Yet another successful matchmaking event organized by West Swedish Incubators

Yesterday, the West Swedish Incubators invited the industry and selected startups to a matchmaking event at Kronhuset Gothenburg. The aim of the event was to discuss how several large companies' work with innovation and what is required to approach large companies with their associated market.

First, a presentation about West Swedish Incubators was given by Helena Ströberg, Business Developer at GU Ventures and then the audience could listen to the panel discussion, Fire-side chat, that was moderated by Johan Sandwall, Head of Communications & Marketing at Chalmers Ventures. The panel included Mats Torring, Business Development, Stena Metall, Christian Jebsen, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Northvolt Volvo Cars Battery Factory (NOVO Energy), Johan Östling, Project Leader, Gothenburg Green City Zone, Ebba Fröling, COO, Mycorena AB, Stephanie Najafi och Jenny Johansson, Co-founders, EyeScanner Technology.

Here are some quotes of what was said:

• ”We wanted to team up with companies to be able to collaborate instead of competing with them, so we definitely believe in partnerships. Teaming up gives extra muscles. It takes time to build relationships with partners. Our aim is to make ambassadors within companies so we can sell in the big vision of getting the food industry to make the change towards more sustainable products. ” - Ebba Fröling, Mycorena.

• ”To combine and improve technology of today is the key to reach the goals of sustainability. That is why our region created Gothenburg Green City Zone where the aim is to be emission free by the year 2030 which it is a way to politically show that we are ambitious and want to make a change.” Johan Östling, Gothenburg Green City Zone

• ”New ideas is everything to us so even if we have a blueprint we are always looking for ways to make things more efficient and better. The reason we wanted to establish the company here in Gothenburg is that the innovation cluster are strong here and we are interested in ideas that can make our business more sustainable. Each day when I come to work at Lindholmen I see all these companies who are working towards the same goal and it inspires me and convinces me that we are in the right place.” - Christian Jebsen, Northvolt - Volvo Cars Battery Factory (NOVO Energy)

• ”Does it interest large companies to collaborate in startups? Yes. Sustainable use of materials includes new technology, logistics, new way of using the materials, water, everything that can help the industry to move forward, so of course it’s interesting to collaborate with new technology. For startups we can contribute as a first client using our knowledge and network and invest.”    - Mats Torring, Business Development, Stena Metall

• ”The tricky part is contact and timing so match making events really helped us with that. It’s important to be patient and build relationships over time because big companies have a much slower process than startups. These initialized contacts with companies has helped us knowing the needs of the companies and prioritize our strategies.” - Stephanie Najafi och Jenny Johansson, Co-founders, EyeScanner Technology.

• ”To sum up, it is always worth the risk of building relationships with the industry to be able to collaborate.” - Moderator Johan Sandwall, Head of Communications & Marketing at Chalmers Ventures

West Swedish Incubators is a EU-funded partnership project through the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) together with the Region of Vastra Gotaland, the University of Gothenburg and the incubators. The project aims to improve efficiency and to create more opportunities for collaborations for the region's startups. West Swedish Incubators includes Brewhouse, Chalmers Ventures, Founders Loft, GU Ventures, Inkubatorn i Borås, Innovatum Science Park, Sahlgrenska Science Park and Science Park Skövde.

More about West Swedish Incubators here.