The Nobel Prize: A Nobel effect on the business climate in Stockholm

Alfred Nobel and the prize have contributed to Stockholm’s position as one of the most innovative regions worldwide. Such inventions as the refrigerator and the mobile phone have their origin in Stockholm. And contemporary household name successes include Skype, Minecraft and Spotify.

During his lifetime, Alfred Nobel started many companies and factories all over Europe and North America. In 1873 Nobel moved to Paris, where he lived for almost 20 years before he left the country following a dispute with the French authorities. Nobel spent the last five years of his life in San Remo, Italy, where he died in 1896.

Despite Alfred Nobel’s cosmopolitan lifestyle (author Victor Hugo is said to have called him “the wealthiest vagabond in Europe”), the prize he established is strongly associated with Stockholm and its scientific and cultural institutions.

Stockholm draws attention for its...

… competitiveness

Stockholm is considered to be the Intellectual Capital of Europe and holds top position in terms of health, security and standard of living in a comparison of 26 of the world’s capital cities according to “the Cities of Opportunity Index 2012”. According to a financial comparison of the 27 capitals, creative people are drawn to Stockholm. Stockholm also ranks as eighth in number of corporate global headquarters by Forbes 2000.
Read more: http://www.pwc.com/us/en/cities-of-opportunity/index.jhtml?WT.ac=vt-cities

… innovations

In the 2012 Global Innovation Index, the Stockholm region ranks second only to Switzerland. Sweden is also considered to be “The top EU innovator” and leads in three of eight criteria: Human resources, Finance and support, and Firm investments, as ranked by the European Innovation Scoreboard.
Read more: http://www.globalinnovationindex.org/gii/main/fullreport/index.html

… medical sciences

Karolinska Institutet is the highest ranking non-Anglo Saxon medical university according to Times Higher Education’s subject-specific ranking for Clinical, Pre-Clinical & Health Universities. The new Karolinska University Hospital, set to open in 2016, will engage in highly specialized medical care as well as world-class research and education. Stockholm’s enlightened health climate extends to exhaust emissions and the city boasts low levels compared with other European capitals.
Read more: http://www.arwu.org 
http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?l=en&d=130&a=151181&newsdep=130

… startup ecosystem

Stockholm is a renowned city for innovative startups, with a long track record of global successful. Spotify, Klarna, Mojang, Dice and Skype are just a few examples. These successes are often the result of a creative combination of technical know-how, disruptive business models, leading digital infrastructure. Both local and national government has enabled and promoted creative thinking and innovation. Stockholm is also at the forefront regarding applications for high-tech patents, according to a comparison conducted by Mälardalsrådet.
Read more: http://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/2012/09/19/startups-global-cities.fortune/3.html

… knowledge

According to the World Knowledge Competitiveness Index, Stockholm is Europe’s leading knowledge region and ranks sixth worldwide.
Read more: www.cforic.org/pages/wkci2008.php

… research and development

Stockholm and Sweden are leading powerhouses in research and development, also compared with countries outside the EU.
Read more: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/eurostat/home

… hotspot for investments

Stockholm ranks just behind London for investment opportunities based on economic potential, human resources, cost effectiveness, quality of life, infrastructure, business and friendly environment.
Read more: http://www.fdiintelligence.com

… foreign direct investment

The Stockholm region was the European Overall Winner in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in a ranking conducted by FDI Intelligence earlier this year. Stockholm was also picked as the Overall Winner in the Quality of Life category, won the second place in Business Friendliness and third place in Economic Potential. The City of Stockholm came in second place in the Quality of Life category among the top 10 Major Cities just after Paris, but ahead of Copenhagen and London.
Read more: http://www.fdiintelligence.com

The Stockholm region in brief
Inhabitants: 3.4 million
Workforce: 1.8 million
Universities: 28
Researchers: 8,400
Students: 108,000
Companies: 360,000
RGDP: €130 billion
RGDP / GDP: 40.7 per cent. EU 31.6 per cent, Germany 38 per cent.

Stockholm ranks in 8th place in Europe regarding regional GDP according to the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (NUTS-1).

For more information

Ann-Charlotte Jönsson, PR Manager, Stockholm Business Region, ann-charlotte.jonsson@stockholm.se