Snow, grey, damp, cold – the epitome of November and our Nordic ancestors’ picture of hell! In this “misery” people are busy laying the groundwork for future successes. Budget processes are ramping up and plans for the coming year are debated. The children next door built a snowman and I spent hours over the weekend looking for my gingerbread recipe, preparing for the upcoming Christmas season.

Central to my preparations for next year is the fact that GöteborgBIO will enter its 7^th of the 10 years financed under Vinnova’s Vinnväxt program. An evaluation will be carried out and the board shall set a new plan for the final three years.

We have spent the first six years on issues that were burning (or rather freezing!) back in the “entrepreneurial winter” after the millennium boom.  All the good forces here in Gothenburg have made a lot of progress since then.

There is a stronger, more diversified innovation support system. There are many more companies located in the Sahlgrenska Science Park. The school of entrepreneurship has expanded and become part of the established programs in our two universities. Västra Götalandsregionen and Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset have established Gothia Forum to stream line support to clinical research and taken steps to reinforce research internally. There are more funds available for early verification and commercialization of ideas. Companies have continued to grow successfully in spite of challenging business cycles. Some of them have been acquired and continued successes have proven the wisdom of those investments into the Göteborg region.

So, what are the main challenges today? How should they be tackled? And by whom?

These are the kind of questions I am contemplating.

 I would be most happy to get your input!

Bengt Belfrage

Process Leader, GöteborgBIO

Picture: Bengt Belfrage, contemplating in gloomy November...