Business environment
Open, dynamic and competitive
Welcome to one of the largest life science clusters and one of the most competitive business environments in Europe – and with ambitious plans to expand.
Stockholm-Uppsala is home to one of Europe’s largest and most productive life science clusters, with excellent supporting expertise in IT, telecommunications, clean technology and energy.
The life science cluster in the Stockholm-Uppsala region includes five universities with world-leading research, several hundred companies, university hospitals with high-quality healthcare, innovation support functions, and major government agencies, including the Swedish Medical Products Agency.
Several ground-breaking projects backed by heavy investments are under way to further strengthen the position of Stockholm-Uppsala as a leading life science cluster. These include Stockholm Life, SciLifeLab and a new university hospital due to open in 2016.
With an ability to work across disciplines and bridge corporate, governmental and academic environments, Stockholm-Uppsala is well placed to take on the increasingly complex challenge of delivering the healthcare solutions of today and tomorrow.
The business capital of Scandinavia
Welcome to an international business environment that is modern, open, business-friendly and globally connected. The majority of the multi-national corporations in Scandinavia have placed their head offices in Stockholm, endorsing the quality of local advisors and business partners.
Stockholm is also a major financial hub for Northern Europe and the business hub of Scandinavia. It boasts an advanced financial market and is home to more financial decision-makers and headquarters than any other city in Scandinavia.
In fact, according to IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook, Sweden is the most competitive country in Europe. Furthermore, in a number of other rankings on competitiveness, business and markets, Stockholm-Uppsala ranks top 10.
Further reading
Facts about the Stockholm-Uppsala region
One of Europe’s largest life science clusters
- 51% of Sweden’s life science
- Leading universities and university hospitals
- 630 companies spanning the full spectrum of life sciences
A competitive business environment
Ranks number 1 of 131 countries: Innovation Capacity Index, European Business School (2010-2011)
Ranks number 1 of 27 countries: Innovation Union Scoreboard, European Commission (2010)
Ranks number 2 of 132 countries: Global Innovation Index, INSEAD business school (2009-2010)
Innovative Swedish ICT leads the Way (2010)
Ranks number 1 concerning productivity (2010)
Ranks number 4 of 26 countries after New York, Toronto and San Francisco in PWC’s Cities of Opportunity 2011 report (2011)
Stockholm is Scandinavia’s number one choice for regional headquarters (Øresundsinstituttet, 2010)
Outlook – major investments in new infrastructure
Examples of research infrastructure investments
SciLifeLab is a collaboration between four universities in Stockholm and Uppsala: Stockholm University, the Karolinska Institutet, the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Uppsala University. The center combines advanced technical know-how and state-of-the-art equipment with broad knowledge in translational medicine and molecular bioscience. More than 100 research groups are associated with the center. LifeGene and EpiHealth are two recently-initiated projects that address the links between population genomics and health issues such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Biobanks and patient records from approximately 800,000 Swedes aged 18-75 years will make investigating the interaction between genes and lifestyle possible.
Examples of investments in physical infrastructure
Stockholm Life Solna-Stockholm is a life science research and development hub in Hagastaden, a new Stockholm city location. It is close to Karolinska University Hospital in Solna and the three universities Stockholm University, the Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). Investments in physical infrastructure in this new city development over the next 10 years exceed 5 billion € and are the largest in Stockholm’s history. Investments include tunnels for railway and road traffic, 5,000 apartments and space for 36,000 work places.
The New Karolinska Solna, a new university hospital to open in 2016, is the largest project ever undertaken by Stockholm County Council, as well as one of the largest and most innovative healthcare projects worldwide. Hospital facilities will consist of approximately 320,000 square meters total area. The new hospital, with Karolinska Institutet as its closest neighbor, will provide specialized healthcare in close collaboration with education and research.
The Skandion Clinic in Uppsala is the first clinic in Scandinavia for proton therapy, a technology which allows more effective treatment of cancer. The clinic which is designed at present for treatment of 1000 patients per year but with an option of future expansion, is due to open in 2015.
Cluster development
Uppsala BIO
Uppsala BIO is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works to enhance the long-term competitiveness and growth of the life science sector. Our most important efforts are about increasing the flow of innovations, starting from defined needs in healthcare and society in general. We do this together with companies, universities, healthcare, and public authorities.
Uppsala BIO is a STUNS (Foundation for Collaboration between the Universities of Uppsala, the Business Sector, and Society) operation for life science. Activities are formulated by the life science industry, universities, healthcare, and public authorities, which also provide funding together with VINNOVA.
Stockholm Science City Foundation/Stockholm Life – Solna
Stockholm Life is a hub for research and development within life science in Stockholm. The mission of Stockholm Science City Foundation is to attract academia and business within the field of life science to Stockholm Life. The vision is to create a world leading science city – a society with a mixture of academy, industry, hospitals, residential areas, culture, service and recreation – and a world class knowledge hub for life science. Academia, industry and healthcare are engaged in all concept development in order to ensure success.
Flemingsberg Science
The Flemingsberg Science Foundation is a part of Stockholm Life. We addresses the challenges in health care by combining clinical insight, academic knowledge from universities and business competence from industry and entrepreneurs, thereby creating new innovations and new business. Our point of departure is the strong clinical and academic life science base in Flemingsberg, with a focus on medtech.
