Over 200 meetings booked during two days of networking

Västerås, Sweden was buzzing with opportunity at the SEEAC Business-to-Business Matchmaking event. This is the first of this event arranged by Enterprise Europe Networkin collaboration with the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce. The areas focused on were: Sustainability, Energy -Environment -Accessibility and Construction. On May 23rd, 50 hopeful expanding businesses from around the world gathered at the Elite Stadshotellet in Västerås for seminars, networkinging, business-to-business matchmaking sessions and site visits to exemplary Stockholm projects. The international event welcomed companies from Sweden, the United States, Malta, Poland, Estonia, and Spain. All of the companies in attendance were involved in either the construction, energy, environment or accessibility industries.

This was certainly a matchmaking event not to be missed. As the main focus of the event, eight hours were delegated solely to business matchmaking over two days. These interactions were designed to initiate new relationships between multinational businesses and develop cross-border business opportunities. Companies were able to request meetings with other participating companies and pre booked over 200 matchmaking meetings in advance. Within a fun and interactive “speed dating” model, cooperating companies broadened their contact network, formed new relationships and established new partners in the fields of development, manufacturing and marketing. Networking was constantly going on, it never ceased. In addition to the multitude of pre-arranged meetings, companies made new connections and scheduled impromptu sessions with unexplored potential partners during informal activities. Speaker and participant, Stephen Von Rump, CEO of GiraffTechnologiesnoted his positive experience with the matchmaking aspect of this event, praising the fact that many of the business connections formed at the SEEAC B2B event have already proved useful in achieving results.

Wednesday began with opening speeches by Ingemar Skogö, Governor of VästmanlandCountyand Lilla Persson, Mayor of Västerås. Throughout the rest of the day a number of fascinating seminar and lectures were held. Annika Rembe, Director General of the SwedishInstitute, detailed Sweden’s evolving business climate while duo Stephen Von Rump, CEO of Giraff Technologies, and Mats Rundqvist, Project Manager of the City of Västerås, presented an informative and encouraging tutorial “Private/Public Collaboration” using Giraff Technologies’ business model and Västerås City as an example. Giraff Technologies AB has created a mobile videoconferencing product that has revolutionized home care through innovative technology. Further networking and matchmaking events concluded the exciting first day. Thursday’s highlights included seminars by Bo Göransson of the City of Västerås, Mikael Söderberg of Bostads AB Mimer, and Henrik Näsström of Mälarenergi AB relating to the three major components of low-energy housing projects: city involvement, building and energy resources, using each of their perspective companies as models. Another round of business matchmaking followed. Participants later visited the sites of two of Stockholm’s most innovative projects: Hammarby Sjöstad, a developed Stockholm area designed to integrate technology and green living, and the elderly care facility at Attendo Kungshamm.

As the first “SEEAC B2B” event for the Enterprise Europe Network together with the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, it was a great success.  Guests acclaimed the stimulating networking atmosphere, the abundance of possible connections and praised the event as “one of the best.” Participants and organizers are already looking forward to next year’s event.