Defence inWest showcased the strength of Trollhättan’s innovation ecosystem—defense, industry, and research working together

Defence inWest showcased the strength of Trollhättan’s innovation ecosystem—defense, industry, and research working together

Last week, Defence inWest brought together nearly 300 participants in Trollhättan for two days of dialogue, innovation and concrete examples of how Sweden can move faster from idea to defence capability. With strong regional expertise, international perspectives and new collaborations, the conference shows how Trollhättan continues to strengthen its role in total defence.

– This conference is important because it brings together small and large companies in a way that I believe has not been done before in Sweden. It also gives the defense authorities opportunities to collaborate directly with companies and demonstrate the needs we have as we now have to accelerate the process from innovation to production, says Henrik Bjelkow, UAS, Swedish Armed Forces.

From need to business – and from innovation to production

Defence inWest combined a conference and trade fair, where companies got a clearer picture of the Armed Forces' needs and how to become a supplier. At the same time, authorities, research actors and industry could meet in concrete discussions about solutions that already exist in the region.

In particular, the strengths of the automotive industry – its ability to quickly adapt, scale up and deliver – were highlighted as an important asset for total defense. This applies not least to the development of autonomous and remotely piloted drones, where several companies in the region are already contributing to the defense capabilities of both Sweden and Ukraine.

SVT also highlighted the development in a feature from the conference, where drone technology and the industry's adaptability were in focus: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/dronartillverkning-i-fokus-pa-forsvarskonferens-i-trollhattan

The exhibition also created a direct meeting place for dialogue, new collaborations and deeper partnerships.

– In Trollhättan, the expertise, research, automotive industry and collaboration are in place – and the ability to quickly translate it into concrete benefits for the defense industry. That is one of our strengths, says Peter Eriksson, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board in Trollhättan.

The innovation system that drives development forward

Innovatum Science Park and the region's collaborative environments were highlighted as a central part of the ecosystem that makes it possible to go from idea to industrial application.

– This initiative plays an important role for both the region and Sweden by helping to shape the ecosystems that our future industry needs. By bringing together leading players in defense, manufacturing and advanced technology, we can more quickly translate research into solutions that make a difference – for companies, for the supply of skills and for our common security, says Linda Bohlin, CEO of Innovatum Science Park.

International perspectives and new collaborations

Participants from Ukraine contributed experiences of how innovation and production can be quickly adjusted in a critical situation. Their participation opened up opportunities for future collaborations with Swedish companies, especially in drone technology and advanced manufacturing.

AMCC – a joint effort for future defense capabilities

The establishment of AMCC at the Production Technology Center (PTC) is an important part of the development that is now gaining momentum. The initiative will strengthen the ability to produce critical spare parts through additive manufacturing and marks the start of an in-depth collaboration between Trollhättan and the Swedish Armed Forces.

AMCC is a concrete example of how Innovatum Science Park, together with industry and academia, builds structures that make it possible to move from need to solution – and from research to commercialization and industrialization.

Trollhättan's growing role in total defense

With strong industrial expertise, established test and demo environments and a well-functioning innovation system, Trollhättan and the Västra Götaland region have good conditions to contribute to Sweden's defense capability.

Defence inWest shows how companies, authorities and academia can meet – and how new collaborations can take shape when the right actors gather in the same place.