Stakeholder breakdown of our ecosystem
The North Sweden Life Science Ecosystem, encompassing the regions of Västerbotten and Norrbotten, boasts a robust and diverse foundation in health and life sciences. This ecosystem operates within a unique geographical and cultural context, shaped by its Arctic location, and its home to leading research institutions, innovative companies, and comprehensive healthcare facilities. The collaboration between these entities fosters an environment of innovation and growth.
Geographical overview
- 2 regions
- 29 municipalities
- Population: >520 000
- Area: 154 000 km2
Health care
- 1 University hospital
- 7 Regional hospitals
- 7 Health clinics
- 61 Health care centers
Business and Education
- 3 Universities with 56 000 students, 6 500 employees and 500 professors
- 600 Life Science Companies with 3 000 employees
Valuable key actors in our ecosystem
Baxter develops, manufactures and markets mainly mobile and stationary (overhead) patient lifts, slings and other lifting accessories. The company started as Liko and is now acquired by Baxter. Liko has about a 15-20% share of the world market for patient lifts and is thereby one of the most important suppliers in its segment.
Cytiva envisions a world in which access to life-changing therapies transforms human health. Their wealth of technical expertise and talent, a broad and deep portfolio, and exceptional service help researchers and biopharma advance therapeutics at every stage from discovery to delivery.
Lipigon develops drugs for diseases caused by lipid metabolism disruptions, where current treatments are inadequate or limited, and where there is a significant unmet need for new and effective drugs. Lipigon aims to become a world-leading player in lipid-related diseases and their projects have the potential to target broader indications, primarily in the field of blood lipids management and associated diseases.
Lipum is a clinical phase biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases. The company is evaluating inflammatory diseases with significant unmet medical needs, aiming to promote an active lifestyle and enhance the quality of life for the millions affected by chronic conditions.
Nordic Biomarker is a Swedish original manufacturer of advanced reagents, calibrators and controls for coagulation and clinical chemistry analyzers and offers products used for a wide range of routine and specialty tests. Their expertise covers all relevant technology areas, and they are experts when it comes to both immunological, chromogenic as well as clotting assays. Nordic Biomarker plays a critical role in the global healthcare diagnostics industry.
UmanDiagnositcs is committed to deliver fast and accurate diagnosis of neurological diseases. The company develops tools for early detection of disease, with a focus on identifying neurological and traumatic injuries. They offer products for detection of the Neurofilament light protein which is a main constituent of neurons and an indicator of neuronal damage.
Region Västerbotten, Centre for Rural Medicine (GMC) is a research, development and education hub within Region Västerbotten, focusing on healthcare in rural areas. Recognized by WHO as a demonstration platform for rural primary care and digital health, GMC addresses the unique challenges posed by North Sweden´s vast, sparsely populated region.
Support Office for Life Science and Health (SOLH) facilitates idea development, research and innovation in life science and health in northern Sweden and supports projects that contribute to regional and European activities in these areas. SOLH is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
The team working with the SOLH-project in Västerbotten and Norrbotten.
EU funding and collaborations within the project
EUropean Federation for CAncer IMages (EUCAIM) is the cornerstone of the European Commission-initiated European Cancer Imaging Initiative, a flagship of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), which aims to foster innovation and deployment of digital technologies in cancer treatment and care to achieve more precise and faster clinical decision making, diagnostics, treatment and predictive medicine for cancer patients. Umeå University and Region Västerbotten are part in this Digital Europe funded project.
Comprehensive Treatment of Chronic Patients in Rural Areas (CRANE) is an H2020 PRE-COMMERCIAL PROCUREMENT European project that aims to develop an integrated self-management model to improve chronic patient’s wellbeing through the European Health Data Space concept implementation. Region Västerbotten is the coordinator of the project.
European Medical Biological Engineering Innovation Consortium (EMBEIC) To enhance Sweden’s and Europe’s leadership in biomedical technology, the strategic innovation program Medtech 4Health provides targeted support to European Innovation Council (EIC) recipients (SMEs). This initiative, made possible through active participation from the life science ecosystem in Northern Sweden, grants access to cutting-edge biomedical expertise via the EAMBES research network, alongside comprehensive guidance and training focused on inclusive development.
Key services include:
- Access to EAMBES Fellows as innovation experts
- A dedicated innovation guide
- Training in inclusive and sustainable innovation practices
This strategic collaboration fosters innovation excellence and strengthens Europe’s competitive edge in the global biomedical technology sector.
NATUREACH – Nature Reachable for All The main goal of the Interreg Aurora funded project NATUREACH is to improve human health and wellbeing by developing new digital nature-based service models for social and health care. The project will respond to existing needs and the increasing interest in including nature-based methods to social and health care by combining the newest VR/digital technology, multidisciplinary research and the competence of care units and nature entrepreneurs. Luleå Technical University, Umeå University and Swedish agricultural University is part in this project.
Scaling EUROpean citizen driven transferable and transformative digital health (SEURO) The overall aim of SEURO is to evaluate key factors necessary to prepare any EU region to successfully implement and scale the innovative, people-centric digital integrated health and social care solutions for multiple disease management. Region Västerbotten and Umeå University are part in this Horizon 2020 funded project.
Key priorities and themes in the ecosystem
Medical Technology
One of the main priorities of the ecosystem is a well-developed infrastructure for research and innovation, especially in the medical technology field, which encompasses research, innovation, and development of devices, software, and systems for health care and prevention.
Rural Medicine
The rural medicine field encompasses the provision and improvement of health care and prevention in rural and remote areas. The region has a long history and experience in rural medicine, both in terms of technology and clinical practice. The region faces specific challenges and needs related to the rural context, such as:
- Large geographical distances and low population density, which affect the accessibility and availability of health care services and resources.
- Harsh climate and environmental conditions, which affect the health and well-being of the population and the infrastructure.
- Cultural and linguistic diversity, which affect the communication and interaction between health care providers and patients.
Prevention and Public Health
Another key priority of the North Sweden ecosystem is prevention and public health together with precision health, which encompasses the development and application of personalized and preventive approaches to health and disease. Precision health promotes equitable and lifelong health by increasing the accuracy of interventions at the molecular, individual and societal levels.
Cancer and Radiation
The Northern Healthcare Region is home to internationally successful research with the long-term goals of better preventing, diagnosing and treating cancers. Examples of focus areas include colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. In the field of cancer and radiation, we have developed an extensive research and treatment infrastructure supported by large research teams and qualified centers.
Mental Health
Mental Health is a multifaceted field where our focus spans both research and clinical care. Research efforts are centered on recovery-oriented psychiatric care, AI technology to enhance mental health, and addressing mental health challenges in children and young adults. Our research also delves into clinical psychology and cognitive studies with a focus on aging, memory, and dementia. Specialized care are provided at our geriatric center and contact centers are used to offer accessible support and care coordination for individuals across all age groups.
Our primary strengths as an ecosystem
Northern Sweden’s life science ecosystem is built on a strong regional support system that integrates academia, industry, healthcare and welfare where innovation is driven by unique demographic and geographical contexts. This promotes international collaboration and development in areas such as medical technology, rural medicine, prevention and public health, and cancer and radiation.
Medical Technology
The region has a strong tradition and reputation in medical technology, especially in the areas of medical imaging and diagnostics, biomedical engineering and biomaterials, digital health and e-health, and artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The region has several leading research and innovation actors in medical technology, such as:
- The Research and Development unit at Region Västerbotten (MT-FoU), that has an expertise in biomedical engineering and promotes collaboration and development in medical technology in the region.
- The Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Physics (CMTF), a collaboration between Umeå University, Luleå University of Technology, and the County Council of Västerbotten, which conducts interdisciplinary research and innovation projects in medical technology.
- Excellent incubators as The Umeå Biotech Incubator (UBI), and Uminova Innovation which supports startups and entrepreneurs, with a focus on life science, medical technology and biotechnology.
- Clinical Research Center at the University Hospital in Umeå supports the work with clinical studies in real clinical settings, involving patients, health care staff, and researchers.
Rural Medicine
Rural medicine presents unique challenges and opportunities due to its distinct demographic and geographic contexts. Our work with rural medicine includes the use of tested and proven working methods adapted to the specific needs of the rural areas. It also involves the development and implementation of innovative techniques and approaches to address the healthcare needs. To overcome geographical barriers and ensure access to quality care, distance-bridging technologies, such as IT and broadband, are used and developed.
The region has several leading research and innovation actors in rural medicine, such as:
- The Centre for Rural Medicine (GMC), which is a research and development unit within Region Västerbotten, which conducts research and innovation projects in rural medicine, with a focus on e-health and telemedicine.
- The Arctic Research Centre (Arcum), which is a multidisciplinary research centre at Umeå University, which conducts research on various aspects of the Arctic region, including health and well-being, environment and climate, and culture and society.
Prevention and Public Health
One of our key objectives is ensuring health on equal terms, with the goal of achieving the best and most equitable health in the world. Long-term processes and studies are used for improving public health and preventing disease, and we are working with lifestyle support and research initiatives designed to promote healthier living. The region has a strong potential and ambition in precision health, especially in the areas of biobanking and data management, health promotion and prevention, and genomics and molecular medicine.
The region has several leading research and innovation actors in precision health and precision medicine, such as:
- The MONICA registries for stroke, heart attack, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest makes it possible to monitor the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and identify the causes of these conditions.
- The Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) is a long-term population-based intervention programme that aims to prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes by improving lifestyle habits and detecting risk factors among the population.
- PRECISE, an initiative at Luleå Technical University for pioneering research in sustainable precision health.
- The Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) conducts research in cancer, infection biology, neuroscience and metabolic disorders including diabetes.
- The Biobank Research Unit (BBRU), which is a research unit within the County Council of Västerbotten, manages and coordinates the biobank activities in the region, including the collection, storage, and distribution of biological samples and health data.
Cancer and Radiation
The region has competent researchers in many different fields, from natural sciences and cell biology, through diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, to molecular epidemiology. There is also a good infrastructure for cancer research, with world-class biobanks, linked patient registries and state-of-the-art equipment. In nursing, psychosocial support and cancer rehabilitation, clinical cancer research is currently conducted in a broad sense at units such as the Cancer Centre, the Neurocentre and the Surgery Centre, as well as at Umeå University’s Department of Nursing.
Main hospitals in our ecosystem
University Hospital of Umeå provides the residents of Västerbotten with safe and secure care of high quality and expertise in various areas. The long-standing collaboration between the University Hospital of Umeå and Umeå University ensure healthcare, research and education across the entire region.
Sunderby Hospital is the competence center for all healthcare in Norrbotten. At the hospital, both emergency and planned operations are conducted in all specialist areas except for thoracic and neurosurgery. Sunderby Hospital accepts medical students who complete the last three years of their education at the hospital.
