“Sweden can be better at marketing itself”

Britta Stensson, Head of Global Industry Network Life Science at Business Sweden, shares her view on Swedish Life Science.

What is Business Sweden’s focus for 2024?

– Our main focus is “business as usual”, i.e. to help Swedish companies grow internationally and to attract foreign investment to Sweden. Through our 45 offices abroad and our government mission, we can support Swedish companies on the ground and help them expand internationally. For small and medium-sized companies, we offer a range of free or subsidized services, all aimed at increasing internationalization. We also work closely with foreign companies already established in Sweden to help them stay and grow. Of course, we also want to increase foreign investment in Sweden, and here, for example, BIO Europe in Stockholm in November is an excellent opportunity. Together with SwedenBIO we will gather Swedish Life Science in a joint pavilion!

How does Sweden stand up to international competition?

– Sweden is and wants to be a leading life science nation. The Swedish LS miracle is based on world-leading research, high-quality healthcare, innovative research, unique digital technology capacity and health data, and a strong tradition of small business. In addition, we have a well developed system of science parks and incubators, as well as world-class research infrastructure.

What can Sweden do better?

– Sweden can be better at marketing itself! We are a little too cautious sometimes and perhaps think that good Life Science markets itself, but unfortunately that is not the case. We must also protect our position as a leading innovation country and ensure that we continue to be so. For the larger international companies – and of course for patients – clinical trials are an important issue. Finally, many smaller companies also need more funding, especially to scale up and grow. Business Sweden is working on all these issues, together with other actors in the ecosystem.

This interview was first published in SwedenBIOs annual report for 2023.