A discussion on growth, pride, and optimism for the future during SE26 first Morning Coffee

Society Expo kicked off with discussions about Skellefteå’s journey of development, optimism for the future, and the importance of collaboration in times of rapid change. During the first Morning Coffee event on May 27, topics such as growth, local identity, and how pride and engagement can encourage people to want to live in Skellefteå were discussed.

How do you create a place where people want to live, thrive, and stay? That was one of the central questions when Society Expo kicked off with Morning Coffee on May 27.

Society Expo Project manager Helena Renström began by welcoming everyone to Morning Coffee and the official launch of Society Expo. Municipal Director Kristina Sundin Jonsson and City Councilor Evelina Fahlesson then took the audience on a journey through time, tracing Skellefteå’s development – from a municipality with long-term growth ambitions to the site of Europe’s largest industrial bankruptcy.

During the discussion, the major changes Skellefteå has undergone in recent years were highlighted. Fahlesson described how, around 2010, the municipality faced significant challenges due to an aging population and many people moving away from the area, and how this affected Skellefteå. A key effort to reverse the trend was to highlight the stories of Skellefteå and build pride in the place. Among other things, the municipality invested in its place brand and increased investments in communication. Initiatives such as the Sara kulturhus and Northvolt were mentioned as part of Skellefteå’s journey to achieve population goals and make Skellefteå an attractive place to live, not least for international residents. Despite the setbacks surrounding Northvolt, it was emphasized that the development journey began much earlier and that Skellefteå is a municipality that has time and again demonstrated the ability to bounce back and move forward.

The discussion was then led by Helena Renström, who welcomed the day’s guest, Evelina Enochsson, Certification Manager at SGBC (Sweden Green Building Council). Enochsson explained that she is visiting Skellefteå primarily to attend the Heart+Mind reuse conference taking place the same day, where she will speak about sustainable transition.

– It’s going to be really exciting to be there; there are also a lot of other program items related to reuse and the circular economy. There’s a lot happening right now in the areas of reuse and the circular economy. It’s still fairly small-scale, so we really hope it will become large-scale and that it will help us achieve our climate goals, says Enochsson.

The morning concluded with tips on activities and program items during Society Expo – and a clear call to continue the conversations and exchange of experiences during the days in Skellefteå.

Morning Coffee is Society Expo 2026 conversation series, where project manager Helena Renström meets with politicians and others shaping the society of the future.