Västervik Drone Science Park

Friday, and what a great Friday in sunny 🌞Västerviks kommun.😎 Today, Västervik Drone Science Park (VDSP) took yet another important step towards our long-term visions and goals. Yesterday, the board of directors at SISP - Swedish Incubators & Science Parks approved our application for membership. This is an important step and acknowledgment of our past work, but especially our ongoing and future ambitions within the Swedish innovation ecosystem and our focused engagement within unmanned technologies and drones (UXV). Membership opens new important doors for VDSP as part of the Swedish innovation system. New cooperations, knowledge sharing with other members, project participations, triple-helix networks, the possibility to influence the Swedish innovation system, internationalization, etc. This, in the end, helps us even better support and make an impact on the drone industry at large, from start-ups and scale-ups to business development in more mature companies. 🚀 As a topping on the ice cream 🍦. I was also assigned the very experienced Robert Kingfors, CEO at Södertälje Science Park as “SISP new member mentor”. I know Robert from before, he is sharp, and I really like him, so a perfect match from my point of view! (Hope Robert think so too😅) I would like to thank the board of directors for their trust and belief in VDSP and our ongoing journey towards broading and scaling up our operations within our niche. Thank you!🙌 Also thank you, Stina Lantz and Jonas Michanek, for your help on the way and welcoming inclusive attitude🙌 #VDSP #Vastervikdsp #Västervikdsp #vastervikdronesciencepark #droneweek #UASforum #UASforumsweden #dronecentersweden #vastervikuas #UASvastervik #essw #vvk #sunnyvastervik #västervik #vastervik #kalmar #sweden #drones #dronetech #autonomoussystems #uas #uav #ugv #usv #uuv #uxv #aero #innovation #ai #iot #dualuse #SISP

Great work, very impressive work and pitch!!💪 We applaud you in the Nordics!👏👏😀

"We need vision, leadership and courage. There is a new society coming and we want to be a part of it." Carl-Henric Svanberg's quote sets the tone for why the conference Academia and Industry days is so important for Sweden right now. The participants and speakers, representing swedish academia and prominent tech-companies driving AI development in Sweden, gathered to join forces. With a sense of urgency, the following topics was dicsussed: • Collaboration is crucial: For Sweden to become a leading nation in AI, strong collaboration between industry, academia and other stakeholders is essential. • Unique strengths: Sweden should learn from the US, but use our own unique strenghts, such as responsible data management, to uphold our position as a leading innovative country. • Regulatory challenges: There are several regulatory challenges that need to be addressed to promote AI development in Europe. There is a risk that current regulations could be counterproductive. • Competence as a key factor: The need for highly skilled AI experts is crucial for Swedish companies and public sector. The 600 PhDs that will come out of WASP is a well needed addition to the competence in Sweden but more investments are needed.  • AI in society: The public sector will face challenges where AI will be an important tool to secure societal services. Now it's time to act. Thanks to all of the speakers, panelists and participants! Marcus Wallenberg, Sara Mazur, Anders Ynnerman Carl-Henrik Svanberg, Danica Kragic, Erik Ekudden, Karin Stacke Christoffer Petersson, Stas Krupenia, Daniel Akenine, Salla Franzén, Gustav Söderström, Nicolas Moch, Alexandra Kafka Larsson, Amy Loutfi Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse Wallenberg Investments AB Ericsson Sectra Zenseact Scania Group Microsoft Navigare Ventures Spotify SEBx Parsd #wasp #adademiaandindustrydays #event #AI

Friday, what an amazing week this has been! Tired, but inspired! 👍😀 Last two days I had the privilege to participate in WASP – Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program Academia and Industry Days 2024 at Clarion Hotel® Sign. The event had gathered 300 of Sweden’s leading industry leaders and academies/researchers (equally split between the sectors) under the same roof for two days. VERY impressive😲 The collective knowledge and resources in the room could probably single-handedly make the impact and long-term changes needed for our world and society, within all areas.🌍 IF...they find ways for close generous collaboration with Sweden Inc. long-term best as overall goal and KPI, which also was the overall theme for the conference, with technical focus on Ai. #WASP is such a platform and arena from my point of view, just this event showed their amazing ability to mobilize the two parts out of three needed for a triple-helix collaboration, Academia and Industry. If we also can add Government (triple-helix), and in some parts Civil-society, then we not only have triple-helix, instead quadruple-helix, which is needed for real change and impact!💪😎 Lots of great interesting keynotes, panels, workshops with actual problem solving tasks (love it!), time for mingling and lots more. Excellent conference👍 And what I always measure all events/conferences from is if people are interested in each other, easily accessible, inspired/active and the overall atmosphere🤩. ...Or the alternative, “secret”, "holding their cards tight", "staying on the sidelines", closed attitude😒. The #WASP Academia and Industry Days was without question the first alternative, which I love and makes me feel “at home”.🤗🙌 Some of Sweden’s most powerful industry leaders was happy to talk and listen to a PhD. student that took the courage to approach. Both industry and renowned researchers listened to each other, came up with suggestions for improvements/changes in both sectors. etc. etc. From listening and being a part of the discussions, I believe they step by step got much closer to each other. Both sectors want and need each other, they just need a focused forum and take time to meet.👍😃 An amazing atmosphere and conference that took real steps towards a better world and society! I cannot with words thank the #WASP Team and organization enough for the invitation and especially Jesper Tordenlid. What an amazing genuine, innovative and pragmatic "hands-on" person and leader that man is! Very inspiring to everyone around him, including me!🤗 Great with founding, but in the end, it is all about people!😉 #VDSP #Vastervikdsp #vastervikdronesciencepark #UASforum #UASforumsweden #Västervikdsp #västervik #vastervik #essw #vvk #kalmar #sweden #dronecentersweden #vastervikuas #drones #dronetech #autonomoussystems #uas #uav #ugv #usv #uuv #uxv #aero #innovation #ai #sunnyvastervik #saab #liu #wasp #waraps #thewallenbergecosystem #Wallenberg

It was a very inspiring day today at the yearly Innovair conference, first time for me.👍😀 Great program for the day and the participants are really Swedens top competence within aero. I am pretty sure, that if the participants had another day or two together, a completely new Swedish aircraft ready to take off would be the result! 💪😎 What also was very impressive was that it really was a Triple-Helix gathering, Academia, Government and Industry, and everybody was extremely open and welcoming as well as curious of getting to know each other. Exactly what I believe is necessary for driving innovation, cross-sector knowledge, and curiosity in others, which is often an underestimated factor. If you’re not curious in others, you won’t be able to find the common factors that’s needed for cooperation and innovation. As they say within sales, "you have two ears and one mouth"😉…same goes for initiating great innovation cooperations. Thank you very much Yvonne Rosmark for the invitation. Looking forward to further contact!👍😀 #VDSP #Vastervikdsp #vastervikdronesciencepark #UASforum #UASforumsweden #Västervikdsp #västervik #vastervik #essw #vvk #kalmar #sweden #dronecentersweden #vastervikuas #drones #dronetech #autonomoussystems #uas #uav #ugv #usv #uuv #uxv #aero #innovation #ai #sunnyvastervik #dualuse #defence #additivemanufacturing #3dprinting https://lnkd.in/dvAYirnz

🍂 Höstens nätverksträff – en inspirerande mötesplats för att stärka Sveriges #innovationsekosystem! I veckan samlades vi ett 70-tal verksamhetsledare, affärsutvecklare och affärscoacher för en nätverksträff. Aktuella utmaningar lyftes och vi diskuterade konkreta lösningar för att tillsammans skapa ännu mer värde för svenska #startups och #scaleups. Viktiga steg togs också mot nya samarbeten som stärker vårt gemensamma ekosystem. Det som genomsyrar träffarna är en stark pay-it-forward mentalitet och känslan av att vara en del av en större helhet. Genom att dela erfarenheter, lösa problem och blicka framåt skapar vi både starka relationer och konkreta lösningar – och vi har riktigt roligt tillsammans! Programmet bjöd på flera spännande insikter, bland annat: 🇸🇪 Det svenska inkubatorsystemet i ett internationellt perspektiv – tack till Rasmus Rahm från Handelshögskolan i Stockholm för värdefulla insikter och forskning om 20 år av inkubatorsystemets utveckling. 💫 Innovationsfronten – vad som är nytt och aktuellt, med värdefulla perspektiv från Vinnova. 🌍 Internationella spaningar – tack till Lena Miranda för intressanta reflektioner från IASP - International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation världskonferens, där globala trender inom science parks och innovationssystem diskuterades. 👩 Ökat inflöde av kvinnliga entreprenörer – viktiga samtal om hur vi kan främja jämställdhet i entreprenörskapet. Vi vill även rikta ett stort tack till alla andra som bidrog till programmet och gjorde träffen så innehållsrik och inspirerande. Ert engagemang är ovärderligt och har verkligen hjälpt till att lyfta diskussionerna och insikterna. Genom att samarbeta och dela kunskap bygger vi ett starkt ekosystem för innovation i Sverige. Vår gemenskap bygger på en kultur av att stötta varandra, vilket hjälper oss alla att växa och lyckas. Vi ser redan fram emot vårens träff! Anna Bergdahl - Vinnova, Annelie Rådhall – Borås INK, Carl Naumburg - Vinnova, Cathrine Åsklint - Vinnova, Ebba Modin - SISP, Ellinor Bokedal - SISP, Emelie Falk - Vinnova, Hanna Wiljebrand - SISP, Jessica Oldborn - Founders Loft, Jonas Michanek - SISP, Kjell Håkan Närfelt - Vinnova, Lena Miranda - Linköping Science Park, Madéleine Pilstrand Create Business Incubator, Magnus Bårdén - Compare, Martina Hegestig - LEAD (Business Incubator), Nadia Liljeroth - SISP, Neal Greenspan - Ideon Science Park, Stina Lantz – SISP, Ulrica Gellerstedt Witsch - SISP, Ulrika Malmqvist – Movexum AB.

When lunch-to-lunch gatherings end, there is an afternoon!👍😀 After the SISP - Swedish Incubators & Science Parks member gathering I went straight to the Skydd exhibition. The purpose was to meet some of the companies in the Västervik Drone Science Park Community and also get a feeling for where the security market is concerning UXV, and what technologies and companies are not within the UXV/drone segment today, but could be with the right matchmaking.💪 Since drones (air, land, on/under water) are enablers/transport for other technologies and payloads, it can open up for completely new business models and solutions. Being a “Back to the future” generation, first thing that catched my eye was a DeLorean (love cars!) in the Telcred stand. Unfortunately, I did not find a business connection, great company and services, but the drone connection was to long stretch even for me.😅 But I got to sit in a DeLorean!!🤗 But I meet upp ArmaTech AB and Robin Swärd who I know from before. They have great UXV technologies to offer, civil and defense. One thing they had not shown me before, was a very cool and useful small UGV. Loved it!!🥰 Their possibility to connect different UXV (UAV, UGV etc) to the same controller, with picture, remote control etc. Love the concept!! I would really like to have a "Sigyn" at VDSP to show… So, I will reach out to Axon to see what possibilities their might be…Sweden going for dual-use (civil-/defence collaboration), new NATO-member…VDSP focusing on UXV…might be a win-win here?😉 Also, I meet up with Gustav Gerdes and Termisk Systemteknik AB. Great company with thermal camera solutions with amazing specs and usage. Gustav is a well-known and highly respected drone operator/pilot, handling all types of missions, civil as well as top secret…Not even I know what cool stuff he does…But I know he does them toghether with us (VDSP)😅 I met SAR, Search and Rescue. I love the civil community, the true personal non-profit engagement at service for the society. I heard about them, know they been in Västervik, but never met them. Being strong believer in the Triple-helix model (Academia-Governemt-Industry), I must say that my engagement in Quadruple helix collaboration (Triple-helix+civil society) is my preferred model and future step for society at large.👍 You cannot compare salary based engagement, with personal non-profit engagement…Hats of for SAR, very professional organization, with no financial governmental support. But their contribution to the Police, civil society is huge. Politicians...1 SEK spent in the civil society gives 10 SEK back to the community…due to the non-profit personal element. So, support SAR!🙌 Conclusion, great exhibition and fair! I can also see that a lot of companies and technologies could benefit and broaden their market if they looked into how their technology and market could expand with the UXV community. VDSP has a lot of fun looking forward, connecting people and technologies!👍😀

This week just goes on delivering fun, inspiring meetings, new ideas, cooperation and knowledge! 👍😀 Great with lunch-to-lunch gatherings, when one ends, you can go to the next, only problem is you need to choose which lunch to have😅 The second one this week was from a professional standpoint the most inspiring and important. Västervik Drone Science Park has applied for membership in SISP - Swedish Incubators & Science Parks. SISP work is the foundation and the most important organization in Sweden’s innovation ecosystem according to me. They work high and low, to support and develop all the great innovation promoting organizations in Sweden, as well as the innovation ecosystem at large from a triple-helix perspective. As VDSP being an aspiring member, I was with short notice invited to the autumn conference, I of course rebooked my calendar!😇 The conference had a very interesting program, covering all kinds of topics, high and low, national/international, current state/future ambitions etc. Except for a great program and nice environment at Happy Tammsvik . Getting a chance to meet all the other highly competent and experienced people working daily to support Sweden’s innovators, startups, scaleups, researchers etc. was incredibly inspiring!😀 I also reflected on the complete honest welcome I felt.🤗 That is according to me a sign of a national innovation ecosystem that has a collective bigger vision for #Sweden, than just each single organizations operation, which often are more regional, and municipality based. The base-financing model in Sweden where Regions often are the most important financiers, looking to support their “backyard” is both a blessing and restraint. From my point of view, I hope that the Regions would see the advantages in working, collaborating, promoting etc. outside their own geographical domains. We operate in a global world, the companies we support need to be global! All steps outside the geographical borders, will in one way or another, benefit the own “backyard”. If you’re not “out in the world”, how will you achieve talent attraction? new business establishment? acquire knowledge? get growth? brand or profiling within an area of expertise etc.?😇 One of the recurring topics, is the ambitions for increased national collaboration for greater national impact for the innovation ecosystem. I believe that the welcome I got shows the sincerity and right attitude in those ambitions. Attitudes are the foundation towards goals.💪😎 SISP, with members backing up, is the way forward towards those ambitions. A necessity from a long term perspective for Sweden, the Nordics and Europe at large. Thank you Stina Lantz and your team for a great conference!🙏😀 (Forgot my swimming trunks, so I only had a sauna, though that nude bathing in the pool might not be the best first impression😅).

This year’s WASP Research Arena for Public Safety Demonstration Week at Gränsö Slott, Västervik, was a remarkable display of cutting-edge technology and explorative learning. The participants could witness autonomous agents in action, tackling real-world safety challenges from search and rescue operations, advanced air mobility, navigation in GNSS denied environments and much more. The event brought together brilliant minds from academia, industry, and society, fostering insightful discussions and collaborations. It was an inspiring week aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI and autonomy. Listen to Jesper Tordenlids (Project Manager WARA PS) thoughts about the week 👉https://lnkd.in/dXSQT-nh Read more at wasp-sweden.org: https://lnkd.in/d-d--Gnt #WASP #AI #Autonomy #PublicSafety #Innovation #demonstrationweek2024 #ExplorativeLearning

Very cool!👍😀 I had the opportunity to see it in a action in 🌞sunny Västerviks kommun during last WASP Research Arena for Public Safety Data collection week at Gränsö Slott i Västervik. I am sure visitors of next springs UAS Forum Sweden 20-21 may, where we collaborate with WAS-WARA-PS Data collection week, also will be able to see it in action👍😀 Last spring it was also possible to take a ride, unfortunately I did not have my swimming trunks with me... or luckily perhaps, quite cold in the water in may😅 Save the dates, you do not want to miss that!!👍😎 #VDSP #Vastervikdsp #vastervikdronesciencepark #UASforum #UASforumsweden #Västervikdsp #västervik #vastervik #essw #vvk #kalmar #sweden #dronecentersweden #vastervikuas #drones #dronetech #autonomoussystems #uas #uav #ugv #usv #uuv #uxv #aero #innovation #ai #sunnyvastervik #dualuse #defence #wasp #waraps #thewallenbergecosystem #Wallenberg