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.