How we changed the innovation system in South-West
Sweden, and the ambitious way forward
Oslo May 26th 2015
Olle Stenberg

CEO Marin Biogas

ISEA Associate

President Chalmers Innovation 1998-2011

Experienced innovation and incubator
manager, 100+ high tech start-ups
-1-
 Development of the innovation
system in South-West Sweden
Content
 Cornerstones necessary to build and
develop successful companies
 Way forward: Good examples
 Conclusions
-2-
The innovation system in South-West Sweden 20
years ago…
Incubators / Science Parks
 Few isolated initiatives
 Limited public financing
CHALMERS TEKNIKPARK
support
SAHLGRENSKA BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION
CENTER
 Low focus on
commercialization
Funding
 No business incubators
 Commercialization
methodology not
developed
-3-
The innovation system today
Incubators / Science Parks
 Numerous innovation
initiatives and actors
 Many public funding
programs
Funding
 Increased focus on
commercialization
 Several incubators
 Proven methodology
Others
-4-
Cornerstones necessary to build and develop successful
companies
Financing
Entrepreneurs
Successful
companies
Ideas
Methodology
-5-
The financing gap
Business cycle
Public
interests
Private
interests
GAP
Policy
R&D
Prototyping
Introduction
-6-
Expansion
Established
technology
Bridging the financing gap
R&D sponsors - Grants
Loan financing
Public
interests
Seed financing
Politik
R&D
Private
interests
Prototyping
Venture capital
Introduction
-7-
Expansion
Established
technology
Matching ideas and entrepreneurs
-8-
Way forward: Good examples
Chalmers Venture Creation Consolidation
+ 3 000
ideas evaluated
172
ventures created
+1 000
jobs created
78 %
survival rate
1st in Sweden
2nd in Europe
8th in the world
1st in Sweden
3rd in Europe
7th in the world
> 1 BSEK
total value of current
portfolio companies
-9-
Way forward: Good examples
Chalmers Venture Creation Consolidation
The objective:
“to become the best university in the world at
innovation and entrepreneurship”
How to achieve this:
+

Rebuild the group and gather strength

Consolidating Venture Creation operations at
Chalmers in a new subsidiary

300 million SEK in investment capital from
Chalmers University of Technology
Foundation, plus 150 million SEK to cover
operating costs
- 10 -
Way forward: Good examples
AstraZeneca BioVentureHub
- 11 -
Key success factors for developing successful
innovation systems
 Access to financing
Both public and private financing
 Creation of science parks / incubators with support from industry
For matching of entrepreneurs and ideas
 Coordination and enhancement of regional programs
E.g. VGR, Innovationsbron, Vinnova
 Utilize open system
Leverage strengths of the network
 Local representation
Avoid centralization on national level
- 12 -
Thank you !
Olle Stenberg
olle@marinbiogas.se
olle.stenberg@isea-sweden.com
Tel. +46 706 45 72 71
- 13 -