Welcome!

Per Thöresson, Ambassador of Sweden to Germany

Welcoming remarks from Claudia Dörr-Voß, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Welcoming remarks from Emil Högberg, State Secretary, Swedish Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, EU-member states have decided to allocate approximately €720 billion to support reforms and investments undertaken by member states. The allocated funds go under the name Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFR) and is an unprecedented opportunity to speed up the recovery in Europe and reinforce the commitment to the twin transition: green and digital. What does this mean for Sweden and Germany and what business opportunities does the RFR convey? 

• Anna Liberg, Trade & Invest Commissioner of Sweden to Germany, Business Sweden

The automotive industry is a core part of the German business landscape. Now, it is challenging itself by longstanding actors renewing their offers to become more green and innovative, but also through new actors - like the Swedish car manufacturer Polestar - that are challenging the industry even further. 

• Alexander Lutz, Managing Director, Polestar Germany

Renewable energy is an important part of NextGenerationEU and the overarching EU-goal to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Swedish Vattenfall aims to "enable fossil-free living within one generation" and as a step on this journey they are collaborating with several actors, such as the municipal district heating supplier Wärme Hamburg. The public-private partnership aims to utilize Hamburg's wide variety of large industries and the easy access to renewable energy in northern Germany and together build one of the largest electrolyser plants in Europe.

• Oliver Weinmann, Managing Director, Vattenfall Innovation GmbH
• Christian Heine, Managing Director, Wärme Hamburg

The demand for lithium-ion batteries is strong and increasing across industries, and especially in the automotive industry the batteries are essential in the green development. Swedish lithium-ion battery manufacturer Northvolt has through German partnerships become an important player in the green transformation of the famous German automotive industry.

• Christofer Haux, Vice President Automotive & Foundry, Northvolt

Innovation and cooperation of SMEs are key for the Swedish and German economies. Vinnova and AiF Projekt GmbH (on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy)– the designated players for the bilateral cooperation from the Swedish and German side respectively – will give an update on current R&D related projects including an outlook for future cooperation.

• Bianca Dochtorowicz, Programme Manager, International Cooperation, Vinnova
• Paula Schnippering, Coordinator International Cooperation, AiF Projekt GmbH
  

The way firms and industries approach innovation must be reinvented to remain competitive in a decade defined by global challenges. Traditional organisational structures within R&D have become obsolete. Cross-discipline experimentation and collaborative innovation within business ecosystems and across sectors is key to success. How do we reinvent the way we innovate in order to stay competitive? How do we identify and work with partners for co-innovation? What does it mean for Swedish-German collaboration?

• Rada Rodriguez, President Orgalim and Managing Director Signify DACH
• Niels Kunov, Managing Director, Charge Amps DACH
• Daniel Lundgren, Commercial Director, Siemens Energy AB

Light lunch powered by Vattenfall (for physical participants)

In the evening, the Swedish Enterprise Award  is awarded by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Germany together with Business Sweden and the Swedish Embassy. For further information, please visit schwedenkammer.de.