22 THE SWEDISH GUIDE
Welcome to Big Science Sweden Funding bodies Big Science Sweden is funded by Sweden’s largest and most important organisations for supporting and funding Swedish research and high-tech research and growth: Vinnova (Sweden’s Innovation Agency) and The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). Natasa Pahlm is Strategic Programme Manager, International Cooperation, at Vinnova. "It's vital that Swedish companies have the necessary expertise and skills to deliver services and products to research facilities, both nationally and globally," she says. "Big Science Sweden opens doors and creates new contacts, enabling us to to establish Swedish innovation on a global market."
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Management Big Science Sweden is led by a consortium comprising the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries (Teknikföretagen), the industrial development centre (Industrikluster IUC Syd), Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University, Luleå University of Technology, Uppsala University, RISE, and Region Skåne. "A company may feel that entering the Big Science market and contacting research facilities would be too big a step," says Kjell Möller, Chair of the Big Science Sweden Steering Committee and representing the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries. "However, many Swedish companies definitely have both the expertise and the capacity to meet
The Big Science Sweden National Team, here during the Strategy Days in Luleå, spring 2020. Fredrik Engelmark, Frida Tibblin Citron.
the requirements of the facilities. Big Science Sweden provides guidance, and facilitates the first important contacts that can lead to a business relationship.”
ILO Big Science Sweden is Sweden’s official ILO (Industry Liaison Office), which means it has the national responsibility for facilitating contacts and business between Swedish companies and the European research facilities that Sweden is involved in funding. An important part of the ILO work is to build networks between Swedish companies and relevant contacts at the research facilities. Big Science Sweden works actively to match Swedish companies with tangible needs and current procurements at the facilities. A designated member of the Big Science Sweden team is responsible for each facility, maintaining contacts, building relationships, and getting to know the facility’s organisation and needs. Fredrik Engelmark, Business Development and Project Management, Big Science Sweden, is responsible for contacts with CERN. “By networking with representatives at the research facilities, I can match a facility with a relevant Swedish company, and with researchers who can complement the company’s existing expertise," he explains. "In this way, we put together a team that can run high-tech innovation projects.”
