Sweden’s recent #1 ranking in the EU Innovation Scoreboard 2025 is more than a reason to celebrate — it’s a call to think about what drives this success and how we can build on it. At The Park, we believe these conversations matter most when they happen face-to-face, so last week we hosted an evening dedicated to exploring Sweden’s innovation leadership in life sciences.

Together with Nucleate Sweden, a student-driven initiative empowering the next generation of biotech leaders, we welcomed voices from academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Supporting young professionals is something we truly value at The Park, and partnering with Nucleate made this dialogue even more meaningful.

The panel brought together Thomas Helleday, PhD (Karolinska Institutet & Founder, Oxcia AB), Maria Lisa Knudsen, PhD (CEO/CBO, AAX Biotech AB), Thomas Straumits (Client Executive, EY), and Rui Benfeitas, PhD (Translational & Precision Medicine Lead, Chiesi), with moderation by our own Armando Cázares-Körner, Head of Community at The Park.

Over 50 minutes, they explored what makes Sweden a global innovation leader, where its competitive strengths lie, and how academia–industry collaboration can unlock future growth. Several themes stood out. First, Sweden needs to speak proudly about its achievements — confidence attracts talent, investment, and international partnerships. Second, our life science ecosystem is exceptional: research excellence, strong infrastructure, and a culture of collaboration create fertile ground for impact. And finally, leadership means aiming higher every day, whether in research translation, entrepreneurship, or global competitiveness.

The evening also included an introduction from Nucleate and time for networking, where ideas turned into connections and future collaborations began to take shape. Hosted by Vectura at Forskaren and with light refreshments kindly sponsored by Chiesi, the atmosphere reminded us that progress rarely happens in isolation — it happens when people come together openly and with curiosity.

At The Park, we’re proud to create spaces where these conversations unfold and where leaders — from students to seasoned professionals — can learn, share, and grow together.