Life Science in Stockholm-Uppsala impresses abroad

Johan Weigelt, Ylva Hultman, Chris Spivey, Sara Gunnerås, Barnaby Pickering, Jo Shorthouse, Robert Barrie, Linda Hewitt, Daniel Stanton, Knut Steffensen.

Recently, six life science journalists from the US, UK, and France visited Stockholm and Uppsala. Showcasing our strengths within the life science ecosystem to international audiences was the goal.

“We invited the journalists with the goal of attracting more foreign establishments, collaborations, and investments to the Stockholm-Uppsala region,” says Ylva Hultman, Head of Life Science at Stockholm Business Region. “A press trip offers a different kind of connection and is a great alternative to websites, networking events, and conferences. It turned out really well, and I’m unusually pleased!”

The journalists represented a communications agency, a media group, an event and knowledge platform, and an industry publication, all within the life science field:

Barnaby Pickering, Editor, 59 North Communications
Chris Spivey, Director of Industry Relations and Strategic Partnerships, MJH Life Sciences
Dan Stanton, Editorial Director, Informa Connect Life Sciences
Jo Shorthouse, Healthcare Writer, Freelancing Editor
Linda Hewitt, Associate Publisher, MJH Life Sciences
Robert Barrie, Editor, Pharmaceutical Technology

Sweden has momentum and also the capabilities to advance even further!

Chris Spivey, MJH Life Sciences

What were the journalists most interested in?

“They were fascinated by what’s unique about Stockholm-Uppsala. There were many questions about how we can be so innovative and how we’ve managed to combine a consistently high standard of living with a prominent life science cluster and successful companies. They could see that we truly value strong relationships and collaboration, which might be considered a very Swedish trait. They also felt that our shared goal was clear – to give patients the best we can and to contribute to solving major global challenges.”

It was two full and content-rich days: In Stockholm, they met with Johan Weigelt and Sara Gunnerås (Karolinska Innovations), Knut Steffensen (Karolinska ATMP Center), Matti Sällberg (KI), Johan Rockberg (KTH), Klaus Langhoff-Roos (BioLamina), Anna Frejd (SciLifeLab), Janet Hoogstraate (NorthX Biologics), and Filippa Reinfeldt (Vectura). Ylva Williams (Stockholm Science City) guided the group around Hagastaden.

In Uppsala, they met with David Westberg (Nanexa), Jesper Hedberg (Testa Center/Cytiva), Magnus Lejelöv (STUNS Life Science), Hannah Karlsson and Per-Ola Carlsson (Uppsala University), and Marie Engvall (Rarity Bioscience).

How did the journalists react?

“They were overwhelmed – both by the researchers and the companies, and by what it’s like to work here. When a truly good meeting happens, it becomes something special and powerful. They connected through their shared interest in life science and the hope for patient solutions – it was incredibly inspiring to see!”

Ylva Hultman was impressed by how enthusiastic and well-prepared the journalists were. All of them conveyed the sense that Stockholm-Uppsala stands out – both in terms of quality and the potential that collaboration brings. The group even extended their stay by a day to attend SciLifeLab’s conference Disruptive Technologies for Drugging the Undruggable.

What insights are you taking with you?

“It’s very educational to see what foreign life science journalists find interesting. My impression is that we should invest even more in international media and PR going forward. Chris Spivey has a huge number of followers in pharma, so when the message comes from someone people listen to, it becomes a shortcut. As international marketing for Stockholm-Uppsala, this becomes very sharp – and PR is a powerful way to reach foreign investors.”

How do you think their reporting will impact Sweden’s image internationally?

“Definitely positively! We quickly got a flood of great comments on LinkedIn – a real storm of attention!” Here is some of the media that was published afterwards:

What’s the next step for Stockholm Business Region?

“We’ll continue to provide journalists with interesting stories and highlight the opportunities here. We’re working to build relationships with them and generate more articles. The knowledge we have about the research and companies in this region can help attract even more foreign investments. To get in touch with the right people, I had a lot of help from Richard Hayhurst and Janet Joy at 59 North and their expertise and network.”