Strong growth for Uppsala’s life science companies. Powerful force of attraction for other businesses.

It is very pleasing to note that Uppsala’s industrial development continues unabated. Our region is home to many prosperous and profitable businesses. Particularly pleasing is that medium-sized companies with 10 to 100 employees continue to grow strongly. Together with the universities, hospitals and national authorities in the region, they exert a powerful force of attraction that can draw other companies to Uppsala, writes Erik Forsberg, Managing Director at Uppsala BIO.

Uppsala’s life science companies produce equipment, software, technical and biological ‘test-tube’ solutions as well as different types of systems for users worldwide. These technology and knowledge-intensive businesses make up a strong foundation of Uppsala County’s business community, and in the municipality itself, the largest companies operate exclusively in the life science sector.

Life science goods dominate exports
One important reason for this good development is the large increase in exporting companies in Uppsala County that we have witnessed so far this century. The globalisation of Uppsala’s businesses in general is clearly apparent, and when it comes to exports, life science companies dominate. Together they have a combined export value of more than SEK 25 billion per year.

The life science sector currently employs about 20% of Uppsala’s adult workforce and the number of life science jobs per capita is the highest in the country! Furthermore, the significance of this is even greater due to the so-called multiplier effect: every job within a life science company generates a number of additional jobs elsewhere.

Bucking the trend
Uppsala’s life science companies, together with its two universities, two university hospitals and the national authorities that are located here, attract other businesses. Companies such as hardware and software consultants, patent and law firms, contract manufacturers and other types of ventures, for example.

That it is businesses with 10 to 100 employees who grow strongly – over 30% in the last three years – is very positive, and something that we at Uppsala BIO have observed for a number of years now. This is contrary to the general trend in Sweden, where small businesses often find it hard to grow, despite many being created.

Why just Uppsala?
Why is this happening in Uppsala? The reasons are probably several. A combination of vigorous economic growth, an investment-friendly climate and a strong regional business culture built around research, entrepreneurial, corporate and commercial expertise!

Read more about the development of Uppsala’s life science companies. 

Successful strategy
Allow me to generalise a little from Uppsala’s perspective. I find it particularly interesting that some new companies choose a strategy that means they grow to more than 100 employees here. Consequently, in addition to R&D, they have time to establish functions that are often added to the growth phase, such as human resources, production, quality control, etc.

New strong national and international owners are good for these life science companies, and with their larger critical mass, including internal capabilities, it is likely that their owners and boards will take strategic decisions that increase the chances of them staying and growing Uppsala!

Three final comments
Finally, I would like to return to the strong collective ecosystem in Uppsala, and its importance for Uppsala’s attractiveness, and make three comments.

Firstly, UIC
Effective business incubators are an instrument that national authorities and regional owners have prioritised for promoting the growth of mainly small enterprises.

Our incubator, Uppsala Innovation Centre (UIC), stands out time after time thanks to its exceptional achievements. This fact has been recognised in UBI Global’s annual ranking of incubators with a university connection, where UIC this year has climbed to number four in the world! Moreover, UIC has now been awarded the key national assignment of coordinating the country’s incubators.

Read more about NPLS, the National Platform for Life Science Incubation.

Secondly, Innovation Akademiska
I also want to comment on Innovation Akademiska, whose activities have developed tremendously since Uppsala BIO, in collaboration with the university hospital, the Regional Federation for Uppsala County, Almi Företagspartner and others, initiated the concept under the name ‘The Innovative Hospital’ in 2008.

Uppsala BIO led the project during its initial years prior to the hospital employing an innovation coordinator to take over project management responsibility and continue developing the business.

It’s therefore great to hear Operations Manager Johan Kaarme’s story about how well Innovation Akademiska has succeeded.

Read more about Innovation Akademiska.

Thirdly, ordered introduction of digital services and products
Finally, I would also like to comment on Uppsala BIO’s work in the project ‘Ordered introduction of digital services and products’.

Partially linked to the development of Innovation Akademiska is the challenge for healthcare to fully implement the new technologies now being developed by companies so that citizens and patients will all benefit.

As a follow-up measure, therefore, Uppsala BIO has committed internal competencies to work for the orderly introduction of digital services and products via national collaboration.

The aim of the project is to clarify – and to develop – support for entrepreneurs, healthcare providers and patients that states how we can ensure that new digital technologies are taken up by the healthcare sector, regardless of whether the care is in county or municipal ownership or done in the home.

Today, it is very unclear for all concerned exactly what applies and work on implementation is thus difficult. But in spite of this drawback, ordered introduction is an important and highly-prioritised issue!

Read more about the ordered introduction of digital services and products. 

Digitization of industry and society continues apace, and Uppsala’s life science companies keep on growing!