Innovationsdagen 2020 hölls som ett digitalt event och arrangerades av NorrlandsNavet - center för utveckling av företagsverksamhet i norra Sverige.
Innovation Day for entrepreneurship and development
This year's edition of Innovation Day at Luleå University of Technology was held as a digital event on the theme of entrepreneurial leadership, changing business models and how innovative ecosystems contribute to creating an attractive region.
The speakers offered insights from research and shared good examples of companies innovating their business model in changing times.
- The importance of companies' capacity to evolve and adapt their business model is becoming increasingly important for continued growth in a time when society is rapidly changing, said Johanna Carlsson, Project Coordinator of NorrlandsNavet - Center for Business Development in Northern Sweden, which hosted the Innovation Day.
Med kompetenser som mod, osäkerhetshantering, samarbete, ansvar, initiativ och kreativitet får man handlingskraft att agera och se nya möjligheter som leder till utveckling och värdeskapande, sade Mats Westerberg professor i entreprenörskap och innovation vid Luleå tekniska universitet.
Entrepreneurship that drives development
Mats Westerberg, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Luleå University of Technology, spoke about the ability of entrepreneurial individuals to create value by developing and constantly acquiring new knowledge. In research on entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial competence is defined by the acronym MOSAIK, which stands for courage, uncertainty management, cooperation, responsibility, initiative and creativity.
- With these competencies, you get the power to act and see new opportunities that lead to development and value creation, Mats Westerberg said.
David Sjödin är biträdande professor i entreprenörskap och innovation vid Luleå tekniska universitet och talade om hur man kan lyckas med affärsmodellsinnovation.
- Central to this is the customer focus and the importance of delivering solutions that solve the customer's problems and thereby create value, as well as adapting your own organization and its partnerships to achieve change," said David Sjödin.
Innovation for an attractive region
Per-Erik Andersson, strategist at Region Norrbotten, highlighted how innovative ecosystems can create an attractive region.
- We need to continue to collaborate and cooperate with other regions and countries as well as stimulate investments in research, development and innovations to create increased, sustainable growth. Working across borders in different areas and sectors improves the opportunities for new innovative companies, said Per-Erik Andersson.
Changed business model brought new customers
Josefin Nilsson and Niklas Bodin together run the ACTAS group, which has innovated its business model. The company originally focused on CE marking and certification mainly for companies in the basic industry. The new company ACTAS Space was formed after the founders saw great potential to also deliver expertise and consulting support to companies in the growing space industry.
- "Our goal is to create synergies between the basic industry and the growing space industry," said Josefin Nilsson.
University as an innovation engine
Viktoria Mattsson, Head of Collaboration, External Funding and Innovation at Luleå University of Technology, described the university's role as an innovation engine and talked about some of the collaborative projects that the university runs or is involved in, such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Mötesplats Social Innovation, NorrlandsNavet and LTU Professional Education.
Inspiration to dare to think big
The day was rounded off by Eric Thyrell, nominated for speaker of the year 2019, who gave an inspiring and humorous lecture on daring to think new, find your inner glow and the courage to face change in challenging times.
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