There is a reason why leading global life-science companies like Pfizer, GE Healthcare, and Astra Zeneca choose to invest and grow in Stockholm-Uppsala. GE Healthcare’s investments over the last few years total 0.5 billion USD. Pfizer recently invested approximately 150 MUSD in a brand new manufacturing plant.
– We had the competence available, and we had land, explains Simon Orchard, head of Pfizer’s plant in Strängnäs. Within one hour’s drive, you will find Scandinavia’s largest and perhaps most well-trained workforce. Stockholm-Uppsala is home to over 3 million people.
The level of employment in knowledge-intensive sectors is among the highest in Europe, as is the general educational standard.
This is Scandinavia’s leading life-science center. A vigorous cluster of more than 500 life-science companies, often closely allied with universities and researchers, key regulatory authorities and healthcare. The geography is tight, and so is the cooperation.
An innovative climate
Few industries are so dependent on innovations and working relationships with frontline research as the life sciences. Just such a close relation between industry and academy has a long history in Stockholm-Uppsala. With hundreds of research groups at six universities and three university hospitals, opportunities for innovative collaboration abound.
The close proximity to world-renowned universities like Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University, tightly allied with their respective university hospitals, is invaluable. As is the combination of cross-disciplinary frames of mind and the strong tradition of life-science researchers cooperating with industry – and vice-versa.
A full-value network
All essential parts of the industrial network are in place. Complementary ICT skills are abundant in Stockholm-Uppsala. You will also find a panoply of service companies and sub-suppliers specialized in all stages of life-science industrial development – from early proof-of-concept studies to market applications and from synthesis to GMP production. They are all here, eager to take on and help your business too.
A hidden treasure in this global life-science region is the action-oriented Swedish management that contributes to both the quality and the speed with which projects are delivered.
– The Swedish culture is very strong in team deliveries, which fits well with pharmaceutical R&D output, says Jan Lundberg, Executive Vice President, Global Discovery Research, Astra Zeneca, Södertälje.
Infrastructure for life-science growth
From Arlanda international airport, you will reach universities, most companies and leading authorities like the Swedish Medical Products Agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring in less than one hour. And the possibilities to find suitable land, production sites or ready-made laboratories and offices are many.
And quality-of-life for life-science employees
To start a new life in a new region can be a challenge. It is certainly easier when you discover international schools and nurseries of high quality, plus a wide range of cultural activities like opera houses, museums and gourmet restaurants. Others prefer the proximity to forests and lakes. Some don’t even bother to choose!
Inward investment service
Companies from the whole world wanting to give their projects a real chance to develop in Stockholm-Uppsala’s rich life-science environment get speedy and professional assistance, free of charge, from Stockholm Business Region Development and the City of Uppsala. Specific information on costs, business opportunities, business facilities and assisting families settling are typical examples on how they can help.