Master of collaboration

Collaboration in the Nordic capital of getting things done

Gothenburg's enabling business climate is characterised by openness, inquisitiveness and the courage to test. Our long tradition of working together to create change for the better is partnered by a genuine willingness to do so. Collaborations between the business community, academia and public bodies are driving the amazing developments we have seen over the past few years, and these will continue. This is a key ingredient for the Gothenburg region’s success as a global hotspot for innovation and an engine for Sweden’s growth.

Testbeds - enabling collaboration and innovation

Gothenburg is an innovation hub with over 60 active testbeds in mobility, life sciences, ICT, and energy. These testbeds reinforce Gothenburg’s central role in Sweden for sustainable innovation and business development. These testbeds provide an invaluable space for companies to test, refine, and implement new solutions in real-world settings. 

For example: 

• Gothenburg Green City Zone: This initiative allows businesses, universities, and public actors to work together to test zero-emission technologies within a dedicated urban area, fostering advancements in sustainable transport and urban planning.
• Virtual Gothenburg Lab: A unique opportunity for the testing and development of work approaches, tools, and methods for visual, digital, and virtual work, connected to our city’s digital twin.
• Electricity Experimentation Zone: In collaboration with energy providers and transport authorities, this testbed focuses on innovative electric vehicle infrastructure, enabling seamless urban mobility.
• SEEL Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory: A  research and development centre for electromobility. Companies can test prototypes and products in state-of-the-art facilities; everything from batteries, to electric motors and complete vehicle testing.
• AstaZero is a full-scale test environment, where products can be tested and certified in array of traffic environments and scenarios.
• Revere: A research initiative focusing on self-driving vehicles, active safety, and vehicle dynamics.

Did you know this about Gothenburg’s collaborative ecosystem?

• Gothenburg has one of the world's best industry collaborators

Among Western universities Chalmers University of Technology has the highest share of scientific industry collaboration: 16% of its scientific papers are co-published with industry.

• A new battery education hub is further strengthening skills provision 

Battery Centre Gothenburg is a new state-of the art education hub designed to further strengthen the region’s skills provision for the transitioning automotive and electrification industries. It is publicly run, but actively involves industrial partners, including Volvo, Novo Energy, Siemens, ABB, as well as Chalmers University of Technology and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Battery Centre Gothenburg is one of many private-public initiatives that support long-term skills provision in the Gothenburg region.  

• Volvo and Daimler are establishing a joint company in Gothenburg

Gothenburg company Volvo is establishing a joint software company with German truck maker Daimler. The new company will be headquartered in Gothenburg. The two companies are both leaders in the commercial vehicle industry. They have joined forces to accelerate the development a software defined truck platform. They already have partnerships in place on fuel cells and a public charging network.    

• Eliminating greenhouse emissions from manufacturing 

Based at Lindholmen Science Park, Mission 0 House brings together scientists and engineers from academia and industry to tackle a critical challenge: eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from material and product manufacturing. The collaborative initiative was started by Polestar and involves several other leading companies, including SSAB, Sekab, SKF, Stora Enso and Volvo Cars, and five Swedish colleges and universities. 

• Accelerating the decarbonisation of the construction industry 

Over 150 forward-thinking construction and property companies have joined Gothenburg’s platform for climate neutral construction. The entire value chain, as well as public actors and academia, work together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable construction industry.

• Businesses and the city are building stronger communities

Handslag för Framtideng (Handshake for the future) is a collaborative initiative between the business community, the city and property owners to jointly contribute to positive neighbourhood development in a number of areas with lower socioeconomic status. Balder, DFDS, Saab, the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, are among the private companies involved. The goal is to transform these areas into communities shaped by hope, opportunity, and a spirit of entrepreneurship.

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