Place-Based Innovation Ecosystems Volvo companies in Gothenburg (Sweden) Gabriel Rissola (editor), Jens Sörvik, Anna Zingmark and Matilda Ardenfors 2018 EUR 29494 EN This publication is a Technical report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication. Contact information Name: Gabriel Rissola Address: Edificio EXPO, c/Inca Garcilaso 3, 41092, Seville, Spain Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Tel.: +34.954.488.423; +34.954.488.289 EU Science Hub https://ec.europa.eu/jrc JRC114384 EUR 29494 EN PDF ISBN 978-92-79-98180-7 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2760/95731 Print ISBN 978-92-79-98181-4 ISSN 1018-5593 doi:10.2760/49708 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018 © European Union, 2018 The reuse policy of the European Commission is implemented by Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). Reuse is authorised, provided the source of the document is acknowledged and its original meaning or message is not distorted. The European Commission shall not be liable for any consequence stemming from the reuse. For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not owned by the EU, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. All content © European Union, 2018, except: cover page, phonlamaiphoto, image #215584590, 2018. Source: stock.adobe.com How to cite this report: Rissola G. (editor), Sörvik J., Zingmark A. and Ardenfors M., Place-Based Innovation Ecosystems: Volvo companies in Gothenburg (Sweden), EUR 29494 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018, ISBN 978-92-79-98180-7, doi:10.2760/95731, JRC114384. Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................. 5 Executive summary ..................................................................................................... 6 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 8 2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................... 10 3 ACTORS IN THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM ...................................................................... 13 3.1 Volvo Group (AB Volvo) ..................................................................................... 17 3.2 Volvo Cars ................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Other major automotive companies and key suppliers .................................................. 22 3.4 Region Västra Götaland .................................................................................... 23 3.5 City of Gothenburg ......................................................................................... 27 3.6 Lindholmen Science Park ................................................................................... 29 3.7 Chalmers University ........................................................................................ 31 3.8 Other university and research organisations ............................................................. 32 3.9 Vocational training initiatives .............................................................................. 33 3.10 SAFER ........................................................................................................ 33 3.11 Other incubators and accelerators ........................................................................ 35 3.12 MobilityXlab ................................................................................................. 35 3.13 Other research labs ......................................................................................... 36 3.14 AstaZero ..................................................................................................... 37 3.15 Other testbeds .............................................................................................. 39 3.16 ElectriCity .................................................................................................... 39 3.17 Other reality labs ........................................................................................... 42 3.18 Vehicle ICT Arena ........................................................................................... 42 3.19 Other networks/clusters/industry associations ........................................................... 44 3.20 Vinnova - Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation programme ..................................... 44 3.21 Other research and innovation funding programmes .................................................... 47 4 CASE ANALYSIS ................................................................................................... 48 4.1 Contextual enabling factors ................................................................................ 48 4.2 Regulatory and institutional enabling factors ............................................................ 50 4.3 Formal governance model ................................................................................. 52 4.4 Quadruple helix model ..................................................................................... 54 4.5 Consensus and commitment ............................................................................... 56 4.6 Strategic choices and vision for orchestration of the ecosystem ....................................... 57 4.7 Actual and potential links with RIS3 ....................................................................... 59 5 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................... 60 1 References ............................................................................................................ 63 Webpages ............................................................................................................. 66 Interviews ............................................................................................................. 67 List of figures ......................................................................................................... 68 2 Foreword This research publication is part of a series on Place-based innovation ecosystems that was born in 2017 from a fruitful collaboration between the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) on promoting the importance of evidence-based policy development for regional and urban policymakers. In particular, this case study focuses on the crucial role played by Volvo companies in the development of a vibrant innovation ecosystem rooted in the Gothenburg urban area (Sweden). Gabriel Rissola (editor of JRC's Place-based innovation ecosystems series) 3 Acknowledgements The authors of this report wish to thank all the local experts who have kindly contributed to this report by participating in targeted interviews: Urban Wass (Volvo Group AB), Tord Hermansson (Volvo Cars), Hanna Blomdahl and Hans Fogelberg (Region Västra Götaland), Mikael Ivari (City of Gothenburg), Christina Kvarnström (Vinnova), Niklas Wahlberg (Lindholmen Science Park), Karolina Partheen (Chalmers Innovation Office and SAFER), Katarina Brud (MobilityXlab), Peter Janevik (AstaZero), Maria Losman (ElectriCity) and Kent Eric Lång (Vehicle ICT Arena). This report has also benefited from useful comments and suggestions by Jürgen Haberleithner (University of Colima, former JRC Visiting Scientist) and Ramón Compañó (JRC) to improve its reading. Authors Gabriel Rissola (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Spain) (editor), Jens Sörvik (independent expert, Sweden), Anna Zingmark (Länka Consulting AB, Sweden), Matilda Ardenfors (Länka Consulting AB, Sweden). 4 Abstract There is a revival in the automotive sector in West Sweden, whereby several new companies set around the vehicle industry are attracting fresh capital and expertise into the region. An increasingly dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem is generating new innovation intermediaries who provide added-value functions. The emergence of these innovation intermediaries is being driven by political, market-related, socio-cultural, relational and technological factors. These include societal challenges and trends that drive political interest, such as environmental issues and climate change. There is also a political interest in adapting to globalisation, to secure regional competitiveness and resilience. New technology developments include the electrification of vehicles, automation and connected vehicles. This is driving an interest from industry and academia in attracting talent and securing competences. There is also a tradition and experience of collaboration in the region. Volvo Group (AB Volvo) and Volvo Cars are very interested in continuing to nurture the regional ecosystem, by attracting other companies to the region. Civil society is eventually involved in the innovation ecosystem as user of technology, where user behaviour is analysed as an input to development processes. A common view among respondents is that it should be the