Automation Region establishes new node in Skellefteå

Automation Region works to strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish industry with the help of research and innovation. We are now strengthening our national focus and offering by establishing a regional node for Västerbotten and Norrbotten based in Skellefteå.

– By connecting Sweden's strong industrial environments, we can create better opportunities to utilize our cutting-edge skills and drive the development of the industry of the future, says Catarina Berglund, process manager at Automation Region.

The competence challenge – of central importance

For the development of the new node in Västerbotten and Norrbotten, a business developer is currently being recruited to Skellefteå. The activities will include activities aimed at disseminating knowledge, strengthening networks and facilitating the development of innovations, production and new business models.

– We want to gather our industrial companies and build a commitment around digitization and automation, says Anja Palm, business manager in Skellefteå municipality. We have many strong companies here but also those that have a development journey to do. It is easier to learn from each other and work together if there is a common meeting place.

The industrial companies in Västerbotten and Norrbotten generally do not compete for the same customers but for the available expertise. There is a common will among companies to attract new talent to the region and also to increase the general knowledge in automation and digitization.

– Companies must work hard to be attractive employers, but it is also about seeing what can be done in a new way, says Anja Palm. Automation can be an important tool for managing the competence issue and Automation Region has a successful way of working to stimulate that development. For us, it is a great advantage to collaborate with an actor who is at the forefront instead of building your own model from the ground up.

Partnerships for the benefit of industry

Automation Region already has a very good collaboration with the business community in Västerbotten and Norrbotten. With the new node and the recruitment of a business developer to Skellefteå, this partnership is formalized. It provides greater opportunities to pursue joint strategic investments in, for example, skills supply and internationalization for the benefit of industrial companies in the two regions.

– We see great benefits from increased collaboration with industry and academia in Västerbotten and Norrbotten. The challenges in, for example, the supply of skills, digitalisation and the development of new business models are the same. At a national strategic level, and with our lessons from the pandemic, it is also about strengthening the supply chains in the face of future strains on society.

More information:

Catarina Berglund
catarina.berglund@automationregion.com
073-662 15 20

Anja Palm
anja.palm@skelleftea.se
070-311 35 83