Interview with Björn Wigge, Head of Business and Growth at the Municipality of Sundsvall, who is a Principal Partner of the Bünsow Business Growth Forum
Why is the Bünsow Business Growth Forum a strategically important event for Sundsvall?
– It is an ideal arena for raising common growth and business issues that are relevant to our region. Bünsow Business Growth Forum opens up for entrepreneurs and decision-makers to meet and provides space for new initiatives that contribute to developing our region and the whole of northern Sweden.
In which way is Sundsvall kommun working to support entrepreneurship, new business, and investments in the region?
– For us it is important to have a close co-operation with the existing business community and business promoters as both groups are extremely important for growth in the region. Today, Sundsvall has Sweden’s best industry breadth (Source Företagarfakta 2024), which is a great strength for us in this work. We are also a co-financier of Bizmaker and Bron Innovation, which focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, establishment, and attraction. Mid Sweden University is another incredibly important organisation where we have a collaboration agreement that will stimulate research that benefits society, business, and people in Sundsvalls kommun. In this growth puzzle, the Bünsow Business Growth Forum is a central arena for developing business and creating growth.
How do you see the future in Sundsvall and what steps are you taking to mobilize for the upcoming labour migration?
– The future in Sundsvall is exciting. We are facing a population increase where we will grow as much in five years as we have done in the last fifty years. We are mobilizing on many levels and working with three overall objectives. To create the conditions for 5,000 new jobs, social sustainability and climate neutrality. We have started work on several new residential areas, but we are also working to free up even more zoned land for housing. The supply of skills is another important strategic issue, and here we have introduced the Skills Model (Kompetensförsörjning Sundsvall), which is a collaboration between key public functions, education providers, and the business community with the aim of creating better conditions for a functioning supply of skills in our region. The team for the establishment of an International House is working hard to investigate the conditions for attracting and including new labour in the Sundsvall region, it will be an important place to offer services and guidance for easy integration into Swedish society. We are also involved in funding Unga Bünsow to work with Mid Sweden University and businesses to show students what great opportunities there are for both graduate jobs and internships during their studies, and then for careers and quality of life if they choose to stay in Sundsvall after graduation.
How do you see the importance of your involvement in the Bünsow Business Growth Forum?
– Engagement is essential for all of us when it comes to putting the Sundsvall region on the map and how we should navigate forward to help shape the geopolitics, economy and sustainable development of the future. As a partner of the Bünsow Business Growth Forum, we make an active choice to not only keep up with the development but to also influence and lead it. We believe in the potential of the Bünsow Business Growth Forum and will be committed, and driving for the concept to grow further and include even more days and themes. Unga Bünsow, which started last year and is now recurring, is a brilliant example of how Bünsow Week can be developed with more days.
What do you think of this year’s theme Northern Sweden in the World? How does it connect to Sundsvall’s journey forward?
– Spot on. Our municipalities are facing enormous growth journeys, either through new establishments or through an existing business community that is growing. It’s now up to the business community, municipalities, regions, and associations to continue to link arms in the targeted work to get more people to discover the opportunities in our region. We really need to look internationally to create the conditions for attracting new business establishments, new collaborations and the expertise needed in our part of the country, where people will thrive and live together, now and in the future!
