Sweden’s Innovation Summit 2024: A milestone for the green transition

Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag 2024, which took place between 13 and 15 May, in the two Norrbotten cities of Boden and Luleå, became a significant platform to discuss and promote the green transition. Focusing on innovation and the role of the ecosystem in that transformation, the conference brought together 330 participants from across Sweden’s innovation communities, including representatives from academia, politics and business.

“We hope for a changed image of Northern Sweden where we now lead the green transition and where Sweden’s innovation ecosystem contributes to more strong startups and scaleups in, among other things, tech and social innovations”, says Sara Json Lindmark, Executive Director Luleå Science Park, after the conference.

SIR24 focused on three main themes that shaped the different sessions and discussions:

1. green re-industrialisation

How can technology and AI drive the green transition? What is the role of industry in this process and how can Sweden become a global leader by integrating advanced technologies and sustainable industrial practices? Within this theme, we heard from role models such as H2 Green Steel and Hybrit, who were shown as examples for future initiatives. Both highlighted the challenges and opportunities of combining traditional industry with modern technology to create a sustainable future.

Henrik Henriksson, CEO of H2 Green Steel, shared his company’s journey and their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by producing green steel.

“This is happening here and now. First we will produce green hydrogen and then green iron and green steel.”

“This is happening here and now. Sustainability and profitability go hand in hand, and I think we have a Swedish record for environmental permit testing. We are building a blueprint in Boden that can then be copied in other parts of the world. Our technology itself is not really that innovative, but rather the innovation lies in the business model. In 714 days (according to 15 May 2025, ed SISP) we will start the production process. First we will produce green hydrogen and then green iron and green steel,” said Henrik Henriksson.

2. Innovation and Entrepreneurship

How can innovation help shape the sustainable societies of the future? The discussions highlighted how startups and scaleups play a crucial role in creating sustainable solutions and business models. Participants gained insights into how to protect and support Swedish innovations in a global market. Sessions ranged from funding and support structures to the latest technological breakthroughs and how to put them into practice.

Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)*, Member of the Swedish Parliament and the Committee on Enterprise and Industry, highlighted the importance of investing in innovation, from research to commercialised companies.

“Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag gave hope for the future, everyone who attended is working on exciting ideas that will strengthen Swedish competitiveness and ensure that we emerge victorious from the many crises we see ahead.”

“The Swedish Innovation Riksdag gave me hope for the future, everyone who attended is working on exciting ideas that will strengthen Swedish competitiveness and ensure that we emerge victorious from the many crises we face. It made me realise how important policy support for Sweden’s innovation system is, and that we need to work together to overcome these tough times together. Next year, I hope more politicians will join us to gain insight into the great work being done by our science parks and incubators. With one year to go until the elections, I hope we will focus on the 2026 elections and what is at stake if we don’t invest in research and innovation,” said Mr Vencu Velasquez Castro.

3. Towards a Sustainable Future

How can we meet global challenges and ensure a successful transition? This theme highlighted concrete examples and discussions focussing on collaboration and networking as key factors to achieve long-term sustainability goals. Discussions emphasised the importance of integrating societal transitions into both local and national strategies.

An important part of this is talent attraction, and conference participants heard from Chana Svensson, who moved to northern Sweden from Florida and started working on recruitment in a groundbreaking way.

“The Swedish government is asleep when it comes to international talent attraction”

“You Swedes need to stop being so ordinary. You need to dare to stand out and do things differently. Otherwise, how will you manage to recruit the skills needed to achieve the green transition? The Swedish government is asleep when it comes to these issues,” said Chana Svensson.

Shared vision for the sustainable transition

Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag 2024 was not only an SISP annual conference, but also a milestone in Sweden’s work towards a green and sustainable future. With Boden and Luleå hosting this event, it clearly demonstrated how northern Sweden can lead the way in the global transition, and how collaboration and innovation are key to achieving our common sustainability goals. The two cities have become central hubs for the green societal transition in northern Sweden, which was clearly demonstrated during the days. With extensive investments totalling SEK 1400 billion in renewable energy, electrification and green steel, these regions are expected to attract 100 000 new inhabitants by 2035 and create tens of thousands of new jobs. This rapid development, which would normally take decades, is now happening in just a few years.

“I cannot emphasise enough the common conclusion of SIR 24, the green transition may have started in the North, but we are doing it together for Sweden AB”, says Thomas Fägerman, CEO Boden Business Park.

At a time when many countries are investing heavily in sustainability and green technology, Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag 2024 showed how Sweden can join forces to play a leading role on the global stage. By focussing on good examples, clear goals and cooperation across borders, Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag 2024 helped to set out a common vision for driving the sustainable transition forward, across the country.

“Next year we look forward to even greater political support”

“It’s fantastic that we managed to gather so many key players from all over Sweden for these days in Boden/Luleå. The event sold out a month beforehand, which is proof of how important a meeting place Sweden’s Innovation Riksdag actually is. Next year, we look forward to even greater support from politics,” concludes Stina Lantz, CEO SISP.

– All parliamentary parties were invited to the Swedish Innovation Riksdag 2024