Quick New Member Take: 3 Questions to Swecare
We warmly welcome Swecare as a new member of our life science park.
– The value of Swedish life science companies’ exports is higher than ever, and continued internationalisation in the coming years is crucial for our competitiveness. I am therefore pleased to welcome Swecare as a member of Medicon Village and to begin a collaboration aimed at supporting southern Swedish life science companies in reaching global markets, says Petter Hartman, CEO of Medicon Village Innovation.
We asked their International Business Coordinator Ulf Borbos, to answer three key questions and share insights into how they aim to make a difference in our community and the industry in our region:
How can the life science community in southern Sweden benefit from your membership at Medicon Village?
Swecare’s mission is to contribute to increased exports of Swedish products, services, and knowledge in the life science sector. With our presence in the Öresund region, we aim to reach more life science companies – not only through digital communication but also by being physically present and engaging in value-creating activities, either independently or in collaboration with local, regional, national, or international stakeholders. Medicon Village is the perfect platform to do this.
We want more life science companies to get to know us and join us in our mission. Many life science companies begin their journey in the Öresund region, and we believe it is important to be part of the regional innovation ecosystem and contribute to supporting increased exports. Through our membership at Medicon Village, we gain closer access to a large number of life science actors, and we are eager to meet them and share how we work and the value we can offer.
What is your perspective on the opportunities for the Swedish life science industry to strengthen its international relations?
It is always easier to do business with someone you have a strong relationship with. Swecare has spent nearly 50 years building a robust and reliable international network. We have maintained these valuable relationships over time and continue to carry out activities across the globe.
Strong international relations will always make exporting a bit easier, and these connections are also available to our members. For Swedish scale-up companies looking to enter international markets, access to our global network can be incredibly valuable. These connections are made available through the innovation ecosystem in which Swecare is a key player, with a specific focus on Swedish life science exports, including policy and regulatory issues.
We also count several larger companies among our members. They often contribute to our workshops and seminars by sharing their experiences and insights into market requirements gained through their own development journeys.
What are your major challenges in the coming year to meet market demands and trends?
At present, I would say geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of a trade war are major concerns. Life science exports make up a significant part of Sweden’s overall exports. I must also mention the ongoing challenge of talent attraction. In the long term, it is vital that Sweden secures access to talent, especially in breakthrough fields such as AI, biotechnology, and quantum technologies.
Most of our international requests involve AI, biotech, precision medicine, cancer treatment, and medicines or food supplements for age-related diseases. Since the onset of the tariff war, interest in Swedish products from East Asia has grown significantly. This presents both new challenges and exciting opportunities.
Swecare introductory offer
Three members of Medicon Village are offered the opportunity to attend Swecare’s Annual Conference on 7 May from 14:00 to 18:30 in Stockholm free of charge (regular price SEK 795 + VAT). The event will bring together around one hundred participants from industry, the public sector, and finance. Among the speakers are Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Camilla Mellander (Ambassador for Trade at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs), Jens Magnusson (Chief Economist at SEB), and entrepreneur Carl Bennet. To express your interest, email ulf.borbos@swecare.se no later than 28 April. First come, first served …
Read more about Swecare in Hälsobarometern (in Swedish), a report on the development of Sweden’s health sector exports. More information on Swecare at https://www.healthbysweden.com, and on their Annual Conference (in Swedish).
Pictured: Ulf Borbos, International Business Coordinator , Swecare.