The Park Forskaren welcomed a special international delegation as part of the official state visit from Iceland to Sweden, a collaboration between Business Sweden, Business Iceland, and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The visit gathered key voices from the life science, medtech, and innovation sectors in both countries, fostering new connections and sparking conversation around deepening Nordic cooperation.
Held in the vibrant Urban Deli space, the gathering was a unique opportunity to explore cross-border connections and share insights into building strong, resilient ecosystems across borders.
Exploring Global Potential: Panel Highlights
The event featured two thought-provoking panel discussions:
Panel 1: Icelandic Companies Going Global
This session focused on how Icelandic companies can scale internationally, with Sweden positioned as a strategic launchpad. Speakers highlighted the value of cultural and geographic proximity and the importance of finding markets that offer both challenge and opportunity.
Panel 2: Ecosystem, Talent & Entrepreneurship
This discussion zoomed out to look at the broader innovation landscape. Topics included attracting and retaining talent in life science, differences in market validation between Iceland and Sweden, and the critical role of experimentation and resilience in entrepreneurship. Iceland was framed as a closely connected and agile environment, while Sweden stood out for its international outlook and well-established innovation networks.
Both panels highlighted the shared thinking of embracing experimentation, learning from setbacks, and continuously iterating in pursuit of progress.
From Dialogue to Connection
After the panels, the event transitioned into a relaxed networking mingle. Guests from Iceland and Sweden came together over drinks and conversation, exchanging experiences and exploring potential collaborations.
The atmosphere was one of openness and curiosity, reflecting the strong sense of purpose shared across both ecosystems. A vivid reminder of how events like this can accelerate dialogue, build bridges, and lay the groundwork for future partnerships, both seen and still to come.
The Bigger Picture
This visit was part of a wider initiative to strengthen ties between Sweden and Iceland in the fields of health innovation, medical research, and entrepreneurship. It followed the recent State Visit of Iceland’s President Halla Tomasdottir to Hagastaden, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the innovation districts Stockholm Science City and Reykjavik Science City.
At The Park Forskaren, we’re proud to be part of these growing connections and to provide space for conversations that move science, society, and business forward.
