Next Innovation Policy Forum: A Nordic Piece of Europe’s Innovation Shift

As Europe enters a defining moment for innovation policy, stakeholders from across the Nordics and the EU are gathering in Gothenburg for the Next Innovation Policy Forum — a new initiative by Sweden Startup Nation, hosted alongside GoWest - Nordic Venture Capital Forum. The forum brings together some of the most influential voices in innovation policy at a time when several major EU processes are underway, including work on the upcoming European Innovation Act, which could significantly shape Europe’s technological competitiveness over the next decade.

For Ellinor Bokedal, CSO Ecosystems and Innovation Policy at Sweden Startup Nation and one of the driving forces behind the forum, the timing is no coincidence: “Sweden and the Nordics are already strong in deep tech, but we need better conditions to bring research-driven innovation to global markets. That requires the right capital, the right policy, and an ecosystem mindset — not siloed efforts.”

Why a Nordic Policy Forum — and Why Now?

Strengthening the Nordic innovation ecosystem requires both a strong policy platform and arenas where entrepreneurs, investors, and international actors can come together. Sweden Startup Nation from a national and European innovation-policy perspective, while GoWest adds a clear market and investor lens — where international relations, capital flows, and real-time startup needs become visible.

Vinnova also supports the initiative, recognizing that deep tech and capital must intersect if Sweden and Europe are to build and scale the next generation of technology companies. Together, these forces help shape a more unified and competitive Nordic position in Europe.

As Sofia Hjelmberg, the driving force behind GoWest, puts it: “For us, this is about connecting a European innovation ecosystem that is transforming rapidly. When startups, industry, investors, and policymakers share the same room, they develop a common understanding of both barriers and opportunities. That’s how we create direction and give the Nordic region a real opportunity to lead Europe’s next innovation chapter.”

This year's forum highlights three of Europe's most strategic areas:

1. Nordic Innovation Leadership in a New European Context

Europe is undergoing major structural shifts—from AI and quantum technology to bioinnovation, energy, and data-driven systems. The Nordics are ahead in many areas, yet still lack the shared tools needed for faster, cross-border scaling.

This discussion features representatives from the EIC - European Innovation Council, NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), the European Parliament, and leading Nordic experts.

2. The Role of Capital in Europe’s Competitiveness

Deep tech requires long-term, risk-tolerant capital. Yet European capital still moves too slowly and remains too fragmented. Discussions link to the Savings and Investment Union, the potential of pension capital, and new instruments such as the Scaleup Europe Fund.

Ellinor emphasizes the seriousness of the issue: “If we don't get the money together for deep tech now, we'll fall behind. It's as much about being competitive as it is about geopolitics.”

3. The Green Transition — With Industry as the Engine and Startups as the Catalyst

Energy systems, material technologies, and industrial electrification are undergoing massive transformation, but no single actor can drive this shift alone.

“Large companies need startups. Startups need testbeds, customers, and adaptive regulation. Real transformation happens when we work in consortia and clusters,” Ellinor notes.

Participants include technology-intensive industrial leaders such as Scania and Volvo, alongside emerging Nordic companies within energy, mobility, and advanced materials.

The Launch of Sweden Startup Next — a Nordic Building Block in Europe’s Data Economy

A key moment of the morning program is the launch of Sweden Startup Next — a national platform that consolidates reliable, harmonized, and up-to-date data on Swedish startups and scaleups.

The platform aims to enable smarter decisions, strengthen competitiveness, and guide interventions to where they create the most value. It supports better conditions for investment, policy development, resource allocation, and follow-up.

As Ellinor summarizes: “When we gain a clearer picture of the ecosystem, it becomes easier to see both needs and opportunities. That’s when innovation, growth, and international expansion can truly accelerate.”

A Forum with International Influence and Nordic Pragmatism

The forum brings together influential voices in innovation, capital markets, and tech policy across Europe, including Michiel Scheffer 🟥 (EIC), Simon Schaefer (Allied For Startups), and journalist Mimi Billing (Sifted), who will also moderate the sessions. Several speakers will move between the GoWest Main Stage and the policy forum, creating a unique cross-pollination between ecosystems, investors, and decision-makers.

Co-hosting the forum alongside GoWest is a deliberate strategic choice.

“We leverage each other’s strengths. Our forum deepens the conversation around policy, capital, and deep tech, while GoWest elevates the entrepreneurs. Together, it’s a win-win-win,” says Ellinor.

Why This Forum Matters

The Next Innovation Policy Forum is not designed merely to describe Europe’s challenges. It aims to clarify the role the Nordic region can and should take in the transformation ahead. Achieving this requires a strong link between political direction, capital market dynamics, and the innovation capacity within companies and research environments. Here, Vinnova plays a central role, with a mandate to drive system change and ensure that innovation policy responds to real-world needs.

It's about:

• accelerating deep tech to market,

• mobilizing long-term capital,

• building the next generation of industrial strengths,

• ensuring policy supports—rather than hinders—innovation,

• and using data to guide interventions and strengthen conditions for investment and future growth.

In short, it’s about defining the Nordic role in Europe’s next decade of innovation.

Anna Bergstrand, Head of Emerging Technologies and Companies at Vinnova, emphasizes the urgency: “Europe faces critical choices, and the Nordics have both the capabilities and the responsibility to set the direction. To succeed, we must build real bridges between policy, capital, and innovation. Forums like this create the arenas where visions of sustainable growth can be translated into concrete steps—together.”