Investing in the Future

INVESTINGSWEDEN IN THE FUTURE. ec.europa.eu/invest-eu | #investEU OPPORTUNITIES START HERE. #investEU To revive investments and growth, the European Union supports people, ideas and visions across Europe EXPLORE THE The European Union is all about opportunities Sweden has the third largest number of cyclists and research facilities, energy efficient buildings that deliver real benefits and make a difference at in Europe, but too few cyclists wear a helmet. or smart mobility solutions, which, in turn, lead STORIES BEHIND a local level. The promotion of growth, To change their behavior, Hövding was created to a more sustainable future for Europe’s cities employment and well-being across Europe is one with the aim to develop a new type of bicycle and regions. EU INVESTMENT of its main priorities. By investing in people’s ideas helmet which is placed in a discreet collar around Whether it’s helping to build the most and visions, the EU is removing obstacles and the neck. The collar contains a folded airbag modern synchrotron radiation facility in the creating favourable conditions for development that on impact expands and protects the biker’s world attracting thousands of international and modernisation across the continent. In support head. The helmet - also named Hövding - is researchers, providing funds to build a wind of the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of a result of several years of extensive research farm, or making it possible to build the first Europeans, the EU opens doors and empowers partly funded by the EU. The company has sold electric highway in the world, EU funding gives people to pursue their own innovative projects. over 62 000 airbag helmets in 16 European a boost to projects that make a difference at countries and protected over 1300 people Europeans have already come up with original the local level. involved in bicycle accidents. The EU is funding ideas for better education, modernised Hövding’s efforts to develop even better and Only some of these stories feature in this healthcare and greener transport infrastructure, smarter user functions for the airbag helmet. brochure. But look around in your community E16 ELECTRIC ROAD to cite but a few examples, and the EU has and you will see that behind European provided the means to get tailored projects off EU funding not only offers people financial investments there is a wealth of people’s stories the ground. Where valuable projects struggle support for their projects. Project beneficiaries to discover. LÅNGMARKEN to win investment due to the reluctance of can also access hands-on coaching and expertise VINDKRAFTPARK SecureMailbox investors to take risks, the EU steps in by to ensure their projects provide real added value BRIDGE backing loans or providing funding for projects for the people and communities around them. that have the potential to succeed. Results are visible thanks to knowledge-sharing ONE STOP FUTURE SHOP HANDISCOVER HÖVDING ESS & MAX IV 2 ec.europa.eu/invest-eu | #investEU OPPORTUNITIES START HERE. #investEU LÅNGMARKEN VINDKRAFTPARK VÄRMLAND The farm began operations in 2017 and the “We are delighted to be able to help Mirova Långmarken 80 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity and the EIB make a long-term investment in it generates per year meet the domestic needs of the Swedish wind power market. This is an wind farm: around 40,000 people in Kristinehamn. important commitment to renewable energy and sustainable development. We are looking The Långmarken wind farm is the first project in forward to further cooperation with Mirova and a new source Sweden financed by the EIB under the European the EIB,” he remarked during the event. Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), part of the of renewable European Commission’s Investment Plan Also at the opening ceremony, Johan Larsson, for Europe. It is also the first time the Bank has CEO of Kristinehamns Energi AB, was similarly energy co-financed a renewable energy project through enthusiastic about the investment. the EFSI. In total, the EIB funding amounts to “It’s a great pleasure to be involved in such a €16 million (164 million Swedish kronor). The Långmarken wind farm was built by Eolus © Daniel Larsson large project in the field of renewable electricity Vind on behalf of the European Investment Bank, Raphael Lance, head of renewable energy production. The investment will result in many investment company Mirova and other partners. job opportunities in Kristinehamn, and for Located just north of Kristinehamn, in Värmland, funds at Mirova, is proud of the project. Just north of Kristinehamn, Sweden, the park was us, the project means that we connect each Sweden, the Långmarken wind farm has eight officially inaugurated in June 2017. It houses eight “Långmarken is a perfect example of how individual wind turbine to our electricity wind turbines with a power output of turbines and is expected to supply Kristinehamn the energy transition needs to be implemented network,” he said. with electricity for many years to come. Financed 3.3 megawatts each. It was built by Eolus, one at the European level. It can only be achieved if with support from the European Fund for of the leading wind power developers in the the various parties involved are united in Strategic Investments, the project has increased Nordic countries. a common goal to support high-quality projects job opportunities in the region and helps drive Six of the turbines were purchased by the and if the political conditions are favourable. down carbon dioxide emissions. European Investment Bank (EIB) and Mirova- That’s why we are proud of our partnership Eurofideme 3, a renewable energy fund with a respected project developer as Eolus managed by investment firm Mirova. They and co-investor, the EIB; a partnership which jointly hold 90 % of the shares in the wind farm, has enabled us to build the first wind farm in while Eolus holds the remaining 10 %. Sweden funded via the EFSI,” he comments. EU investment made it possible to accelerate Eolus CEO Per Witalisson participated in the © Daniel Larsson construction of Långmarken, which is managed official opening ceremony of the wind farm in 5 and operated by Eolus on behalf of the owners. June 2017. HÖVDING MALMÖ granted through Horizon 2020, which is the that it comes from Horizon 2020 is further Airbag cycle EU’s framework programme for research and confirmation that Hövding is relevant and has innovation. a role to play in further improving safety for cyclists in the event of accidents.” helmet concept Carrying the same name as its flagship product, the company which makes Hövding is one of takes off Sweden’s rising stars in the area of innovative technology and its airbag helmet has become Sweden is one of the European countries with a highly sought-after item for the urban cyclist. the largest number of cyclists, but too few of them Over 62,000 helmets have been sold since the use helmets. The Hövding bicycle helmet, product was released, with Hövding currently an entirely new type of airbag helmet, was on the market in 16 European countries plus conceived in order to change this. It is the result of Japan, a fact in which the company’s CEO several years of research that was partly funded Fredrik Carling takes great pride. by the EU’s the Horizon 2020 programme. The airbag is activated by a fall or crash within Sweden has the third largest number of cyclists 0.1 seconds, and the helmet has three times in Europe, but only 30 % of them use helmets. better shock absorption than an ordinary This was the inspiration behind Hövding, an bicycle helmet. Studies have also shown that entirely new type of bicycle helmet designed Hövding provides up to eight times more as a collar worn around the neck. The collar protection than traditional helmets. In addition, there are more than 1,300 documented cases contains an airbag which is triggered in the event in which it has prevented injuries to cyclists of a collision or crash and protects the cyclist’s head. involved in accidents. Hövding is the result of several years of “We see really great potential in further extensive research, and EU funding has been developing and refining our concept, by essential for its development. The EU’s financial improving user functionality and optimising contribution is allowing the team to add better the production process,” notes Carling. “One of and smarter user features to the helmet, with Horizon 2020’s purposes is to support world- the company receiving approximately class European innovation, which is what we €1.3 million (13 million Swedish kronor) paid have already done and will continue to do. 7 in instalments over two years. The support is The amount of financial support and the fact ESS & MAX IV: CROSS-BORDER SCIENCE AND SOCIETY LUND The technology required to generate light of BrightnESS project through the Horizon 2020 Unique research such intensity has been designed in an entirely research and innovation programme. Involving new way, putting MAX IV among the world’s 18 institutions and universities from facilities coming leading facilities using this kind of radiation. 11 European countries, this three-year initiative was launched in 2015 to enable ESS to deliver “MAX IV is the result of decades of research and high-impact scientific knowledge. to Lund, Sweden innovative ideas, and it is incredibly rewarding that we have now come so far that we can “The EU’s political and financial support for When completed, Lund’s European Spallation inaugurate the facilities. The funders have put ESS, for instance in the BrightnESS project, Source and MAX IV facilities will be the largest a great deal of trust in the management and is significant for facility’s development and scientific institutes in Sweden.

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