Northern Sweden Highlights Sustainable Innovation at World Expo 2025
From October 5–10, a delegation from Northern Sweden participated in World Expo 2025 in Osaka to forge new international partnerships and showcase the region’s innovations in cleantech, healthcare, and design. The trip was organized by North Sweden Cleantech in collaboration with Region Västerbotten, Västerbottens Chamber of Commerce, Business Sweden, and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).
The delegation included representatives from the region, North Sweden Cleantech, RISE, and several companies, including Aleva Sverige AB, Stunder Sverige AB, EduTechSmart AB, Hikki AB, Holma-Helsinglands AB, Boreal Orchards AB, and Valigent AB. Together, they showcased Northern Sweden’s innovative strengths on the international stage and opened doors for new collaborations and business opportunities.
New Research and Innovation Opportunities
At Keihanna Science City, an internationally recognized hub for research and innovation, the delegation met with ATR (Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International) and the Keihanna Global Innovation Ecosystem. The companies presented their work and initiated discussions on future collaborations.
The visit resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RISE Processum AB and ATR, marking an important step toward long-term research and innovation exchange. The agreement also provides startups from Northern Sweden with the opportunity to participate in Keihanna’s international accelerator programs, offering valuable international experience and networks.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RISE Processum AB and ATR — an important step toward long-term research exchange and new opportunities for Swedish startups to participate in international accelerator programs.
Northern Sweden in the Nordic Pavilion
In the Nordic Pavilion at the Expo, companies had the chance to present their solutions and connect with Japanese stakeholders. During Region Västerbotten and North Sweden Cleantech’s event “Northern Sweden – Driving Sustainable Development through Innovation in Cleantech, Healthcare, and Design”, panel discussions, company presentations, and musical performances by Sara Ajnnak and Johan Wållberg combined to create an inspiring environment for networking and exchanging ideas.
“Presenting our operations in the Nordic Pavilion gave us direct contact with potential partners and new ideas for collaboration,” says Per Enoksson, Hikki AB.
Hikki was one of the companies that had the opportunity to present its product in the Nordic Pavilion during the World Expo in Osaka.
Results and Next Steps
The week in Osaka delivered tangible outcomes. The delegation established new international contacts and collaborations across research, innovation, and business. The signing of the MoU between RISE Processum AB and ATR marked a key step toward long-term research exchange and enables startups from Northern Sweden to participate in international accelerator programs. At the same time, the trip increased the visibility of Northern Sweden and its companies in global sustainability initiatives.
“The MoU with ATR is a concrete step toward long-term research exchange that can have a significant impact on the region,” says Karin Johnson, RISE Processum AB.
With these new contacts, collaborations, and experiences, Northern Sweden has laid the foundation for continued development and new business opportunities, while further strengthening the region’s role as a driving force in the green transition.
The delegation trip was organized for North Sweden Cleantech through the project Innovationskraft för grön omställning (Innovation Power for Green Transition), which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Region Västerbotten, Piteå Municipality, Skellefteå Municipality, Umeå Municipality, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Arctic Business, BizMaker, Uminova Innovation, Piteå Science Park, Skellefteå Science City, PiteEnergi, Övik Energi AB, Skellefteå Kraft, Umeå Energi AB, Umeå Kommunföretag, and Vakin.