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ICT Southern Sweden
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Sweden at a glance Population: 9.3 million Main language: Swedish English speakers: 85 % of the population aged over 15 Form of government: Constitutional monarchy Corporate tax: 26.3 % GDP per capita: $52,789 Currency: Swedish krona (SEK) EU member since 1995
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Welcome to the world’s foremost ICT nation S
weden is a technically oriented and globalised country with an innovationdriven economy. According to the 2009 ITU ICT Development Index, Sweden is the most advanced ICT nation in the world. These achievements build upon a combination of advanced research, a well-educated population and an exceptionally innovative climate. A strong engineering tradition has also contributed to Sweden’s technical prowess. Many multinational companies use Sweden as a test market for new products and services – if they work here, they’ll probably work anywhere. Swedes saw the benefits of information technology at an early stage, and lost no time introducing GSM, 3G and Fibre-To-The-Home. This could well be the reason why innovative companies like Skype and Spotify began in Sweden. Communication technologies like Bluetooth, GSM and WCDMA all originated here.
Invest in southern Sweden Skåne in southern Sweden has a strong ICT presence and the region is a global leader in areas like mobile terminals, wireless technology and materials science. Ericsson was founded in Lund in 1984 and their head office for mobile communication opened here just a few years later. The revolutionary Bluetooth technology was created in Lund at the end of the 1990s. This wireless technology is now a global standard and part of our everyday lives. Southern Sweden distinguishes itself through a unique ecosystem of
leading technical development companies and high-tech consultancies. The entire value chain is represented, from hardware developers to software developers with embedded systems expertise and small com panies specialised in imaging and other solutions. Together they form an environment where new know ledge and ideas are embodied in successful innovations. And create exciting opportunities for everyone who wants to develop new business in the ICT sector.
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
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The birthplace of Bluetooth
ments for wireless communication. ConnectBlue has specialised in the integration of Bluetooth solutions in products and applications for industrial and commercial use. Sindarin Technologies in Malmö utilises the latest communication technology standard IMS to develop the next generation of mobile telephony. For today’s innovators, the region’s expertise in wireless technology is a key factor: “We could not have started our company a nywhere else,” says Anders Carlius, CEO and founder of Terranet, which has developed a peer-to-peertechnology that enables mobile communications without a mobile network.
Pioneering mobile devices
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The name “Bluetooth” comes from Harald Blåtand (Bluetooth), a Danish king. In the late 900s, he united fighting fractions in the region that is now Norway, Sweden and Denmark, just as Bluetooth technology integrates computers, mobile phones and wireless devices.
More than 10,000 people develop platforms, applications and services for mobile phones in southern Sweden.
Bluetooth – a Swedish innovation that makes life easier.
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weden has a global presence in wireless technologies such as GSM and WCDMA. Ericsson is now developing LTE, and fourth generation mobile technology and platforms have been developed by STEricsson in Lund, one of the world’s leading mobile platform players. Southern Sweden has been writing mobile history for 25 years. This is where Ericsson developed the world’s first partly automatic car phone system and Bluetooth saw the light of day – in close collaboration with Lund University. Companies like Telia Sonera, Axis Communications, Teleca and hundreds of other developers make this region one of the world’s most creative and dynamic environ-
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kåne in southern Sweden has long been a centre for mobile communications. The area boasts a diversity of large and small companies, a dynamic and innovative research environment and foreward-thinking network initiatives that drive development. And the presence of international large-scale companies like Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson has contributed to the extensive portfolio of expertise. Like a host of other high-tech companies, they lie adjacent to Ideon Science Park in Lund, one of Europe’s most distinguished research parks. This is one of the few places in the world where a complete mobile phone can be developed from hardware to software and filled with innovative applications.
In just a few short years, The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) in Malmö has become a global leader with its smart user interface for mobiles. Mashmobile has attracted major attention with its system that makes mobile devices accessible in real time via a global web address. The patent pending solution makes it easier to integrate mobile devices into web services and applications. Lund-based Scalado has developed a globally leading technology for image management. Scalado’s imaging technology can be found in over 400 million mobile devices. “This is the best place to be if you want to develop mobile solutions,” says Fadi Abbas, CMO/CSO and one of the founders of Scalado.
Scalado software has achieved international acclaim.
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From ABBA to Battlefield
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ith bands like ABBA, Roxette and Ace of Base, Swedish music entered the global arena and laid the foundation for successful export in the cultural industries. Now gaming puts Sweden on the international map. The Battlefield series is Sweden’s biggest cultural export since Roxette. The Swedish gaming phenomenon has several explanations. A vibrant games scene evolved from a youth culture influenced by cartoons, action films and role playing in the early 1980s. As the gaming market in Sweden is relatively small, developers focused on the international market from the very beginning. Swedish game developers have a reputation for combining passion and creativity with professionalism. They deliver in time,
within budget and with technical finesse. Massive Entertainment, recently acquired by Ubisoft, is one of the most innovative game developers in the real-time strategy genre with games like Ground Control and World in Conflict. Malmö is also home to Illusion Labs, one of the world’s most successful IPhone game companies with successes like Labyrinth and Touchgrind. “Several acclaimed design and technology companies have established themselves in Malmö and given the city a well-deserved reputation as a centre for creativity. There are plenty of Swedish design and programming talents who can strengthen a company’s competitive edge,” says Marcus Woxneryd, Managing Director of digital design company ustwo™.
Small science – big potential
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anotechnology and neutron research are two key fields of research for the continued application of Moore’s law. This science of small things will enable the construction of completely new materials for microelectronics applications. The world’s most powerful neutron research facility, European Spallation Source (ESS), is being built in Lund while the Nanometer Structure Consortium (nmC) at Lund University is a global leader in nanotechnology research. NmC started in 1998 and is now a global leader in nanotechnology, especially semiconductor nanowires, and international experts rank the research conducted here as out standing. Several interesting spin-off companies like Qunano and NEMS
have already been formed, and several more are predicted. Tomorrow’s microelectronic components will be constructed with nanotechnology. Not only is everything tiny on the nanometre scale, materials also acquire new properties when the gravitational force decreases and quantum effects take over. And the neutron research at ESS helps us understand what happens to the properties of materials. The new knowledge generated by these two fields of research will be used to build microchips that are smaller and more powerful than ever before. This will also guarantee the future development of mobile devices, mobile communication networks and computers. Lund offers unique opportunities for anyone who wants to write history.
FACTS FACTS Development of the Swedish gaming industry is underpinned by large-scale gaming tournaments like Dreamhack (the world’s biggest computer festival with more than 12,000 participants), LAN parties and cybercafés.
Ubisoft Massive has several acclaimed strategy games on its merit list.
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The term “Moore’s law” was coined in the 1960s after Gordon E Moore introduced the concept. The law that transistors on a chip will double in performance every 18th month has held for decades and had major significance for the development of microelectronics.
Site of the European research facility in Lund, around 20 km from the Öresund Bridge.
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FACTS Universities Lund University Blekinge Institute of Technology Malmö University Industrial research centers and industry excellence centers in: System design on silicon Embedded Application Software Engineering Mobile Services and applications Center for High Speed Wireless Communication
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Collaboration breeds innovation S
weden’s strong innovative capacity is due to several factors: the willingness of Swedish companies to adopt new technology and expertise, heavy investment in research and development, and close collaboration between industry and academia. Together with access to highly-qualified professionals, these factors explain why several leading ICT companies have chosen to establish research centres in Sweden. The list of innovations from southern Sweden is long. Lund University began trials with cardiac ultrasound. Bluetooth and ink-jet printers were both developed by research at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) at Lund University. LTH, Malmö University and the Blekinge Institute of Technology make up the core of Skåne’s know ledge infrastructure. The universities provide new research findings and good access to qualified professio nals. Lund University conducts top international research in several fields, including nanotechnology, software engineering, circuits and system on chip design. This research has generated many new and vibrant
companies like Cognimatics, Swiftfoot Graphics (now acquired by Intel), and Decuma (now acquired by Nuance). Another company that evolved from research at universities in Lund and Malmö is Polar Rose. This company was ranked as one of the world’s Top 100 Tech Start Up companies by Red Herring, for its technology that allows search engines to visually identify people in photos. Academia and industry have collaborated closely in Skåne for many years, which has reduced the time-to market for innovations. One example
of close and purposeful collaboration between industry, research, education and public players is the new cluster initiative Mobile Heights, with three industrial Centres of Excellence: EASE focuses on embedded systems while SOS concentrates on silicon design. Together with the third centre, which focuses on developing mobile services and applications, these centres build a carefully planned chain and boost the region’s position in the mobile phone area. Innovations drive business in Skåne – and the world is welcome to climb on board. 9
FACTS Skåne is part of the dynamic Öresund Region. Home to 3.6 million people, the region produces twenty five percent of Sweden and Denmark’s combined BNP.
The best of both worlds S
kåne in southern Sweden is an exciting region and has long proved a good breeding ground for new innovations and technology. Add a stress-free lifestyle and world-class culture, and it’s easy to see why Skåne offers the best of two worlds. A combination of quality and vitality. Swedes have an uncomplicated attitude towards business and are known for their flat, non-hierarchical organisations. Starting a company and making new contacts is easy. Rules and regulatory frameworks are clear and transparent, and red tape is kept to a minimum. Many international companies have chosen to establish themselves here. Scandinavia’s largest airport, Copenhagen International Airport, is only 20 minutes away with direct connections to over 120 worldwide destinations. Most of the region’s ICT companies are located in Lund and Malmö. According to Mats Lindoff, former CTO at Sony Ericsson, the universities in Lund and Malmö 10
rovide a strong base for the region’s p innovative capacity. “Sony Ericsson’s presence has also created a unique ecosystem of large and small mobile technology companies,” he says. In just a short time, Malmö has evolved from a heavy industrial city to the growth centre of the region. London-based ustwo™ was attracted by the region’s creative mix and opened its first international office in Malmö. “Sweden has always been a forerunner in style and design, and Malmö’s proximity to the rest of Europe attracts companies from all over the world,” says Matt Miller, one of the studio’s founders. Japanese mobile phone designer, Polymatech, has moved to Lund to be closer to its biggest European client, Sony Ericsson. “The combination of unique business opportunities and great living conditions makes Skåne hard to beat,” says Michihiro Terada, sales manager at Polymatech.
FACTS Multinational companies in the region with R&D centres – a selection Sony Ericsson ST-Ericsson Nokia Nuance Ubisoft Intel Microsoft Huawei Qualcomm Cutting-edge companies – a selection Scalado – mobile imaging TAT – graphical user interface Terranet – peer-to-peer mobile communication system Bambuser – live streaming from mobile phone to the internet Mashmobile – gives mobile phones a URL Sindarin Technologies – IMS technology Anoto – digital pen and paper technology Axis – digital network video Tactel – mobile applications and services Illusion Labs – applications and games for mobile phones RaviTeq – mobile multimedia Qunano – semiconductor materials
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design: GIV AKT · foto: magnus palmér,ess ab, sydpol.
Skåne in southern Sweden is one of the most innovative regions in northern Europe. Invest in Skåne is the Investment Promotion Agency for Skåne. We can help you establish or expand your business in Skåne. We provide and organize: • Both general and specific information about business and investment opportunities in Skåne. • Easy access to R&D and innovation in ICT through our personalised innovation search. • Introduction to useful contacts in business and academic circles, potential partners and local authorities. Invest in Skåne is part of the regional promotion agency Business Region Skåne. ICT Southern Sweden is part financed by the EU. All our services are free of charge.
foto: Copenhagen Airports
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Skåne is a part of the dynamic Öresund region, one of Europe’s most innovative cross-border regions. Our closeness to continental Europe gives fast access to large and expanding markets.
There are three airports on the Swedish side of Öresund. And Copenhagen is just minutes away from Malmö on the other side of the Öresund Bridge.