Umeå Hosts SNIUS Annual Conference – Driving Collaboration for a Circular Future
Umeå hosted this year’s national conference for SNIUS – Sweden’s Network for Industrial and Urban Symbiosis. Over two days, researchers, businesses, municipalities, and government agencies from across the country came together to share experiences and explore new ways to collaborate on circular solutions.
Industrial and urban symbiosis connects different actors so that waste, energy, and by-products from one organization can become resources for another. This approach not only reduces environmental impact and costs but also creates new business opportunities.
“Industrial and urban symbiosis is about building connections that strengthen both sustainability and competitiveness. The fact that Umeå brings together so many stakeholders shows how we are collectively driving progress toward a sustainable future,” says Nina Rismalm, Business Developer at Umeå Municipality and Head of Innovation and Collaboration at Umeå Eco Industrial Park.
The conference featured presentations and discussions on topics such as circular business development, resource-efficient industry, and how cities can foster structures that support symbiosis between companies and public institutions. Participants also learned from ongoing initiatives in northern Sweden, where collaboration between industry, academia, and municipalities is generating new circular solutions.
The event was organized by Umeå Municipality, North Sweden Cleantech, and SNIUS.
“Northern Sweden boasts a strong industrial base, innovative energy, and a willingness to collaborate across sectors. The SNIUS conference highlights the value of knowledge-sharing and partnership,” says Peter Hedman, Project Manager for North Sweden Cleantech’s Innovation Power for Green Transition initiative.
Hosting this year’s conference in Umeå underscores the region’s leading role in the green transition, demonstrating how collaboration between research, industry, and society is key to building a sustainable and competitive future.