Large enterprises + startups = collaboration

Published: March 2, 2017

Photo: Jonas Bilberg

How can we drive innovation and strengthen Swedish competitiveness? One way is through collaboration between large established companies and startups. Both the willingness and the ability to achieve these objectives were demonstrated at a recent event at SynerLeap.

“Let’s Start!” Peter Löfgren says full of enthusiasm, to the crowd gathered. He is the managing director of SynerLeap, ABB’s new growth hub, which launched the event called “Scaling Together – Overcoming the Barriers in Corporate-Startup Collaboration”. It is clear that the topic is an important one: SynerLeap’s premises were packed with representatives from startups, ABB representatives, investors, incubators, science parks and universities, among others. All of the visitors came to Västerås to listen to leading experts, network and visit SynerLeap and a couple of labs at the ABB Corporate Research Center.

At the same time that Swedish large enterprises are among the world’s oldest, our startups are among the most creative. The message was clear early on:

“We have to accelerate collaboration between large and small enterprises,” said Bengt Eliasson from Silicon Vikings, the event’s co-organizer.

Flexibility

Even though there are challenges, the conditions for success are excellent. The Swedish innovation climate is positive – among the top ten startup regions, Stockholm is in second place right behind Silicon Valley. The step to collaboration between startups and large enterprises, however, requires expanded horizons and new working methods.

“We have to become more flexible. Large enterprises must share their expertise, and closed innovation models need to become open innovation models. Collaboration is a win-win situation where startups get help to grow and large enterprises obtain renewal and new expertise,” says Marie Wall, who is the startup director at the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation.

Presentations from, for example, Stefan Fölster from the Reform Institute, Aleksandar Zuza from IF Metall, Bertil Thorvaldsson from ABB and Martin Anderlind from SGF Energy were intermixed with discussions and networking over the course of the day. The exhibitions at SynerLeap’s premises clarified the strength of Swedish innovation. Furhat Robotics, one of 32 exhibitors, attracted a large number of visitors who were interested in interacting with the company’s hat-wearing robot head. It was especially gratifying for Furhat’s Preben Wik to spend a day in the heart of ABB’s Corporate Research center.

“It was a match made in heaven the first time I saw YuMi. It was a robot body without a head. And here we have a robot head without a body!” said Preben Wik

See recordings of the presentations and discussions on Periscope: Session 1 | Session 2

Networks and innovation

In a different part of the exhibition, Gleechi’s Jakob Johansson demonstrated Virtual Grasp, which is software for realistic hand movements that can interact in real time. Gleechi has been part of SynerLeap from the start, and at the same time that Jakob talked about the company’s potential and challenges, he made contact and opened up for opportunities with other visitors.

“Networking is extremely important for us, and we have a great mix of people from different parts of the industry here today,” says Jakob Johansson.

There was a great deal of networking and many creative discussions during the course of the day. Most of the participants agreed on the importance of collaboration in relation to achieving success. Peter Löfgren was very pleased when he summarized the day:

“With passion, entrepreneurship and a some muscles we can go far! This has been a great day, and we are well on our way to building trust between these two worlds.”

Watch this video from the event

Some voices from the event

Karin Wiik, Project Manager Automation Region
“It is important to understand the importance of mingling and networking, and I hope to gain many new contacts today. Automation Region’s goal is to create joint research projects with the business world, public sector and academia. To achieve this goal, we have to take part and help create the forms of cooperation.”

Agneta Jacobson, Teyi, who authored the report “Corporate Innovation Powered by Startups”
“The innovation climate in Sweden is good, but we have to make sure we maintain it. Improved collaboration between large and small enterprises is one way. Combining the know-how and muscle of established companies with the creativity and flexibility of startups can mean the difference between success and failure.”

Dan Gemvall and Tobias Fröberg, BoldArc, which is developing solutions for the visualization of architecture
“This has been a very inspiring day. SynerLeap is a new acquaintance, and we are here to make ourselves known and to network. We believe that being part of a growth hub like SynerLeap can help BoldArc reach its goals and make it easier for us to reach out to customers.”

Donnie SC Lygonis, Business Development Coach at KTH Innovation
“Many of the exhibitors are from KTH Innovation, and I feel like a proud father of teenagers as I walk around here. A lot has happened as regards commercialization of Swedish research during the past five to six years, and initiatives such as SynerLeap are very positive since we need more places where our ideas can find a market.”