Nordic Texas Initiative facilitates knowledge exchange

Image

Maureen McKelvey, Professor in Industrial Management and Director of the Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre and Helene Honeybone, Honorary Consul with Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Dallas, are very pleased with the visit and believe it will lead to many future collaborations and connections.

“Many thanks to our hosts in Gothenburg and Stockholm!Communication and discussion occurred between Swedish hosts, members from the Texas Delegation, Gothenburg U-GOT KIES researchers and graduate students in the MSc programme in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship. We engaged in roundtable discussions and public panel discussions as well as site visits, focusing on entrepreneurial ecosystems and building connections between USA and Sweden.”

Promoting and building entrepreneurial ecosystems 

Chalmers Innovation Office, together with Gothenburg U-GOT KIES, hosted a roundtable discussion about how entrepreneurial ecosystems really work. The focus was upon comparing North Texas and the Gothenburg region, as well as the roles of universities, economic development agencies, incubators and other support agencies in promoting technology and entrepreneurship. Representatives from Business Region Gothenburg, Chalmers Venture and University of Gothenburg presented the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Gothenburg and West Sweden. Linda McMahon, CEO of Dallas Economic Development Corporation provided valuable insights into the dynamic developments in North Texas in terms of technology, industry and talent attraction.

Building connections in technology and entrepreneurship between USA and Sweden

Image

A successful public panel with close to 100 participants was organized, between SACC-Dallas and Gothenburg U-GOT KIES. The theme for this public panel addressed geopolitics, with a specific focus on technology and entrepreneurship relationships, between the USA and Sweden. The two countries have traditionally had many links, and the panel included discussions on why and how to build synergies between the countries, including discussing some challenges & solutions for the future. These are topics we will return to in the upcoming Swedish Delegation to Texas 2025.

Regional development in an international world: Trends, opportunities & challenges

AstraZeneca and GoCo Health Innovation City hosted the second roundtable discussion on innovation in pharmaceuticals and medical technology, with prominent representatives from academia and the business sector sharing their views and insights.

Image

Site visits to two ecosystems - one in Life Science, one in Mobility Innovation

The Texas Delegation to Sweden 2025 had the opportunity to participate in two site visits, and we included graduate students to stimulate how knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship benefits from regional innovation ecosystems. A full day at AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca BioVenture Hub and GoCo Health Innovation City, all part of a major innovation ecosystem within Life Sciences in the Gothenburg area. The second visit was to RISE Proving Ground AstaZero, which was one of the world’s first full-scale independent test environment for the automated transport system of the future. 

Information and photos from the visit

• Visit to AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca BioVenture Hub and GoCo Health Innovation City
• Visit to RISE Proving Ground AstaZero

Students in Entrepreneurship: Dedicated Lecture by Professor Emily Choi and a visit to AstraZeneca 

One of the purposes with the Delegation is to give graduate students in the MSc programme in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg students the opportunity to connect with partners in technology, business and education. 

Emily Choi, Professor at SMU, Texas, had a very much appreciated teaching session with the title “A perspective on the evolution of entrepreneurship education: From startup tools to core curriculum, and where we’re headed next.” Also, as a part of the students’ activities in the course Methods for Practical Entrepreneurship 2, the students also joined the delegation for a full day site visit and roundtable discussions at AstraZeneca and GoCo. Link to LinkedIn post.