Business landscape in Gothenburg
Gothenburg is one of the fastest-growing regions in Europe, a key hub for Swedish R&D and home to many world-leading companies. In recent years, innovation in renowned industries such as automotive, life science and logistics, alongside growing sectors like gaming, AI, and healthcare have fuelled an outstanding investment in the Gothenburg area.
Expanding the labour market
The Gothenburg region is growing rapidly. The majority of the largest companies in the Gothenburg region engage in R&D at an exceptional level. Although this growth is most prominent within the business services sector (+4.6% between 2010-2019) and automotive, other businesses such as information and communication, health, gaming and real estate add depth to the local economy. As an English speaker looking for work opportunities in Gothenburg large international organisations, or agencies serving them, are good places to start.
Here are the largest companies in the Gothenburg region by number of employees:
Source: Statistics Sweden
Studiografen / Goteborg&Co
Other facts:
Small companies account for the majority of the region’s establishments.
Lowest unemployment among metropolitan regions in Sweden.
92% of all industries in Sweden are represented in the Gothenburg region.
A total of 750 industries identified in the region.
Around the Science Parks
Superstudio D&D / Goteborg&Co
A number of science parks have been established through cooperation between public and private stakeholders within the objective 'A leading knowledge region'. They play an essential strategic role in the region's work providing collaborative environments for joint research and innovation, entrepreneurship and support for startups and are very much linked to the universities.
Lindholmen Science Park AB (focuses on vehicles and ICT) applies for funding for itself and academic partners from the region. More than half of all projects concern transportation, and it also holds an extensive knowledge bank and unique experience in several areas, including ICT, AI, media and visualization.
Right in the middle of the Swedish technology cluster, Geely Innovation Centre has designed its own spot: Uni3. With co-working spaces, workshops, VR labs and an auditorium, the centre facilitates a dynamic environment where the best possible conditions for innovation are met.
Sweden's leading collaborative arena for urban development, Johanneberg Science Park, aims to strengthen the region's attractiveness, competitiveness and growth potential by exchanging ideas and knowledge between academia, business and societal actors.
Actors in the innovation ecosystem
The Swedish automotive industry is concentrated in the Gothenburg region. As one of the world’s most knowledge-intensive, the industry has grown enormously over the last decade. It is not only AB Volvo and Volvo Cars that are important players. CEVT and Polestar have grown considerably in the previous few years, and some other companies working as suppliers are popping up in this scene.
Major automotive companies:
Volvo Cars, CEVT, Polestar and Lynk & Co and major specialist subcontractors and partners such as SKF, Veoneer, Zenseact, Semcon and Ericsson, among others.
Trade and logistics play a central role in Gothenburg’s economy as it is the largest logistics hub in the country. With 30,500 employees, the region is the national centre for research and development within sustainable logistics and transportation solutions.
Gothenburg is also home to advanced proficiency in the ICT field. These companies have a solid position in embedded systems, infrastructure and cloud, mobile technologies, and visualisation and gaming.
In addition to the mentioned primary industries, Region Västra Götaland finances thematic programmes linked to priority areas such as Sustainable Energy and Bio-innovation, Life Science, Food production/Agriculture and Forestry, Sustainable Maritime Industries, Circular Fashion and Sustainable Interiors and Cultural and Creative Industries.
Employed +16 years of age, by sector 2018:
Source: Statistics Sweden
Where are the jobs available?
At occupational level, there is a significant shortage of highly skilled workers in professions such as care assessors, civil engineers, pre-school teachers, undergraduate nurses, engineers and technicians, IT specialists, teachers, specialist nurses, dental hygienists and veterinary surgeons.
There are also several occupations at other skill levels with significant skills shortages, such as plant workers, bus and tram drivers, electricians, agricultural and forestry machinery drivers, truck drivers, sheet metal workers, process and machine operators, steel and metal workers, butchers and nurses.
Happy Visuals / Goteborg&Co
Further facts:
Volvo Group has around 12,000 employees in the Gothenburg region.
Volvo Cars is the single largest private employer in the Gothenburg region.
Commerce and manufacturing, and mining accounted for more than half of the region's total turnover.
Life science is one of the fastest-growing industries in Gothenburg, with 7,000 employees.
Marine energy extraction, biotechnology and maritime operations, and fisheries and aquaculture employ 6,600 people.
Gothenburg has the world's most efficient energy recoveries from waste and the nation's highest wind power capacity in 2018 and 2019.
The cleantech cluster employs 8,600 people, and it's linked to a number of suppliers.
Startup scene
Gothenburg’s region is one of the largest startup hubs in the Nordic region. The outlook predicts continuous growth in the next few years thanks to public and private investment. The number of startups has rocketed since 2014, with the tech sector booming above all others.
Here we have listed some of the innovative Gothenburg tech startups that intend to take the business ecosystem in the city to the next level in 2021, as sourced from seedtable.com
Netclean creates technology that enables ethical businesses to protect their IT environment, disrupt the spread of child sexual abuse material, safeguard children and ultimately create a brighter future for children.
Minna Technologies is a world's leading subscription management platform - ready to integrate with retail banks.
Bokio works to create an easy to use, understandable and efficient way of administrating small and medium-sized businesses.
CELLINK is the leading bio convergence company that provides technologies, products and services to create, understand and master biology.
Heliospectra specializes in intelligent LED lighting systems for plant science and horticulture applications.
Johan Dahlquist / Goteborg&Co
Competitive on the international stage
1 ST
World's most sustainable destination (Global Destination Sustainability Index, 2019)
1 ST
Best logistics location in Sweden (Intelligent Logistik, 2020)
2 ND
Best for human capital and lifestyle among large European cities (fDi, 2020/21)
5 TH
Best for business friendliness among large European cities (fDi, 2020/21)
2 ND
of 50 cities: World's smartest cities (Future Today Institute, 2019)
9 TH
of 490 cities: Most liveable city in the world for European expats (ECA International, 2020)
References and webpages:
100% FACTS & FIGURES About doing business in the Gothenburg region 2020/21 - businessregiongoteborg.se
Rissola G. (editor), Sörvik J., Zingmark A. and Ardenfors M., Place-Based Innovation Ecosystems: Volvo companies in Gothenburg (Sweden), EUR 29494 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018.
Eures Services - Labour market information Sweden - Västra Götalands län
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/regional-innovation-monitor/base-profile/west-sweden
https://www.investingothenburg.com/insights/fact-figures
https://www.businessregiongoteborg.se/
http://www.chalmersventures.com/about/
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
Banner image: Anders Wester / Goteborg&Co
This Is Gothenburg [2023]
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