Östergötland offers high academic expertise through Linköping University, which has a wide range of activities across many different disciplines at three of the university's four campuses.
There are also important centers and major initiatives such as the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, the Analytic Imaging Diagnostics Arena, the Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, the Science for Life in Linköping, and the National Supercomputer Center.
Values that Östergötland can offer companies in Life Science
- Access to excellent knowledge in the field through many years of research and development at Linköping University.
- Access to high clinical competence through Linköping University Hospital.
- Opportunities to utilize local clinical testbeds for research and development.
- Opportunities to engage with strong research environments and ongoing projects and initiatives.
- A cohesive ecosystem that can provide support throughout all development phases of a company through access to a large and diverse network of stakeholders such as clinics, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovation systems, users, etc.
- Support in contact with municipalities regarding land access and other relevant issues for the establishment.
- Guidance on relevant public grants and corporate financing.
Industrial structure
Östergötland is home to a large number of companies and organizations that together form an industrial infrastructure that fosters innovations in everything from research tools, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics to medical technology. Östergötland currently hosts around 40 companies that together generate over 5 billion SEK in revenue and employ a significant number of people in the area. To highlight a few examples of companies in the Life Science sector, there are larger firms such as Sectra AB and AMRA Medical AB, as well as several smaller companies like Context Vision, Cambio, SyntheticMR, Worldish, Nordic Biomarker (Medirox), Dynamic Code, Clinical Trial Consultants, among others.
This film presents Östergötland’s strengths in visualization and image analysis related to life science, featuring examples from research and industry.
The region is home to three world-leading development environments within visualization, simulation, and image analysis: the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Visualiseringscenter C, and the Computer Vision Laboratory. These environments develop advanced solutions for visualizing complex data and enabling interaction with virtual models. This, in turn, has helped position Östergötland as a global player in the field.
At Linköping University, Visual Digital Futures is designated as a profile area – a strategic initiative that the university has chosen to prioritize. Several companies in the region also operate in this field, including AMRA Medical AB, which is presented in more detail in the film.
The regional innovation eco system
In Life Science, there are several actors in the innovation eco system, such as LiU Innovation, which assists students, researchers, and employees with idea development from early concept to finished product or service. They have innovation advisors who provide support on issues including business start-up and financing, and they maintain a strong network within the innovation eco system. Lead Business Incubator offers idea bearers and entrepreneurs a range of targeted resources and services to help companies achieve faster and more secure growth, including business coaching in Life Science. Linköping Science Park is a municipally owned company that works to ensure the growth and development of its 350 companies employing 6,500 people. They gather high-tech, innovative, and successful companies, most of which have emerged directly from or have strong connections to the research at Linköping University.
In addition to the high expertise of the actors in the innovation eco system in business areas, innovation support, patents, etc., there is also specialized knowledge in Life Science, e.g., concerning: Regulations for medical devices (Medical Device Regulation, MDR), CE marking, support for clinical trials, etc. Examples of areas where the innovation eco system can be helpful include:
- Identification of potential innovations in research projects.
- Support for entrepreneurs in both early and scaling phases.
- Identification of public funding.
- Analysis of production and processes.
- Analysis of business models.
- Contacts with research and other public actors relevant to the planned establishment.
Research at Linköping University
At Linköping University, research in the Life Science field is conducted broadly across many different disciplines on three of the university's four campuses. When Linköping University was established in the 1970s, Medical Technology was one of its cornerstones, and since then, the subject has had its own department where research and education have been conducted through a strong research infrastructure. Other important departments include: Department of Computer Science; Department of Health, Medicine, and Care; Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; and Department of Engineering and Science.
Research projects or other major initiatives at Linköping University include, among other things: Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Analytic Imaging Diagnostics Arena (AIDA), Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Science for Life in Linköping and National Supercomputer Center (NFC).
Competence supply
Linköping University, with approximately 40,000 students, ranks among the top 2% of universities in the world in several international rankings. The university has a strong focus on technical education and engineering programs. Relevant Life Science programs include: Medical Program, Master of Science in Medical Technology, Biomedical Engineering Master’s Program, Bachelor’s Program in Experimental and Industrial Biomedicine, and Master’s Program in Medical Science. Linköping University also has the capacity to conduct tailored training for already employed individuals based on the specific needs of organizations. Additionally, there are several vocational training programs relevant to the field, such as medical technicians.
Financing
Companies in the Life Science sector can benefit from a range of public support and financing opportunities. SWElife is a strategic innovation program aimed at strengthening health and Life Science in Sweden, thereby contributing to improved public health. Medtech4Health is also a strategic innovation program, focusing on medical technology as a catalyst for more medical technology ideas in healthcare, more efficient health and medical care, and a strengthened medical technology industry. The EU4Health program 2021-2027 is an initiative from the European Union that spans the period from 2021 to 2027. It was launched as part of the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to strengthen health systems within member countries and improve public health across Europe.
Regions have the opportunity, through the European Regional Development Fund, to promote various development initiatives connected to innovation and industry. In this program period, there is a special focus on Life Science. Support cannot be given directly to individual companies but can be provided to actors within the innovation eco system who can contribute to developing companies, industries, and value chains. The needs of the companies form the basis of the projects that this program finances.
The role of Region Östergötland as a regional investment promotion agency
Region Östergötland receives various establishment inquiries either through Business Sweden or directly from individual companies. The Region makes an initial assessment of which municipalities in the county may be relevant for the establishment and then sends out an inquiry to them. They respond on whether they believe the investment aligns with their strategies or if they otherwise have the prerequisites to accommodate the current establishment. Additionally, other support may be offered, such as assistance during site visits or other expert support based on the company’s or municipality's needs
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