National commitment and prioritised areas for development

Article · 2022-03-31

At Automation Region's Annual Meeting on 24 March, a progressive operational plan was established that will provide the direction of work efforts during the coming year. The starting point is a clear national commitment and focus on four prioritised areas for developing Swedish industry. New members were also elected to the Board and the meeting ended with mingling and socialising.

To the left, the Chair of the Annual meeting Magnus Månsson and Automation Region's Deputy Process Manager Daniel Boqvist, who submitted the operational plan. To the right, a meeting between three former Process Managers for Automation Region and a current one – Helena Jerregård, Karolina Rydell Winbo, Mikael Klintberg and Catarina Berglund.

Automation Region's operational plan for 2022 comprises a reinforced national focus, where the Process Managers and the Board will work with several strategic initiatives. For instance, the current establishment of a new business hub in Skellefteå is one of these. The aim is to develop and link regional areas of strength to strong national resources.

“Swedish national prosperity can be attributed to the fact that we have a competitive and sustainable industry which is continually innovating and developing,” says Daniel Boqvist, Deputy Process Manager at Automation Region. “Digitisation, automation and wide-ranging collaboration are key areas for further positive development, where Sweden can become a world leader in IndTech and sustainable industry.”

During the year, projects, investments and activities will help to develop four prioritised areas:

Increase R&D investment in Sweden
Bolster skills supply
Facilitate industry's climate transition
Gear up digitisation

Strengthening the Board

Two new members were elected to the Board – Johanna Brismar Skoog, Director Government Affairs at Business Sweden, and Magnus Welén, Regional Manager for Prevas in Mälardalen. Magnus Welén highlights the skills issue as an important reason for getting involved with Automation Region.

“Quite simply it’s all about people, technology is step two,” says Magnus Welén. “Developing people is crucial in the matter of skills supply, and here I believe that Automation Region can play a significant role in making Swedish industry more attractive.”

In addition, it was decided at the meeting to allow Ola Norén at ABB to continue as Chair of the Board for an additional year. Johan Stahre, Chalmers, Johanna Brismar Skoog, Business Sweden, and Magnus Welén, Prevas, were elected as Board members for a period of two years. Helena Jerregård, Mälardalen University, Eva Lilja, Västerås City and Christer Alzén, Region Västmanland, remain in their positions as Board members for one year. Stina Lantz, Ignite Sweden, and Johan Carlstedt, IVA, were elected as Deputy members and Damir Isovic represents Mälardalen University.

The annual meeting was held at the Hotel Plaza in Västerås and Magnus Månsson served as Chair.