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Skellefteå is where business, sustainability and quality of life come together.
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Skellefteå isn’t a big city, but we make big things happen. We have unique conditions for innovation, development and su...
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The whole of northern Sweden has ended up in a new light and Skellefteå is a central point. Not least our green energy p...
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In Skellefteå, a down-to-earth and unpretentious attitude has fostered a business environment where companies are well p...
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In Skellefteå, the entrepreneurial spirit has always been central, and there is plenty of room for new ideas. Right now,...
Skellefteå – Sustainable living. Thriving business.
Skellefteå is undergoing a unique transformation, leading the green transition vital to Sweden and Europe. From a once slightly stagnant municipality, it has emerged as a major European hub for green technology and sustainable growth.
Skellefteå is defined by an expansive, creative and industry-leading business community, supported by a broad and growing labour market. New companies are established, existing ones thrive, and innovation drives it all forward. We are here to support your journey - together, we’ll go far.
Our place
With abundant access to renewable energy, excellent transport connections, and essential natural resources in the region, Skellefteå is an ideal location for new industrial establishments.
- Skellefteå owns its own energy company, Skellefteå Kraft, where all in-house production comes from renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydropower.
- Home to a world-leading electronic waste recycling facility, where valuable materials like copper, gold, and silver are recovered.
- Skellefteå is at the forefront of biogas development, transforming food waste into sustainable energy.
- With 480,000 hectares of forest, Skellefteå provides a strong foundation for a thriving industry, deep expertise, and cutting-edge research in wood technology.
Our strength
In Skellefteå, there is a unique strength among the people, businesses, and the municipality - the entire community. And that strength takes us far! Skellefteå has access to the right expertise to meet the future needs of businesses.
- Skellefteå has a long history of large-scale, export-driven industry and the expertise to operate it sustainably.
- With access to renewable energy from the region and strategically located land, Skellefteå is particularly well-suited for energy-intensive industries.
- The city is also home to a thriving cluster of innovative start-ups, with The Lodge network, Skellefteå Science City, and the creative hub The Great Northern leading the way.
- Skellefteå Univerity Alliance (SUA) is based on groundbreaking collaboration between a consortium of higher education institutions in Skellefteå.
- Arctic Center of Enery (ACE) is an ambitious initiative to accelerate society’s sustainable energy transition. Through cutting-edge research and groundbreaking education, we create the knowledge and abilities required to succeed with the electrification of society.
Our future
We have set a vision that guides us toward a sustainable future -one we are determined to achieve.
Skellefteå’s vision: A forward-thinking and equal-growth municipality, an attractive place to live and work, with the goal of reaching 90,000 residents by 2030.
We have clear goals and strategies to grow sustainably -socially, economically, and environmentally.
Significant investments are being made in culture, events, and outdoor recreation.
BUSINESS CASES
Read the stories of companies in Skellefteå!
Here you will find reports on the companies and people that make Skellefteå the attractive place it is. Follow along!
Skellefteå cooperation that strengthens skills
Solvik Folk High School and Skellefteå Taxi developed a new and compressed taxi driver training course to meet the growing need for staffing in the region. Now they are getting ready for the spring semester's new course participants, and continue the successful collaboration. - This training is rooted in reality and what the job actually looks like. For us, it was valuable to be able to participate in the design of the course and contribute with our knowledge, says Sofie Strömberg, HR manager at Skellefteå Taxi .
Tobias was attracted by the developments in Skellefteå
Civil engineer Tobias Tonvall was faced with a life choice: should he stay in his home town of Luleå or move? Thanks to an advertisement from the consulting company Etteplan, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The company works actively to recruit from outside and notices a great interest in Skellefteå.
International expertise part of Altio's natural growth
The region's high demand for technology and process skills with a focus on innovation and sustainability attracted Hossein Ali Pour, 33, to Skellefteå. He now works at the forefront of the green transition through a stimulating hydrogen project as a consultant at Altio. - I see a promising future here in Skellefteå, says Hossein.
So many housing projects completed in Skellefteå in 2022
Construction cranes, rerouted roads and transformed areas. The image of the new Skellefteå growing at the seams has become a common sight. Now it is also clear that 800 new homes will be completed in 2022. - These are much rosier numbers than in 2011 when we sold a single villa plot. In 2023, at least as many homes will be built and we will continue to create opportunities for those who want to build, says Patrik Larsen, Head of Land and Development at Skellefteå Municipality.
How Mats got a job without the right industry experience: "We look for the right person instead"
How does a company navigate to find competent staff in a Skellefteå where the battle for new employees is fierce? Scandic dared to think outside the box and recruited Mats Bergqvist from the Church of Sweden, who is now studying Scandic's internal leadership training. - We would rather build and strengthen the individual than stare blindly at a CV. It's the person that's important," says Elin Burström, Hotel Director.
Skellefteå residents can now get ID cards at home
From 8 February, it will be possible to apply for a Swedish Tax Agency ID card at the State Service Centre's service office at Kanalgatan 77. This means that it will now be easier for residents of Skellefteå and the surrounding area to apply for an ID card.
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The chef couple from Peru and Portugal found their home in Skellefteå
Chefs Lizandro Quevedo and Maria Neves had long considered leaving Gothenburg for a smaller city. And when Lizandro saw that the municipality of Skellefteå was looking for chefs at the end of 2021, things happened fast. He sent in an application, got a call the next day, and then both he and Maria were offered jobs in Skellefteå municipality's kitchen. - It was a jackpot for everyone, says Lizandro.
Bryggargatan trains and recruits high school students to meet recruitment needs
Since itsinception in 2011, Bryggargatan has offered restaurant students internships and extra sessions while attending high school. The young people are trained and given more responsibility in the kitchen as their skills grow. - The restaurant and food programme has been our recruitment base for many years and we have the expertise to train the students. Only they are inspired and ready to do their best every day," says Bryggargatan's owner and founder Jon Oskar Arnason.
Former Minister of Education comes to Skellefteå to give a lecture during Pride week
Since 2014, Skellefteå municipality has invited to a lunch seminar in connection with the RFSL Pride week. This time it is time for Lina Axelsson Kihlblom, who became the first transsexual person in Sweden's government when she took office in 2021, to give a lecture. - It will be a story about a giant journey on a personal level that also reflects society, she says.
Inclusion - a key in Boliden's international recruitment
Skellefteå is expanding and the need for workers is great. Supplying skills is a challenge for many employers and international recruitment can be a solution. Boliden has recruited several talented people from other countries to Skellefteå and the mining company has methods to reach out to the right target groups and help new employees settle in when they arrive.
IT companies working together helped Elham find the right one
IT company Data Ductus was well advanced in the recruitment process with software developer Elham Ali. Then office manager AnnaCarin Falkman realised that Elham's skills would be an even better fit at Infovista, so she contacted Ulf Marklund, development manager at Infovista's Skellefteå office. It turned out to be a perfect match and since August Elham has been working as a developer at Infovista. - I am very grateful for this opportunity. The job was a turning point in my life, says Elham, who moved to Skellefteå in 2021 with her husband Hassan Farag, who got a job as a mechanical engineer at Northvolt.
The move was a hit for archer Andreas
For Andreas Häggström, his career journey has taken him north, from his hometown of Örnsköldsvik, to studies in Umeå before landing an engineering job in Skellefteå. Here, he has found the perfect mix of a stimulating job and family life with close proximity to leisure activities - without having to turn up the heat.
Bygg din strategi för kompetensförsörjning - vad som krävs för att lyckas
Do you want to become better at retaining and attracting employees to develop the right skills over time? Submit an expression of interest for a consultation or workshop on "Tough competition - what it takes to succeed in skills supply" and get started on building a sustainable and realistic skills supply strategy tailored to your business.
Seamless path of moving, studying and working for Sofia, Yasir and Mohamed
Did you know that it takes four months to train as an automation operator at Campus Skellefteå? Together with the industry, VUX has developed the training, which often means a job immediately after completing your studies. Sofia Waad graduated on a Friday in October and the following Monday she made her first day at Northvolt. - I thought, wow, this is going fast. But everything has worked out really well and I like the job very much," says the 24-year-old, who was helped by Relocate with the move from Höör to Skellefteå.
Tim was recruited before graduation
Tim Hisved from Boliden got a permanent job before graduating from Balder High School's electrical and energy programme this summer. The 18-year-old works as an apprentice at Boliden Electro and took time off work during his final year of high school to go to school. - A different but good solution, where both parties knew where we stood, says Tim .
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Cosy when returnees took over Skansen
After a two-year hiatus, the P.S. Missing You event was back at Skansen. The fun factor was high and the interest in the future of Piteå and Skellefteå, as well as the participating companies and authorities' offers, was great. The aim of the event is to provide information about all the exciting things happening in the region and hopefully attract expats and other curious people to choose Piteå and Skellefteå as their home town - in the near future or in the long term.
Skellefteå grows with more housing
In 2022, up to 1,000 homes will be completed, with thousands more expected in the future. We're building and planning like never before. New homes, neighbourhoods, workplaces and infrastructure are taking shape, and the need for land is great. That requires long-term thinking - and Skellefteå has it. Read more about the projects that will be ready for occupancy in 2022 here.
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Peter Larsson highlights Skellefteå's enormous social transformation
Peter Larsson is the government's coordinator for the major social transformation in northern Norrland. This work involves getting many different actors to work together. He believes in continued expansion in Skellefteå, even after Northvolt's battery factory is up and running . - Skellefteå will soon be a normal-sized Swedish city. Congratulations!" he says.
Nordsken - the revenge of the nerds
They get a bit sidelined. Is it sports? Is it culture? Hardly in the traditional sense. 30 million people watch e-sports every day, but we never read a mention of tournaments in it in the paper. A Division 4 football match, on the other hand. And can you recall reading a review of a LARP game? Yet it engages tens of thousands of Swedes and is rather like a very elaborate improvisational theatre. It would be easy to conclude that phenomena like cosplay, role-playing and fan fiction are virtually non-existent, not in northern Sweden anyway. But if you look a little closer, you'll find a vibrant movement. On 10-12 May, their big annual manifesto takes place in Skellefteå: Nordsken, northern Scandinavia's biggest gaming event.
Brokk - a global giant in its niche
Did you know that the world's leading manufacturer of remote controlled demolition robots is located in Skellefteå? With more than 90 percent of its sales coming from exports and a turnover of more than SEK 1 billion with good profitability, Brokk is a giant in its niche. - We are proud of our journey and of remaining in Skellefteå where it all began, says Joakim Furtenback, head of Brokk's marketing department.
Skellefteå's most eventful workplace
Are you a one-man business in need of new collaborations and an environment where you meet other competencies on a daily basis? Or are you mostly looking for new talent and need a good place to look? Maybe your company needs an injection of inspiration about the possibilities of digitalisation? If you answer yes to any of these questions, Skellefteå's new startup scene The Great Northern might be for you.
Visitors' Skellefteå worth investing in
The hospitality industry in Skellefteå is a growing billion-dollar industry. The last ten years have seen a 46% increase in guest nights at hotels and a new premium hotel is being built to better meet demand. But this is just the beginning according to Maria Broman, CEO of Visit Skellefteå, who sees huge potential in the location as travel patterns change to more value-driven and sustainable. - We have a lot to offer there, but to gear up we need new types of investment and to look at the place with new eyes, says Maria Broman.
Boliden is sitting on a gold mine of future technology
In an industry that globally remains in traditional mining, Boliden has undergone a digital transformation and positioned itself as one of the world's leading mines in terms of automation. Where the biggest mining giants - which can be ten times larger than Boliden - have not done their homework in digitisation, Boliden has already come a long way, launching remote-controlled wheel loaders and drill rigs, among others. The mining company is also in the process of replacing wifi networks with its own telecoms network.
Images of the artistic industry
Imagine this: you are a person who lives on your creativity in a small town in northern Sweden, but you feel a bit lonely in your community. What do you do? Some would say "move to a bigger city, there are probably like-minded people there". Johan Lindström had a different idea.
Skellefteå companies deliver sports equipment to the world
Several of the world's biggest sports competitions and activity parks around the world use equipment made in Skellefteå. Smart choices and successful ventures have contributed to a large proportion of Nordic Sports, Latitude 64 and Fugu Sports products being exported.
The energy comes from Skellefteå
When it comes to growth and development in the field of renewable energy, the eyes of the world are on the Skellefteå region. Tens of billions of SEK are invested here - when the rest of the world fears recession, expansion is the talk of the town. - I am absolutely convinced that we can be the model in the world that shows how to meet the climate challenges with a renewable society and innovative growth, says Joachim Nordin, President and CEO of Skellefteå Kraft.
Boliden Rönnskär - world leader in metal recycling
Boliden Rönnskär in Skelleftehamn is one of the world's most efficient copper smelters and also the world leader in electronics recycling, with the ambition to constantly develop. The latest major projects are a new efficient leaching plant and a unique repository for process waste.
The importance of architecture for the growing city
"Good housing is essential," says architect Thomas Sandell. And to build in such a way that you never have to demolish. With greater density in the city centre and higher density, Skellefteå will be highly attractive to investors. Read Thomas Sandell's thoughts on Skellefteå's potential, the 10-minute city and trends in economic and social sustainability.
Culture house catalyst for Skellefteå's next step
Skellefteå has a new landmark. Sara Kulturhus will be a new meeting place for the entire region where culture creates the conditions for meetings and diversity. CEO Maria Ekberg Brännström believes in the Bilbao effect. - Sara Kulturhus will help to shape the identity of the city and the region.
Skellefteå's success a national affair
Northvolt's decision to establish Europe's largest battery factory in Skellefteå has placed the municipality in a unique position. It has the highest per capita investment of any municipality in Sweden, and the investments will not only be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable - but also in a short period of time. This requires cooperation with stakeholders at national, regional and local level. Municipal director Kristina Sundin Jonsson explains how the municipality is preparing for the rapid and powerful expansion.
Sara Culture House - a building of the highest level
Sara Culture House will be one of the world's tallest wooden buildings. But it's more than the height that's world-class. The construction is the result of local collaboration with unique expertise in timber construction. - It's collaboration across borders and expertise coming together from all walks of life, says Daniel Wilded, Business Developer at Martinsons Building Systems.
Skellefteå is growing - do you want to be part of it?
Skellefteå has the highest per capita investment in Sweden right now. We are talking about at least 60 billion in the private and public sectors up to 2030, and there are many indications that Skellefteå will be one of Sweden's main growth zones in the 2020s. Both companies and public actors in Skellefteå municipality are working hard to achieve the expected growth. For those interested in premises for establishment, there are many property owners to contact for proposals. In the central parts of Skellefteå, for example, Diös and Nordvestor have several properties, and in the industrial areas NP3 is among the larger property owners.
Skelleftea's showroom shows the strengths of the location to the world
Sweden is set to become one of the world's first fossil-free welfare countries, and Skellefteå is located in the middle of the country's most expansive and prosperous region. This is the birthplace of new industry and there is great interest in the location. As part of this, Showroom Skellefteå is opening its doors in The Great Northern - it will be the first stop for visitors who want to take part in Skellefteå's innovative business community and exciting future. - We are in a unique situation and we will convey this story in a professional and relevant way, says Malin Burlin Lundmark, coordinator at Skellefteå Science City.
Campus Skellefteå ensures future knowledge needs
The whole of Skellefteå is vibrating. New billion-dollar start-ups, led by battery manufacturer Northvolt, are having a positive impact on the business community, and intensive work is being done to solve everything from housing needs to recruitment issues. In the midst of all this is Campus Skellefteå, which will play a key role in enabling development. - The industry that is emerging here is not only new in Sweden but throughout Europe, which obviously affects the requirements for both research and skills conversion, says Ida Lindh, strategic manager at Campus Skellefteå.
The need for higher education increases as Skellefteå grows
Skellefteå is undergoing a major expansion and has an increasingly advanced business community, which means an increased need for higher education. - This creates good conditions for developing access to higher education in Skellefteå, says Ida Lindh, Strategic Director at Campus Skellefteå.
Campus Skellefteå an educational hub in digitalisation
Skellefteå continues to be really hot. In recent years, it has become a Swedish and European symbol of growth, future-proof energy solutions and cutting-edge technology. One of the factors enabling this development is Campus Skellefteå.
Skellefteå - the place where digital industries thrive
In the 1980s, Skellefteå was one of the very first municipalities to invest in a supercomputer. A pointer that has had an impact, as Skellefteå is now a place where digital and creative industries thrive. - Here you will find all the conditions for the digital sector - good support, short decision-making paths, up-to-date education on campus and great coworking spaces, says Lara Gavina, senior strategist at North Kingdom.
Elite invests heavily in Skellefteå with unique hotel concept
On 14 October, Elite Hotels' unique venture The Wood Hotel opens in Sara Kulturhus. A world-class hotel experience with 205 modern hotel rooms, three restaurants, a sky bar with rooftop terrace and a spa with panoramic views over Skellefteå. The director is David Åberg, a former Skellefteå resident who has moved back home - and who sees great potential in Skellefteå.
Fransesca believes in culture as an enabler in Skellefteå
Fransesca Quartey has been working in the performing arts for over 30 years. Now she will soon hand over the job as CEO of Västerbottensteatern. She has great faith in the future of Skellefteå and the region. "If we can create a kind of emotional infrastructure in the same way that this municipality is exceptional in terms of water, sewage and schools, then I feel that this place is the future," she says.
SBB i Norden AB buys cultural centre and hotel in Skellefteå
SBB i Norden AB today signed a letter of intent to invest over SEK 1 billion in Skellefteå's future cultural centre. SBB will own the entire property, including the hotel, and lease it to an operating company that the municipality will form within its Skellefteå Stadshus group of companies. There have been many interested parties during the sales process, which consolidates Skellefteå as an attractive place to set up business.
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The Dutch who found their way home
Egbert Venema and Sandra Hilbrands, both 45 years old, did what many dream of - emigrated abroad. But family and friends in Holland want them to move back home. They themselves don't understand their wish, as they have just found their home.
Northvolt's battery factory to be built in Skellefteå
In the autumn of 2017, it became clear that the company Northvolt had chosen Skellefteå as the location for its planned battery factory. A research operation will be located in Västerås. The total investment until 2023 is estimated at up to 4 billion Euros, most of which will be invested in Skellefteå. - We are pleased with the announcement. This could be one of the largest establishments in Europe. The choice of Skellefteå is a message of strength for the whole of northern Sweden," says Lorents Burman, municipal councillor in Skellefteå.
The battery factory: holistic change in society
The decision on the battery factory was made not long ago, but work is already underway. At the moment it's all about land surveys and tendering, but the hope is to start land planning and road and rail construction soon. However, the actual construction of the factory is only a small part of what is happening.
Why everyone is talking about clean tech
Next summer, Skellefteå will host an international conference on cleantech. It's a term that's cropping up more and more often when sustainable industry, growth and the future are mentioned. But what is cleantech and why is everyone talking about it? Well, because it could be the solution to today's environmental problems. And Skellefteå has an important role to play.
Envigas and eco-oil - clean tech at the forefront
Northern Sweden in general and Skellefteå in particular have put themselves on the map when it comes to Cleantech initiatives. Clean energy at a reasonable price, proximity to universities and collaboration between companies in the region are often seen as some of the reasons for this success. Envigas and Eco-Oil are two examples of companies that have contributed to this development with solutions that are as unique as they are revolutionary.
A winning concept in wood
There was a time when wood was a building material mostly used in holiday homes, detached houses and smaller villas. But in recent years, wood has enjoyed a renaissance and is now a popular material, praised for its flexible and climate-smart properties. The Röjmyran industrial building at Anderstorp is one of many examples of how wood is being used more and more.
Leading wood industry in constant development
The timber industry has been one of Skellefteå's most important industries for several hundred years. Of course, because of the proximity to the raw material, but also because the industry has always developed and often led the way. Today, Skellefteå is something of a centre for Swedish wood technology development and has taken the lead in transforming the Swedish construction industry. An important key to this success is collaboration.
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Norrbotniabanan connects northern Sweden with the world
The Government has taken a final decision on the National Transport Plan for the next ten years. This means that the first phase of the Norrbotnia line between Umeå and Skellefteå will be built in one fell swoop. - We are extremely pleased that construction is finally starting. The government should be congratulated for its work. It feels good that they understand the importance of building the line for the whole of Sweden," says Lorents Burman, chairman of the Norrbotniabanegroup.
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