Powering the effort are leading companies such as ABB, Combient, Ericsson, SKF and Tetra Pak, together with the Swedish Government and other key players such as the Swedish Energy Agency, Ignite Sweden, KTH, RISE, SISP and Vinnova.

"Sweden taking part in the Hannover Fair next year creates unique opportunities for Swedish companies," says Teppo Tauriainen, Foreign Affairs Minister for Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Here they can find new partners and sales channels and reach out to more markets.

"The fair also offers opportunities for foreign companies that are considering investing in Sweden to make contacts. The Hannover Trade Fair is an important meeting place for various players in the smart industry - within business, politics, academia and organizations."

Ylva Berg, President of Business Sweden, which has the government’s mandate to lead the project, adds, "As a partner country, Sweden and Swedish companies will be at the center of the Hannover Fair. It is a golden opportunity for companies to establish new contacts, build new contexts and enter into new partnerships to increase their global business in the long run. Under the concept ‘Sweden Co-Lab.’ we can position ourselves as the whole world's greenhouse for innovative collaborations, where Swedish companies become the obvious partner."

Johan Söderström, Country Managing Director ABB Sweden agrees. "Together with other partners and companies in the Swedish pavilion, we look forward to highlighting how we create sustainable value chains through collaboration in digitalization, electrification and robotization," he comments. "We want to show that, with the help of ABB's technology and people, we together can take advantage of the enormous opportunities we see for the development of the industry. Together, we also strengthen our overall innovation and competitiveness."

Sweden Co-Lab

The theme of the partnership is Sweden Co-Lab, a combination of co-creation (Co) and innovation (Lab). With good examples and joint activities, Sweden will be seen as an industrial hotspot in the 1,000-square-meter pavilion at the Hannover Fair. With participation at the fair, Sweden aims to show the country’s overall competitiveness and how industry, together with startups and scaleups, develops new opportunities through digital solutions and new technologies. The combined image of Team Sweden will then be used for international visits and promotional trips.

The pavilion will be welcoming and invite cooperation, by being an attractive place where responsibility is shared and where the door is open to curious passers-by.

"We see the Hannover Fair 2019 as a great opportunity for Ericsson and Sweden," says Åsa Tamsons, Head of Technologies & New Businesses, Ericsson. "We are in a unique era where Industry 4.0 is happening while 5G is rolling out. Now it is possible to take the next step in automating and increasing the efficiency of industries using cellular technology. 5G, Artificial Intelligence and Edge computing are central to realizing smarter industries and thus a strategic focus area for Ericsson. As a Swedish company with operations in 180 countries, we are especially proud to participate in the Swedish presence at the Hannover Fair 2019, "

"Hello, let me introduce my friend"

"Hello let me introduce my friend" is a communication concept in which Sweden is given a voice and speaks about the strengths of the country and the importance of smart co-creation. Part of this concept will be to establish a gathering place to showcase exciting, world-class technology, products, services and solutions.

In the Pavilion, startup matchmaking is planned, as well as a series of activities to present smart collaborations between big and small companies and what these collaborations have generated. The Pavilion will invite inspiration, in-depth dialogue, creativity and networking.

"The different ways our leading companies collaborate together with Nordic startups and leading universities to create new sustainable forms of cooperation are world-class and something we look forward to sharing in Hannover," says Mats Agervi, CEO of Combient.

Cooperation is also on the mind of Johan Nilsson, Tetra Pak. "The future of the food industry is undoubtedly digital," he says. "It’s an area Tetra Pak has invested in a lot in recent years, and where we already create value for our customers. But to take full advantage of the opportunities means we as an industry need to continue to work together. So, we are looking forward to being at the Swedish Pavilion during Hannover Fair 2019."

"Hello, my name is Sweden"

The Hannover Trade Fair is the world's largest industrial fair with approximately 220,000 participants, 6,500 exhibitors, over 5 million meetings and 2,500 journalists. When Sweden invites the fair participants to co-creation, the slogan will be, "Hello, my name is Sweden, and I am about to tell you a secret." And the secret? It spelled cooperation.

"In our role as Sweden's research institute, we often lead cross-sectoral cooperation that enables new knowledge to be acquired that can develop into new products and services. Here we notice how trust in Swedish society and in Swedish business is a great asset" says Pia Sandvik, CEO of RISE." It’s something I think that the outside world thinks is exciting!"

Sweden Co-Lab Partners
Platinum Partners: ABB, Combient, Ericsson, SKF, Tetra Pak
Gold partners: Electrolux, Energy Agency, Höganäs, Husqvarna, Investor, LKAB, Mölnlycke, Munters, PIAB, SEB, Stora Enso, Vattenfall, Vinnova
Silver Partners: Garo AB, HMS Industrial Networks, Tacton
Small and medium sized corporations: Carryline AB, Detab Ecomat, Good Solutions Sweden AB, Mevisio AB, Primozone Production AB, PowerCell AB, SkyMaker AB. Some twenty companies also participate through Elmia Subcontractor, focusing on Swedish subcontractors. In addition, the Energy Agency invites small and medium-sized enterprises in the energy industry to exhibit.
Startup Partners: Business Sweden, Ignite Sweden, SISP, Vinnova
Public Partners: Business Region Skaraborg, Business Region Borås, Business Region Örebro, Hybrit, Invest in Dalarna Agency, Invest Skåne, Invest Stockholm, Position West Uddevalla, Production 2030, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Region Blekinge, Swedish Enterprise, Smart Industries, Swedish Chamber of Commerce, German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

For more information: www.swedenhannovermesse.com , www.hannovermesse.de