Vikings invade the north east of England

The initiative is named Seagull and is run by among others Invest Sweden. Seagull’s purpose is to create relationships and to foster potential co-operation between Swedish and British small and medium sized enterprises active in digital media, clean technology, biotechnology and health. The collaboration is run by InvestSwedenand the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) together with a range of different competence centers inNewcastle.

Anglo-Swedish business partnerships are core-territory to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, which has its newest Chapter in North East England.  This leading Swedish business network and its north-east partner the NE CC  works closely with SEAGULL and all its project partners: UKTI, CELS, Codeworks, the Northern Offhsore Federation and NAREC.

On 23-26 May three separate events will be taking place in Newcastle including seminars, individual company meetings, company visits and networking opportunities. Around 60 representatives from Swedish companies and organizations will be participating in the events, and  will be looking for long term business and cooperation opportunities.

“We are naturally hoping to see increased flows of trade, investments and competences in both directions. The competence and knowledge that is available inNewcastleand in regions inSwedencomplement each other very well, says Börje Svanborg, Vice President, Regional Cooperation, InvestSweden.

Gun-Marie Östedt-Axelsson, project manager at Seagull is delighted about the commitment thatNewcastlehas shown and the response she has received from participating companies.

“To be able to host three parallel events within the project’s focus areas is very positive and verification that the Seagull concept is a good way of doing business”, she says.

“Through the Seagull project we are hoping to strengthen our regional cluster through foreign establishments and co-operations. Our companies are also given an opportunity to expand to a new market. Both of the regions complement each other well and we are now hoping to develop several new collaborations, says Ann-Mari Bartholdsson, project manager at Healthcare Technology Alliance and one of the participants inNewcastle.

Contact information:
Börje Svanborg, Vice President, Regional Cooperation, InvestSweden
Tel: +46 8-4027827; Mobile: 070-6427827; e-mail: borje.svanborg@investsweden.se
 
Gun-Marie Östedt-Axelsson, Project Manager, Seagull
Tel: +46 70-284 28 16; e-mail: gog.axelsson@telia.com

Peter Sandberg, Communications Manager, Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK
Tel: +44 7981 659501, e-mail: sandberg@scc.org.uk

About Invest Sweden: Invest Sweden is a government agency that works to internationalize the Swedish economy. By information and contacts take part in attracting foreign direct investments to Sweden. In Sweden Invest Sweden has offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg and we have foreign offices in the USA, Japan, China, India and Brazil. Read more at: www.investsweden.se

About Seagull: Seagull is an international project in collaboration between Invest Sweden, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) and Northeastern England with the purpose of creating relations and potential collaborations between Swedish and British SME-companies and organizations. Collaborators in Newcastle are among others UK Trade & Investment, Codeworks, The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (Cels), the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) , NOF Energy, The Swedish Chamber of Commerce and the Swedish Consulate. The project focuses on four sectors: Digital media, clean technology, biotechnology and aging and health

About the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK: The Swedish Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1906 and has around 400 Member companies, representing not only Swedish companies but also British and European companies interested in strengthening their existing ties with Sweden and the UK or expanding to new markets. Today the Swedish Chamber is one of the largest and most active foreign Chambers in the UK. www.scc.org.uk