Based on the county's industrial structure, there is also strong expertise in cellulose and lignin. The region offers a high level of academic expertise through Linköping University, which has a strong focus on materials science and functional materials. There are also research centers such as FunMat-II and the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability, which drive research and development in close collaboration with industry.
Values that Östergötland can offer companies in Materials
- Incubators and innovation support are provided by actors such as LEAD, Linköping Science Park, Norrköping Science Park, and Innovative Materials Arena.
- There is well-established collaboration with industry actors in electronics, energy, and manufacturing, creating good conditions for companies to develop their products and services.
- Knowledge dissemination from Linköping University, as well as establishing contacts with relevant researchers and students for various assignments (e.g., projects and thesis work).
- Relationship-building activities and contact points towards existing industry and potential partners.
- Support in the development of innovation, commercialization, internationalization, production, and processes.
- Support in liaising with municipalities regarding land access and other relevant establishment issues.
- Additionally, the region offers guidance on funding opportunities through EU programs, Vinnova, and regional innovation funds, which can be crucial for companies in the growth phase.
Industrial structure
Östergötland has a well-established ecosystem of companies and research actors within materials. In semiconductor technology, there are companies such as Teksic, SweGan, Polar Light Technologies, ST Microelectronics, and SGA. In printed and organic electronics, firms like DP Patterning, Epishine, Ligna Energy, and Ynvisible Production are present. For thin-film technology, key players include Impact Coatings, MIMSI Materials, Ionbond Sweden and Ionautics.
The industry in the region covers the entire value chain—from basic research and material development to industrial manufacturing and end products. The strong link between academia and industry provides companies with a unique opportunity to benefit from the latest research and to develop innovative solutions for future material needs.
The presence of major industry players in Östergötland, such as SAAB, Toyota MH, Gränges, Siemens Energy, and Hydro Extrusion, plays a crucial role in attracting international establishments in materials. These companies not only act as potential customers and partners but also create an innovative and business-oriented ecosystem that signals stability, expertise, and long-term growth potential.
Large companies often drive the development of new technologies, invest in testbeds, and enable scaling up industrialization—crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises and international actors considering establishing in the region. Collaborations with these key players allow foreign companies faster access to markets, infrastructure, and technical expertise. Moreover, they contribute to increased interest from investors and other industrial actors, further strengthening the region’s attractiveness.
This film highlights Östergötland’s strengths in functional and advanced materials and their real-world applications, showcasing examples from leading research and industry environments. The region unites internationally recognized expertise in smart and functional materials, driving innovation across multiple sectors.
At Linköping University, Materials Science for Sustainable Technologies is a strategic profile area. The university collaborates closely with industry to develop new functional materials for applications in medical technology, electronics, and sustainable manufacturing. Professor Magnus Berggren’s group conducts pioneering research in organic and printed materials, focusing on flexible, biocompatible, and energy-efficient systems that interact with biological environments and enable new types of sensors and electronic devices.
Saab (Svenska Aeroplan AB) in Linköping applies innovative functional material solutions in defense and security systems. Through collaborations in networks such as the Innovative Materials Arena, Saab advances research, testing, and industrial application of functional and advanced materials, bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and practical applications.
Research at Linköping University
Linköping University plays a central role in the development of materials through extensive research and close cooperation with industry. Research is conducted at several departments (IFM, ITN, and IEI) and their divisions, such as the Department of Semiconductor Materials, Chemistry, the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE), thin-film physics, and nanostructured materials. Through innovation support like PEA (Printed Electronics Arena), companies within printed and organic electronics and their users are supported by testing and developing their products in an research environment. The cluster/network Innovative Materials Arena aims to support companies within advanced or innovative materials, among other things through networking, joint problem-solving, ensuring good information dissemination within the network, sharing resources (equipment and expertise), knowledge-enhancing events, study visits, project initiation within the network, and with partners.
Many large research projects are underway focusing on developing new methods for producing composite semiconductors, bioelectronics for medical and energy applications, and sustainable materials for printed electronics and energy storage. AI-driven simulations are also used to improve material development processes and create more efficient and sustainable solutions. Material science at Linköping University is an established, world-leading research environment known for creating functional thin-film materials, advanced semiconductors, and unique nanomaterials. The university develops new material structures for energy storage, energy recovery, terahertz electronics, hard coatings, batteries, fuel cells, neutron optics, and much more.
Approximately 500+ people are engaged in materials research at LiU, making it impossible to describe all areas. Several fields are world-leading, and given the breadth, there is always strong expertise available in virtually any material area.
Test beds
To facilitate innovation and industrialization, several testbeds exist in the region. Printed Electronics Arena enables testing and demonstration of printed and organic electronics, while Innovative Materials Arena offers guidance on advanced equipment and collaboration opportunities. Additionally, Linköping University has research laboratories specialized in material characterization and manufacturing, providing companies access to advanced testing and analysis.
Competence supply
Linköping University, with about 40,000 students, ranks among the top 2% of higher education institutions worldwide in various international rankings. The university has a strong focus on technical education and engineering programs. It offers a range of programs in materials science, electronics, and nanotechnology. There are also opportunities for collaboration with industry through student projects and research partnerships. The doctoral education in materials science leads to expertise and experience in material development and advanced methods for creating these materials. It is an experimentally based science with close connections to theory and computational methods.
Financing
Companies in materials can benefit from a range of public support and funding opportunities. Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency offer support for innovation and industrialization, while the European Regional Development Fund finances materials-related projects. Regions have the opportunity through the European Regional Development Fund to promote various development initiatives related to innovation and business. Support cannot be provided directly to individual companies but to actors within the innovation support system, which in turn can help develop companies, industries, and value chains. The needs of companies form the basis of the projects financed by this program.
Additionally, Almi Företagspartner, beyond offering services in business development, can also provide financing through loans and venture capital.
The role of Region Östergötland as a regional investment promotion agency
Region Östergötland receives establishment inquiries either via Business Sweden or directly from individual companies. The region conducts an initial assessment of which municipalities in the county might be relevant for the establishment and then forwards a request to them. They respond whether they believe the investment aligns with their strategies or if they otherwise have the capacity to host the establishment. Additional support such as site visits can also be offered. In the materials sector, expert knowledge can be provided through Innovative Materials Arena, Norrköping Science Park, RISE, and Linköping University. This may involve specialized expertise relevant to both the specific company and the municipalities that could be pertinent for the establishment.
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