Sweden can take the lead in the green transition
As a leading innovation country, Sweden can take a strong position in the green transition. It was one of the messages during Sweden Innovation Days 2023 which took place 21-23 March. Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch and EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager was participating together with a large number of Swedish and international speakers.
Sweden Innovation Days is an international digital conference that showcases Sweden as a country of innovation, which was held for the third time. This year under the heading "Let's enable innovation that makes a difference!" and which brought together more than 4,000 participants from 94 countries.
Among the many program items were how we secure the energy supply of the future, the transition to climate-neutral and sustainable cities and the second industrial revolution in northern Sweden.
Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch opened the conference by saying that there are great opportunities with the green transition.
- The green transition is a catalyst for innovation. That way, we will be able to build sustainable societies and create sustainable growth within the planetary boundaries. To solve these complex challenges, we need new types of collaborations between different sectors, branches of science and across geographical borders.
- The Swedish industry is leading the way towards sustainability, creating fossil-free steel, large-scale battery production and innovative electric vehicles. They see that investments in innovation and sustainability are good for business. Climate benefits and competitiveness go hand in hand, said Ebba Busch.
Margrethe Vestager, EU Commissioner responsible for competition issues spoke on the topic of how Europe's innovative capacity and competitiveness can be strengthened and highlighted Sweden as a leading innovation country.
- Sweden ranks higher than any other country in European Innovations Scoreboard 2022 and performs 136 percent of the EU average.
One message was that innovations need to reach out and benefit the population, Margrethe Vestager took the example of the three-point belt, a Swedish innovation that spread and contributed to saving many lives.
- Today, it is the same social benefit that we want to match with the new European innovation agenda. Our job is to take ideas to markets, to people. In the midst of the climate crisis, we also need innovation that can use the full power of digital technologies to change the way we do things, to shift from fossil fuels to protect the planet's resources.
Under Sweden Innovation Days, 89 Swedish and international speakers participated on the main stage. Among others who took part were Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson, the European Commission's chief economist Alexandr Hobza, and Vinnova's director general Darja Isaksson.
In addition, a large number of side events were organised, Vinnova arranged, among other things, a seminar on how a sustainable system for plastics can be created: Planetary Resources
Sweden Innovation Days is organized by Vinnova together with Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency, AI Sweden, Business Sweden, Ignite Sweden and Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP).
The recording from the event can be viewed here until April 11.
After April 11, the content of this website is accessed: Past events | Sweden Innovation Days
Last updated 31 March 2023