Exploring a Snow-Covered Skellefteå: A Journey into a growing city

In late November of this year, Stiftelsen Flemingsberg Science visited Skellefteå alongside Karolina Krön and Pia Forsberg from Huddinge Municipality for a two-day exploration. The days not only brought snow but also provided an opportunity to gain insights into Skellefteå’s development since the establishment of Northvolt and its impacts on the city.

Crafting a Inclusive Place Brand
The study visit commenced with Helena Renström, the marketing manager at Skellefteå Municipality. Helena emphasized that Skellefteå is a brand for all its residents. To achieve this, they actively engage the city’s residents to foster a sense of community.

“Everyone should be involved in steering our path forward” – Helena Renström.

It’s about creating transparency and ongoing dialogue with the citizens. Through this strategy, they have successfully transitioned from a fragmented perception of Skellefteå to a unified and shared vision. Helena describes it as the “people’s strategy”, and this has proven to be a successful concept.

Supporting businesses
The study visit also included an exciting conversation with Anja Palm, business director at Skellefteå Municipality. Anja has unique insights into the establishment of Northvolt, which has naturally generated more opportunities in Skellefteå. At the same time, it has also underscored the importance of other local small and medium-sized businesses in the area. The discussion also encompassed topics such as supporting entrepreneurship, fostering new establishments, and addressing competence supply and housing needs in a city experiencing growth.

During the visit to Skellefteå Science City, there was an opportunity to discuss their dedication to existing businesses and their efforts to foster city growth. Skellefteå Science City also places a special emphasis on innovation environments and boasts an impressive cluster of game companies.

A new Skellefteå
The study visit concluded with captivating conversations and presentations by ACE, the Arctic Centre of Energy, and Campus Skellefteå. ACE aspires to become a global competence center, spearheading the electrification of society—a flagship for the northern regions and a landmark in its own right. This remarkable initiative stems from the establishment of Northvolt and involves sustainable construction with a focus on reuse and innovation from a European perspective. As Skellefteå expands, there’s an increasing need for skills development. The city provides exceptional opportunities for innovative actors to engage in the development of Campus Skellefteå, addressing the growing demand for skilled labor. In summary, the study visit illustrated that Skellefteå is undergoing a growth phase with ambitious future plans. It is a place that sparks excitement and anticipation, opening up opportunities for innovative solutions.

Campus Flemingsberg continues to grow – more students and strong collaboration in focus

Campus Flemingsberg remains one of Sweden’s most dynamic knowledge environments. Over the past year, the number of students has increased from 24,000 to approximately 27,000. The trend is clear: the campus’s broad academic profile continues to attract a growing number of students.

Flemingsberg is Growing – A Sustainable and Attractive Neighbourhood in the Making

Flemingsberg is currently undergoing a phase of rapid development, where new rental housing and apartments are helping to strengthen the area’s attractiveness as a residential, education and research hub in southern Greater Stockholm. The expansion of housing is an important part of the long-term development of Campus Flemingsberg and the surrounding area.

From Education to Societal Strength: Police Education and the Fight Against Organized Crime

At a time marked by growing insecurity and increasingly complex crime, the need for long-term solutions is becoming more urgent. As the police training programme at Södertörn University in Flemingsberg celebrates its tenth anniversary, attention is turning to the future. Together with SMOB, the university works with education, research and collaboration to prevent crime and build a safer society.

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