Ignite Sweden Summit 2024

Ignite Sweden Summit 2024

Coming Together to Tackle Tomorrow's Challenges
November 18 - Eskilstuna, Sweden

It's time for a new edition of Ignite Sweden Summit, our annual conference exclusive for Ignite members and special guests!

Join us for an insightful and inspiring event, where we will explore the power of startup collaborations to address the challenges of tomorrow. Our conference is dedicated to showcasing the best practices in startup collaboration and fostering meaningful connections across the innovation ecosystem.

Since 2017, the Ignite Sweden Summit has gathered hundreds of Swedish and international innovation leaders from corporates, the public sector, startups, scaleups, governmental agencies, and the broader innovation community. This year, we anticipate welcoming 200 enthusiastic participants to our conference.

This Year's Theme: "Coming Together to Tackle Tomorrow's Challenges"

The 2024 edition will be all about bringing together startup enthusiasts from various sectors to tackle tomorrow’s challenges through impactful partnerships and shared expertise.

The conference promises an exciting lineup of keynote speakers, collaboration stories, expert panels, fireside chats, round table discussions, and award ceremonies. Check out the full program below!

A strong focus will be placed on participant interaction, with ample opportunities for networking, mingling, and engaging in roundtable discussions.

You will also have the opportunity to explore local innovation hubs in Eskilstuna during the three tech visits scheduled for the morning of the event.

See you in Eskilstuna on November 18!

Join us for an inspiring conference that promises to be a highlight of the innovation!

Please note that this is an invitation-only conference. Use the code provided to you during registration to secure your spot. Interested in participating? Reach out to info@ignitesweden.org and let us know!

Ignite Sweden Summit 2024 is organized by Ignite Sweden in partnership with Eskilstuna Municipality, Electrification Hub, and the Swedish Energy Agency.

Conference Program
November 18, 13:00-17:00

The Ignite Sweden Summit will center on the theme, “Coming Together to Tackle Tomorrow’s Challenges”. The program is structured into four focused blocks, each highlighting best practices for every stage of the startup collaboration journey.

Each block features a TedX-style keynote, an in-depth panel or fireside chat to explore key topics, and interactive roundtable discussions where attendees can exchange insights and experiences. At the close of each block, an Ignite Award will be presented to honor the year’s most outstanding startup collaborations.

Block 1: Ignite the Spark
Building the Foundation for Successful Collaborations

Delve into the activation phase and discover how to prepare strategically for startup collaborations. Learn how to mobilize internal teams and foster a culture of innovation within your organization. Hear from two leaders—one from the private sector and one from the public sector—who have successfully embedded this approach and embraced working with startups.
Keynote Speaker: Sami Ahsani (Mölnlycke Health Care)
Fireside Chat: Annika Remaeus (Uppsala Municipality) and Marit Finch-Westin (Ignite Sweden).

Block 2: Defining the Future
Identifying and Prioritizing Innovation Needs

In this session, explore the needs assessment and scouting phases of startup collaboration. Discover how to articulate and prioritize your innovation challenges effectively and how to find the right startups to address them.
Keynote Speaker: Katarina Öquist (Epiroc)
Epiroc will showcase how defining specific innovation needs has led to impactful collaborations with startups.
Panel: Anna Olsson (Karlstad Innovation Park), Lina Blanking (Ignite Sweden), with more speakers to be confirmed.
The panel will discuss the importance of needs assessments, prioritizing innovation opportunities, and using scouting strategies that embrace unexpected and disruptive connections with startups.

Block 3: The First Connection
Maximizing Initial Meetings for Lasting Impact

Uncover best practices for conducting impactful first meetings with startups, creating a shared understanding, and setting the stage for meaningful collaborations.
Keynote Speaker: Liam Hardey (Cellfion)
Gain insights from Cellfion on how deeptech complexities can make or break a first encounter, and learn strategies for fostering productive conversations that require deeper corporate engagement.
Panel: Karl Eldebo (University of Linköping), Liam Hardey (Cellfion), Niklas Sikström (Ignite Sweden), with more speakers to be confirmed.
Panelists will explore Ignite’s approach to preparing both corporates, public organizations, and startups for impactful meetings, focusing on maximizing short interactions to uncover collaboration potential.

Block 4: Scaling Up Success
From Pilot to Rollout: Overcoming Scaling Challenges

This final block centers on the deal and scaling phase, highlighting how collaborations transition from pilot projects to full-scale implementations, expanding into new markets and creating new business opportunities.
Keynote Speaker: Katharina Paoli (Nudgd)
The startup Nudgd will present their journey from initial meetings to piloting and ultimately scaling up to successful partnerships.
Panel: Johan Almesjö (HBV), Johanna Zechel (Emulate Energy), Rickard Larsson (Uminova), and Sara Ceder (Energimyndigheten).
The panel will explore the importance of funding and project support for rapid scaling, discussing strategies to avoid getting stuck in pilot phases and achieve successful rollouts.

Tech Visits
November 18, 10:00-12:00

Ignite Sweden Summit begins this year with a series of tech visits to explore various innovative initiatives in the city of Eskilstuna. Please select your preferred visit when registering for the event.

You can choose one of the following visits:

1. Renewable Energy through Wind Power
Join us for an exclusive visit to Cloudberry's wind farm at Sundby and experience the inner workings of wind turbines firsthand. Wind power has seen the fastest growth among energy sources in recent years and is projected to become Sweden’s second-largest source of electricity in 2024. Daniel Kulin, responsible for Cloudberry’s project in Eskilstuna, will guide the tour and share insights on the local benefits of wind power, the business model, and its pivotal role in the energy transition.
Only 50 spots available for this visit. Transportation to and from the wind farm will be provided.

2. Circular and Social Innovation at ReTuna
ReTuna is the world’s first recycling mall, revolutionizing shopping in a climate-smart way by selling only items that have been recycled, reused, or produced organically and sustainably. More details about this visit coming soon!
Only 50 spots available for this visit. Transportation to and from ReTuna will be provided.

3. Eskilstuna's Energy Innovation Ecosystem
Explore two cutting-edge centers driving energy innovation in Eskilstuna: the Swedish Energy Agency’s Test Lab and the Energy Evolution Center—two successful projects focused on creating opportunities for businesses and startups.
At the Test Lab, products are rigorously tested for energy usage and functionality in a controlled lab setting, using international standards. Here, appliances like lighting, washing machines, and faucets are assessed to ensure they meet energy labeling and eco-design regulations, offering consumers reliable information.
The Eskilstuna Municipality’s Energy Evolution Center, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, fosters collaboration between public and private sectors to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and storage solutions, helping companies reduce grid strain and advance energy storage innovations.
Only 30 spots available for this visit.