Gothenburg looks to strengthen ties with Germany

With around 260 German-owned companies based in the region, Germany is the second-largest foreign investor after Norway, ahead of the UK and Denmark. Together, German-owned businesses employ more than 7,200 people across the Gothenburg region.

The economic ties extend beyond investment. Germany is Gothenburg’s largest source of imports and its third-largest export market, after the United States and Norway.

The strong ties between Germany and Gothenburg are built on decades of industrial collaboration, shared strengths in engineering and innovation, and a common ambition to drive the green and digital transition, 

says Marcus Scoliege, head of foreign direct investments at Business Region Göteborg, Gothenburg’s economic development agency.

“The German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce has been active in Sweden since the 50s and it plays an important role in strengthening business relations,” he adds. 

Gothenburg offers opportunities for investment and partnerships

Several German companies have established significant operations in Gothenburg, including DHL, Din Bil, Lidl, Bosch and Schenker*. Volkswagen also has a substantial presence through WirelessCar, the connected mobility company it acquired in 2018.

Partnerships between German and Gothenburg-based companies are also common.

German truck manufacturer Daimler and the Volvo Group have several collaborations in place. Among them is Coretura, a fast-growing joint venture launched in Gothenburg last summer to develop a standardised software platform for the commercial vehicle industry. The company has grown rapidly and already employs around 150 people at its office in Lindholmen, Gothenburg.

In life science, German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim is collaborating with Gothenburg-based biotech firm Ribocure Pharmaceuticals and its parent company, Suzhou Ribo Life Science. Leveraging Ribo’s platform and expertise, they are working to discover and develop new siRNA treatments for people living with liver disease. The deal value potentially exceeds USD 2 billion.

From automotive to life science

“Germany is a priority market for Gothenburg and for our investment promotion activities. We see opportunities across a wide range of sectors, from automotive and ICT to life science and urban development,” says Marcus Scoliege.

This autumn, Marcus and his colleagues at Business Region Göteborg will be promoting Gothenburg and Sweden at several international events in Germany.

“Together with our national and regional partners, we will be exhibiting at a number of major industry events, including IAA Transportation, Expo Real, Bits & Pretzels and BIO Europe,” he says.

Gothenburg will also feature in the programme of the Join Sweden Conference, a new flagship initiative by Business Sweden taking place in Berlin on 15 September. The conference will focus on automotive, batteries, life science, industrial technology and energy tech, all sectors that align closely with Gothenburg's strengths.

We look forward to making new connections and helping international companies turn investment plans into successful projects, 

says Marcus Scoliege.

Five events in Germany where you can connect with Gothenburg and Sweden

IAA Transportation – a major event for logistics, commercial vehicles, and the transportation sector held in Hannover on 15-20 September. Gothenburg is part of a joint booth together with Business Sweden and FKG, the Vehicle Components Group. Gothenburg is represented by Joel Görsch, our investment advisor for automotive. 

Join Sweden – a new event held on 15 September that brings together German companies exploring investment and collaboration opportunities with Sweden’s business and innovation ecosystem. Representing Gothenburg is Marcus Scoliege and Joel Görsch. 

Bits & Pretzels – a major European startup and innovation conference held in Munich on 28-30 September. Gothenburg is part of the Team Sweden pavilion arranged by Business Sweden. We will be represented by our tech investment advisor Kent Jellmund and tech manager Madalene Näslund.   

Expo Real – a leading trade fair for real estate, investment and infrastructure held in Munich on 5-7 October. Gothenburg, Stockholm and Malmö are co-arranging the Swedish stand, showcasing opportunities for investors and expanding companies. Gothenburg is represented by Marcus Scoliege, establishment coordinator Carina Larsson and urban development investment advisor Martin Larsson. 

BIO Europe – Europe’s largest biopharma partnering conference held in Cologne on 9-11 November. Gothenburg is part of the Nordic Pavilion, together with, among others Invest in Skåne and Sweden BIO. Gothenburg is represented by our life science investment advisor Iris Öhrn. 

* Schenker was acquired by the Danish company DSV in 2025. 
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