Rickard opens doors in Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a region filled with ideas, ambitions, skills and capital. What is thought and done there often gives global echo and brings change for all of us. For entrepreneurs or companies with big plans, there is no faster, or more merciless, path to insight and development. At the same time, it is a unique ecosystem that is difficult to understand and navigate in, regardless of past successes in the Swedish or European market. And this is where Vinnova's activities at Nordic Innovation House and Rickard Mosell come in.

You are a senior advisor at Vinnova's office in Silicon Valley. Tell!

Yes, I have the privilege of spending 10 months at Nordic Innovation House via a scholarship from Vinnova and Knut and Abbot Liljero's foundation. The scholarship aims to deepen the contacts between the Swedish innovation system and the corresponding network in Silicon Valley. At the same time, I get the chance to contribute to increased Nordic power, by establishing further collaborations with other Nordic government organizations that constitute Nordic Innovation House.

What does your role mean more specifically? What advice do you give, and to whom?

My primary task is to supplement Inger Gustafsson, who is responsible for Vinnova's activities in the region, and together with a few colleagues we constitute \"Team Sweden”. Above all, we must ensure that Swedish actors who visit Silicon Valley land softly and travel home with as much value as possible. For example, we can help analyze needs, convey inputs to relevant networks as well as formally arrange meetings and pitch opportunities.

For startups, it is an excellent chance to get shortcuts into the right skills and capital, to benchmark against the world elite and to quickly gain insights on what is needed for a business model and product to compete in global competition.

But even for more established companies, we can provide valuable support. We are in the midst of an arena where developments and trends are having an impact worldwide. This gives us the opportunity to be at the forefront of strategic analysis, and to translate and convey the insights according to Swedish conditions. And it is something that is important for larger companies to keep track of in their innovation business. In addition, there is support available for those companies planning a permanent presence in the region.

Many people in innovation Sweden are likely to know you. But for the rest of us, who is Rickard Mosell?

Haha, I am a bit of an inventory of the innovation system in southern Sweden. In terms of education, I am a lawyer, but since 1999 I have supported and followed the development of many companies in various roles at the same time as I have founded some own. My background is in Connect Syd, Ideon Science Park, Innovation Skåne and Minc. Today I am (on leave) Global Business Developer at Business Sweden and Chairman of the Board of Incubator Ideon Innovation.

In December 2019 you are on the flight to Sweden. What do you want to achieve then, and what do you think you can bring into the Swedish innovation system?

In addition to what I have already mentioned, I hope to come home with an even stronger pay-it-forward attitude. Generous collaboration and sharing of knowledge, insights and contacts is necessary for a continued high rate of innovation and, by extension, to maintain a sustainable welfare society. Then I would be happy if I managed to get some American investors to discover Swedish companies in need of venture capital. And of course I hope that my new insights further strengthen Business Sweden's offer towards fast-growing companies.

Perhaps most importantly, how do you get hold of you?

Good addition, do not hesitate to contact me if you and your organization are considering a visit to Silicon Valley! The easiest way is to reach me via theNordic Innovation Housewebsite,Linkedinoremail.