Park Capital of life

Capital of life

Capital of Life is the shared life science cluster of the Stockholm–Uppsala region.

Capital of Life is the shared life science cluster of the Stockholm–Uppsala region. Here, universities, healthcare providers, businesses and public sector organisations work together to strengthen research, innovation and sustainable growth. Guided by a joint strategy, the region’s stakeholders are working to further develop one of the world’s leading life science clusters.

From Uppsala to Södertälje

Capital of Life stretches from Uppsala in the north to Södertälje in the south, bringing together some of Sweden’s strongest life science environments.

Uppsala, together with Hagastaden and Flemingsberg in the Stockholm region, forms a network of hubs with strong universities, research environments, university hospitals, businesses and innovation ecosystems. Södertälje is home to internationally significant centres for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.

Capital of life karta

Life science statistics for the Stockholm–Uppsala region

  • In 2023, the Stockholm–Uppsala region was home to 2,010 life science companies, accounting for 48 per cent of all life science companies in Sweden.
  • The sector employed 37,673 people in the region, with the companies generating a combined turnover of SEK 563 billion (STUNS Insight Machine).
  • Around one-third of AstraZeneca’s sales value originated in Södertälje, corresponding to 68 per cent of Sweden’s pharmaceutical exports and approximately 5 per cent of the country’s total goods exports (Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, 2023).

A joint strategy for life science

In 2024, 16 regional stakeholders formalised their collaboration through a joint declaration of intent. Since then, Region Stockholm and Region Uppsala have agreed on a joint life science strategy. Covering the period up to 2031, the strategy sets a shared direction for the region’s stakeholders in developing the life science cluster.

The strategy aims to strengthen collaboration among regional stakeholders and develop Stockholm–Uppsala into an internationally leading life science cluster that contributes to better health, outstanding research and sustainable growth.

The ambition is for the Stockholm–Uppsala region to become the first choice in the Nordic countries for life science companies seeking to invest in a region with strong expertise. Achieving this requires stakeholders to build trust, act both individually and collectively, and support the development of the sector as a whole alongside that of their own organisations.

The organisations behind Capital of Life:

  • Regions: Region Stockholm and Region Uppsala
  • County administrative boards: Stockholm County and Uppsala County
  • Municipalities: City of Stockholm, City of Solna, Danderyd Municipality, Huddinge Municipality, Södertälje Municipality and Uppsala Municipality
  • Universities: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Uppsala University
  • Stockholm Chamber of Commerce

Strengthening connections across the life science ecosystem

Stockholm Science City actively contributes to Capital of Life, working to strengthen the Stockholm–Uppsala region as an internationally leading life science cluster. Through expertise and analysis of external developments, networks, meeting places and joint initiatives, we help increase knowledge exchange, drive innovation and strengthen competitiveness.

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