinska Institutet/AstraZeneca Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre (KI-AZ ICMC) represents an opportunity for our academic scientists to collaborate and work with scientists in the
Professor Ole Petter Ottersen, President of Karolinska Institutet. Photo: Erik Cronberg.
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Svenska kyrkan
- din oas i London café
Svenskt kaffe & hembakta kanelbullar, svenska dags- och veckotidningar. Här finns alltid någon att prata med! Fritt WiFi & gästdatorer med skrivare. Anslagstavlor med tips på boende, jobb och vad som händer.
öppettider kyrka & café
Måndag - tisdag 10-17 Onsdag 10-19 Torsdag - lördag 10-17 Söndag 12-15 Gudstjänst söndag kl 11, onsdag kl 19 Söndagsskola & kyrkkaffe Ladda ner kyrkguiden - Appen där du kan se vår kalender och övriga kyrkor i Sverige och i resten av världen
mötesplatser & kyrka
Ung i London, Öppet hus/Stay & play, Syjunta, soppluncher, lunchkonserter, Seniorträffar, föredrag, utställningar. Alla-kan-sjunga-kör, barnkör, kyrkokör, seniorkör. Gudstjänster, dop, vigslar och konfirmandundervisning.
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Telefon 020 7723 5681 london@svenskakyrkan.se https://member.swedishchurch.com Om du är i nöd 07584 054143
Entrance fee £2 Children under 12 years free
på gång:
Mellokvällar 1, 8, 15, 22 och 29 februari samt 7 mars. Entrén öppnar 18.30. Kyrkan öppen 18.00-18.30 för en stilla stund. 6 harcourt street, london W1H 4AG svenskakyrkan.se/london
Notice that buggies are not allowed in the Church due to fire regulations.
svenskträffar utanför london se webben för mer information
www.rivalcolour.com
The future is electrified Vattenfall and Volvo Car on strategies for meeting the increasing demand for electrification on a global scale.
Print in Good company!
Reinventing the timber industry SCA and Stora Enso on new technologies, biofuels and future skylines made of wood.
Swedish games lead the way Sweden is a global hotspot for the games industry, but how can the Swedish game wonder be explained?
LINK Dedicated to the Swedish-British business community since 1906
» The SCC use Rival
“Instead of being informational, make it inspirational”
for printing services – in fact you’re looking at our printing NOW!
Ciaran O’Malley, Trustly, and Steve Edge, Steve Edge Design, in conversation on disruption and innovation.
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A summary of the debates held in the House of Commons by the UK Youth Parliament, 15th November 2013
“Democracy is such a beautiful thing – I want a piece of that” (Georgina Hands, MYP for Lincolnshire Central)
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Feature
Panel discussion during the Business Culture Foundation Course 2019.
Uncovering the differences in business culture BY: SARA APÉRIA With a strong business relationship dating back centuries, Sweden and the United Kingdom can seem to be similar in many respects. However, the differences in business culture can surprisingly be more substantial than expected. Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, CEO of Katapult Partners and Astrid Trolle Adams, Lawyer and Senior Associate at LOGOS Legal Services, are looking forward to sharing their knowledge as speakers at the SCC Business Culture Course. The SCC Business Culture Course aims to highlight the cultural nuances in leadership, negotiation and legislation in Swedish and British work life. Astrid Trolle Adams is looking forward to her participation as a speaker: “I think that it is a fun on-going process, because Swedes and Brits have been doing business for so long.” According to Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, the acknowledgement of the dissimilarities between the nations is essential: “Swedes love Brits and Brits love Swedes, so we sometimes assume that we are more similar than we are. This Business Culture Course can fast-forward your understanding of both differences and similarities.” Power distance and decision-making Principally, the power distance is greater in the United Kingdom than in Sweden. “In the UK, there is more of an obvious power distance, whereas in Sweden it is slight and more informal,” says Elisabet. Moreover, the practice of decision-making is a significant differentiating factor. “Leaders are more often expected to make decisions on their own in the UK, whereas there is an expectation of group decision making in Sweden.” Consequently, a British business professional joining a Swedish workforce must be increasingly prepared to engage in joint discussions aimed at reaching a common consensus. “It is important to get comfortable with the fact that decision-making can take longer, whilst what happens after the decisions tends to go quicker,” says Elisabet. Cultural misunderstandings Prior to entering a new market, Elisabet advises business leaders to carefully scrutinise
the local culture, in order to avoid cultural misinterpretations. Classic examples of misunderstandings are when the British friendliness is perceived as informality, whilst the Swedish directness is misinterpreted as impoliteness. In relation to the British wish of not being too direct, instructions from leaders to employees are often conveyed as suggestions. Hence, Swedish employees in the UK are advised to get comfortable acting on indirect instructions. “Suggestions are sometimes intended to be vague, so that people are given the freedom to choose their specific approach, which can be a cultural mismatch,” says Elisabet. Cultural aspects of legal systems The recognition of how English law differentiates itself in comparison to other countries is fundamental. “I hope that the course participants will have better tools when they go back to their businesses and get a general understanding of how it works in the UK compared to Sweden,” says Astrid. There are various differences in terms of commercial law to be considered. “It is important to know when an agreement is legally binding and imposable, as it can have a great impact on your business relations and activities,” says Astrid. For instance, written business contracts are rather exhaustive in England, which can come off as a complicated procedure from a Swedish perspective. In terms of employment law, English employers benefit from a higher degree of flexibility: “The costs of employing staff are much lower and it is also easier to terminate an employment in the UK.” As a matter of fact, the cultural aspect of jurisdiction is significant. Since Sweden is a much smaller country than for instance the UK or the US, the risk of crossing a counterpart’s path after a negotiation is constantly overhanging. Hence, the atmosphere of a Swedish business setting is relatively soft. Astrid explains: “Americans are the most brutal when it comes to business negotiations. Englishmen appear to be more friendly, but you can still push pretty hard here. Swedes believe that ‘what goes around comes around’ and the avoidance of conflicts can be in the bones of a Swede.”
Elisabet Vinberg Hearn (Photo: Anna Sigvardsson), and Astrid Trolle Adams (Photo: Chris Renton).
Curiosity and humbleness A human tendency is to regard what we are used to as the optimum. On the contrary, Elisabet states that curiosity and humbleness are crucial for cross-cultural collaborations. She explains: “Whenever we meet someone from a different culture, we should be very curious and humble. The more we are open to other ways of doing things, the more doors will open up for people to connect with us.” Elisabet describes that the only way to be successful in another market is to clearly communicate a corporate culture, whilst embracing the other country’s culture too. “The important thing is to recognise that the most successful and multicultural organisations are those that take control of their culture and make the most of the fact that they are multicultural,” Elisabet concludes.
SCC Business Culture Course The SCC Business Culture Course is a one-day course on 17 March, aimed at preparing business professionals for a career in a Swedish or British company. Read more and book today at scc.org.uk.
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New Patrons And Members
NEW PATRONS AND MEMBERS The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK is the ultimate business platform for Swedish and UK businesses, representing some 400 companies from across all sectors and industries, and from start-ups, SMEs, unicorns to large corporations. Membership comes with a suite of benefits for you, your colleagues and your business. If you would like to find out how you can maximise your membership, or to enquire about joining, please do get in touch at membership@scc.org.uk. But first, a warm welcome to our newest members.
New patrons Donnelley Financial Solutions Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) is a leading global risk and compliance solutions company, that helps customers make smarter decisions with insightful technology, industry expertise and data insights at every stage of business and investment lifecycles. As markets fluctuate, regulations evolve and technology advances, DFIN is there to help.
Quinyx Quinyx’s web-based system provides support for Scheduling, Time reporting, Communication, Task Management, Budgeting and Forecasting. Today, Quinyx has approximately 500,000 users with customers like Burger King, Decathlon, Rituals Cosmetics, SSP, The Mary Rose Museum and London City Airport.
Securitas Securitas serves a wide range of customers in a variety of industries and customer segments. The protective services, developed together with its customers, are designed to incorporate a high degree of technology content. While manned guarding still represents the cornerstone of Securitas, the offering is constantly under development.
New members Deligate Deligate is an innovative tool that helps grocery stores prevent food waste by tracking, selling out and providing statistics about products that are close to expiring. Using Deligate, stores can make sure that all products are sold or donated in time, and that their customers never buy outdated food.
Edulution Guided by a vision of an Africa whose people are skilled and empowered, Edulution provides extra-curricular numeracy and literacy ‘Catch Up’ Programmes to primary school learners. Using a unique mix of technology, enterprising coaches and evidence-based analytics, Edulution’s programmes enable learners to revise and master essential numeracy, literacy and ITC skills that better allow teachers to deliver their curriculum objectives.
Enigio Time Several types of documents are still paper-based due to the absence of a viable solution to prove a digital original document. That problem is solved by using Enigio’s patented solution trace: original. Negotiable instruments and documents of title can now be fully digitalised. The solution is not a club or a consortium, but simply freely transferrable digital original documents.
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New Patrons And Members
Påmind Påmind is a Swedish start-up founded through the frustration of new customers receiving better deals than loyal customers do. Påmind has created a product that renegotiates our customers’ contracts by lowering its price each time it is about to expire. This way, companies get a chance to reward loyalty instead of spending money on finding new customers.
Railway Metrics and Dynamics Railway Metrics and Dynamics provides real-time monitoring of damage to locomotives, carriages and rail infrastructure. We offer a prompt detection of damage that has arisen, and maximisation of run time through optimised maintenance planning. The railway becomes safer, more punctual, more efficient and more profitable with the Performance Monitoring Unit from Railway Metrics and Dynamics.
Wastefront Wastefront’s core business is to create value from waste. Utilising a proprietary process, the company will convert waste tyres to valuable commodities which can be recycled into new products. The waste tyres, at present, are being sent to developing countries to be burned.
IN OTHER NEWS IKEA plans to open new store in West London in 2021 SCC patron IKEA has announced the acquisition of Kings Mall Shopping Centre in Hammersmith in west London, where it will open a new store in 2021. This was made through a transaction of £170 million. The opening of the new venue is a natural next step in the retailer’s plan to move to city locations, so that it can be easier than ever before to shop at its stores. As a result, the customers will be able to interact with IKEA in their local environment. The new store will be their sixth location in London, following the store in Greenwich which opened last year.
Microsoft Reactor comes to Stockholm SCC member Microsoft will open a “reactor” in Stockholm during the first half of 2020, where start-ups, enterprise developers and students can meet, learn and network. They will partner with the Epicenter Digital House of Innovation Sweden and together develop the skills and opportunities of the Stockholm tech community. This investment is one of several made by Microsoft recently in Sweden in order to provide individuals, businesses and society with new opportunities. The reactor will be Microsoft’s tenth reactor location around the world. These reactors enable Microsoft to cooperate with start-ups and developers in ecosystems they already operate in.
Monica Mason Counselling & Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Is life getting on top of you? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by life or just stuck in an old pattern of doing things? Talking can help. With over 15 years of experience in practicing psychotherapy and counselling in London, I have vast experience with many nationalities and cultures. My approach will provide you with a better understanding of the issues you are currently facing and together we will work towards developing new patterns that will ease the way forward. I am located in South Kensington, London, providing open-ended and short-term psychotherapy in both English and Swedish. I offer a free 20 minute phone consultation before booking an appointment. Monica Mason MA MBACP Accredited Psychodynamic Counsellor & Psychotherapist in Kensington, West London SW7
https://www.westlondontherapy.net monica@monicamason.com 0777 989 33 99
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Meet
count BERTIL BERNADOTTE Count Bertil Bernadotte has a long history with the Swedish Chamber, spanning back to the 1980s. Over the years, he has been an active member of the Swedish-British business community, an elected member of the SCC Council and one of the founders of the Chamber’s patronship back in the early 1990s. Since 2002, he is an Honorary Vice President of the Council. Last December, at the Chamber’s Annual Christmas Luncheon, Bertil was presented the Extraordinary Member Award 2019 for his continuous support to the Chamber. The Link had the chance to meet with the Count to discuss his relationship to the Chamber and his career throughout the years. BY: JONAS EKLUND
“I feel very honoured to receive this award. I don’t know exactly what I did to deserve it, but it’s very kind of the Chamber to think of me in this connection,” Bertil says, humbly starting off the interview. Bertil first came to London back in the 1950s, starting his career in the shipping industry, and he recalls a totally different England compared to today. “During my first years, I spent two years in London as a trainee at a big shipbroking company on Leadenhall Street. Those were rather interesting days. England was very different from what it is now. In fact, it was even quite different from Europe in those days.” He explains that the Second World War had taken its toll on the country, leaving long standing consequences for years to come. “For instance, you could park everywhere, because a lot of bomb sites were now parking spaces. Also, the 1956 Clean Air Act was yet to be passed and the air was so dirty that
pea-soupers were not uncommon. If it was a bad one, you couldn’t see your arm in front of you and I remember a particular time driving in one, which was very scary.” “You still felt the consequences of the war, and when I went to Hamburg during my training, I remember thinking that they were better off, even if Germany lost the war.” Bertil explains that there were several examples of this. Even the shipping industry suffered the consequences of the war. “The Allies seized all German commercial boats, fishing boats, and so on. So, they had new boats built and competed against England’s old German boats. From a shipping point of view this was a disaster. Perhaps it is a lesson for future situations like that.” Fast-forward to 1980, Bertil decided to return to England as “Sweden didn’t pose really much interest to me anymore”, but also because his wife at the time was English. “I thought it would be interesting. I was also
Count Bertil Bernadotte receives the Extraordinary Member Award 2019 at the Annual Christmas Luncheon. Photos: Renz Andres.
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very attracted to the policies of Reagan and Thatcher. I’ve said to many English friends, and they don’t always agree with me, that Thatcher saved England. Without her England would never have become anything and it’s very important to consider, especially in election times.” One of Bertil’s positions in London was as Chairman for a “small but profitable” shipbroker company, Mason Ship Brokers. He was representative for Swedish State Companies (Svenska Statsföretag) in England and Board Member of Swedish forklift truck manufacturer Kalmar Climax. “They had just bought Coventry, a leading English forklift company and that was a very new experience both for me and the Swedish company, because the manufacturing was very different from what we were used to.” Bertil touches on several positions and businesses he has been involved in over the years, all of them accompanied with interesting anecdotes and stories. “One very exciting idea I was involved in, was to build an ‘ecodome’ in Sheffield. It was going to be an advanced ecological experience, with the dome connected to a satellite streaming images of the earth from above and with an all-year-around swimming pool. It created a lot of buzz at the time but eventually the project had to be terminated because of investment issues.” Bertil’s commitment to the Swedish Chamber began in the mid-1980s, followed by many years as elected Member of the Council. In the beginning of the 1990s, he was one of the founders of the patronship – the core group of member businesses committed to the long-term support of the Swedish-British business community. When discussing his legacy, now boasting 49 corporate members, he says: “Good Lord. I don’t remember how many we had the first year when we started the patronship, but it wasn’t more than five or six I think.”
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“England was very different from what it is now. In fact, it was even quite different from Europe in those days�
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