The plan remains in place – Gothenburg is committed to leading in battery and mobility expertise
“We need to adjust our efforts to the current situation and the evolving needs of the industry. For the past three years, we’ve followed a proven strategy grounded in the companies’ own electrification roadmaps and that means prioritizing building battery expertise,” says Anna-Lena Johansson, Head of competence management, at Business Region Gothenburg.
The shift towards electrification in industry and transport is one of the most significant industrial transitions of our time. In Gothenburg, a dynamic “battery economy” is rapidly emerging – supported by proactive regional collaboration and long-term investment. To ensure access to the right talent, including the attraction of new international competence, four key stakeholders – the City of Gothenburg, the Gothenburg Region (GR), Region Västra Götaland (VGR), and Business Region Göteborg (BRG) – signed joint declarations of intent in connection with Novo Energy’s establishment. Together, they committed to developing Battery Centre Gothenburg, a state-of-the-art training hub, along with a suite of industry-relevant training programmes and upskilling initiatives designed to meet both current and future workforce demands.
A regional mission to lead in battery and mobility skills
The overarching objective is clear: to position Gothenburg as a European leader in battery and mobility competence. Since 2021, BRG has been coordinating an implementation plan in close collaboration with companies and strategic partners across the region.
Despite current macroeconomic uncertainty – including global disruptions and industry restructuring – the regional mission remains firmly on track. “We must remain agile and responsive. Electrification is not a passing trend – it’s a long-term transformation,” says Anna-Lena Johansson.
The roadmap has been co-developed with industry stakeholders and outlines concrete actions, such as the launch of Battery Centre Gothenburg – now considered one of Europe’s most modern training facilities for industrial electrification and electromobility.
International collaboration to meet global demand
The region is also engaged in Voltage – an EU-funded project led by the Gothenburg Region. Involving Sweden, Finland, Germany, Portugal and Türkiye, the initiative focuses on building future-ready skills for the battery value chain and aligning training with international industry standards.
“We work closely with employers to ensure our training initiatives are aligned with the demand from the industry,” says Johansson. One such result is a new process operator programme – developed with flexibility in mind. “It’s not limited to battery production – it’s broad enough to serve industries like food processing and chemicals. That adaptability is key.”
Strengthening talent pipelines and international attractiveness
One of the region’s challenges – and opportunities – lies in elevating the public perception of industrial careers. That’s why increasing the sector’s attractiveness is a central pillar of the strategy. The goal is to strengthen awareness of the transformations taking place – including the green transition, digitalisation, electrification, and sustainability – and to position the battery and mobility sectors as exciting, future-proof career paths.
Efforts are now being increasingly aligned with Sweden’s new national STEM strategy, designed to boost technical education and encourage more young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“We recently brought together employers from the automotive sector and trade unions to identify key target groups. The next step is to implement targeted activities and create impact on the ground,” says Johansson. “Collaboration is our strength – and a competitive advantage. If we lead, we attract.”