Skåne life science companies are more research-intensive than other Swedish life science companies

Skåne contributes to more than a quarter of the Swedish drug pipeline, but despite this, the Skåne life science sector faces greater difficulties in attracting private capital than the Swedish life science sector as a whole. This is one of the findings from a new report from Medicon Village which presents the situation for the life science sector in Skåne. Although the region stands out positively in several respects, there are also challenges that need to be addressed for the sector to continue to develop well in the coming years.

Skåne is Sweden’s second-largest life science region, only surpassed by Stockholm-Uppsala. According to the report ”Life Science Barometer 2024 – Skåne Edition,” published today, over 20 percent of Swedish life science companies are based in Skåne, and Skåne companies are more research-intensive than the average Swedish company. Skåne companies allocate approximately three-quarters of their budgets and personnel to research and development, compared to just under two-thirds for Sweden as a whole. However, Skåne companies find it more difficult to secure private capital, and only five percent of private investments in the life science sector in Sweden are made in Skåne companies. Consequently, Skåne companies also see finding and securing funding as one of the most important issues to address in the short term.

”The report indicates that the Skåne life science sector, with its many small companies, is particularly sensitive to economic fluctuations. But despite tough times, there is reason to be optimistic considering the companies’ high level of innovation and the robust support system in Skåne. Hopefully, the report can contribute to an increased understanding of the development of a strategically important industry for both Skåne and Sweden,” says Petter Hartman, CEO of Medicon Village Innovation AB.

Micro-enterprises (fewer than ten employees) constitute 83 percent of all life science companies in Skåne, and medtech, which accounts for 43 percent of the Skåne life science sector, is the largest sub-segment.

”When we look at the life science sector in Skåne, we clearly see that while there are many challenges, there are also significant opportunities. By leveraging existing strengths, encouraging innovation, and promoting collaboration, we can ensure that the life science sector in Skåne not only survives but has the conditions to remain resilient and thrive,” says Sarah Lidé, Deputy CEO of Medicon Village Innovation AB and the person responsible for the development of the report.

• The Swedish life science sector consists of around 4,000 companies, and most (77%) are micro-enterprises (0-9 employees). In Skåne, there are approximately 820 companies and organizations within life science.
• Skåne companies account for 27% of the Swedish pipeline in drug development while representing only 21% of the number of companies in the sector.
• In Skåne, the drug pipeline has a higher weight towards assets in oncology (43% compared to the national average of 35%). Moreover, the Skåne drug pipeline is slightly more mature than the Swedish average (32% of Skåne drug assets are in phase 2, compared to the national average of 20%).
• Of the SEK 252 billion (where 0.6% consisted of granted public funding) invested in Swedish life science between 2017 and 2021, only SEK 12 billion (just under five percent) was invested in Skåne companies.

The ”Life Science Barometer 2024 – Skåne Edition” report is produced by Medicon Village and supported by Sparbanken Skåne. It builds on the findings from the national Life Science Barometer 2024 report produced by SwedenBIO, as well as statistics from STUNS Life Science’s Insight Machine.

Download the report here: Downloadable resources