On 16 April, the University of Skövde will host the conference "Open Software in a Changing World", bringing together world-leading experts in digitalization. The conference is aimed at practitioners and decision-makers in digitalization and aims to equip participants with tools and valuable knowledge to successfully navigate the future digital landscape.
Ellen Mellåker is one of the founders of the gaming company Redbeet Interactive, the developers of the global hit Raft. Now she wants to reinvest in the gaming industry to help more women succeed in their entrepreneurial journey, and has decided to invest SEK 5 million in the company Aurora Arts, headed by Tilla Segerstedt.
Developer Pieces Interactive boasts over ten titles under its belt, such as Magicka 2 and Titan Quest. They are now back with the terrifying adventure game Alone in the Dark, which has propelled the company to entirely new heights.
The University of Skövde attracts many new international students every year. In August 2022, Dennis Mbuthia moved from Nairobi, Kenya, to Skövde to study the Serious Games Master program.
For Culture in Skövde, International Women's Day is one of the most important days of the year. It is a day when culture has the opportunity to draw attention to the equal value of people and to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
In an old pink house in the heart of Skövde is the Skaraborgs konstgrafiska verkstad. Here, graphic artists from all over Skaraborg gather to work, learn and meet.
Skaraborg is an important hub for logistics and transportation and now Skövde Energi has taken an important step to ensure that the area can maintain its position in the future.
The municipalities of Skövde and Tibro aim to make use of the skills and experience of Ukrainian refugees. They are therefore implementing a joint ESF (European Social Fund) project to facilitate the integration of Ukrainians into the Swedish labor market.
The people in Skövde love their city! You might wonder how can we be sure of that? Well, we know because a survey conducted in the fall of 2023 shows that 95 % responded that Skövde is an excellent place to live.
You don't have to live in a big city to have a career or run successful companies in game development, tech or future industry. Skövde has shown this.
Skövde has developed into a prominent tech hub with record growth in game development, IT/tech and smart industry. The largest development project in the city's history is now underway.
Drivhuset Skaraborg is a dynamic platform that uses entrepreneurial tools, approaches and methods to develop individuals to understand at a deeper level how an idea becomes action.
With almost no knowledge about the gaming industry, Adam Stjärnljus and his partner Maria Brunsson started a remarkable journey in the fall of 2018. Starting and running multiple companies in his life had undoubtedly been helpful to Adam, as had his expertise in Motion Graphics and his international freelance work with commercials and TV intros. However, it was perhaps his passion for computer games and Adam's constant search for that one game project to invest in, that led him to where he stands today.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to study or work in another country? Alfred took the step many only dream of. His experience is very positive, even though there were also challenges.
A completely new district is emerging in Mariesjö in Skövde. Where industries and business premises were previously located, a new area is now being built where housing, offices, a university, shops and various service functions will coexist. The Bostället residential area, which was ready for occupancy in the fall of 2023, includes two buildings with 71 apartments. Right from the start, there was great interest in the new homes, and one of those who moved in is 26-year-old software programmer Hannes Kindströmmer.
Made in Skövde is proud to once again jointly exhibit at this year's Elmia Subcontractor fair. This initiative, where a group of manufacturing companies from the Skövde region come together to exhibit as one unit, strengthens both the cooperation and increases their presence.
Skövde's gaming industry continues to show impressive growth with a noticeable increase in turnover and profits compared to the previous year. This is according to new statistics from Dataspelsbranschen. The 36 gaming companies in Skövde had a combined turnover of over 2.7 billion (1.8 billion in 2021) and made a profit of almost 1.3 billion (about 1 billion in 2021).
Taking the plunge and moving to a new city is very exciting. It presents opportunities for new encounters, new places to explore, and experiences that challenge and enrich us as individuals. But it can also be an overwhelming experience.
PlayLab in Skövde is a high-tech malleable stage space with opportunities to explore the space between games, game technology and performing arts where researchers, professional cultural workers and young people collaborate. Behind the initiative is the Culture Department in Skövde municipality and the University of Skövde. PlayLab is part of Kulturlabbet (Skövde's cultural center for young people) and was inaugurated in connection with the opening of Kulturlabbet in June 2022. There are similar institutions around the world, but none of them involve the public in the same way as PlayLab does.
Annika Taylor, 20 moved to Skövde as an international student in August this year. She is from Dubai and grew up in a small, conservative town with many traditional customs and values. She lived in Dubai for 17 years, until she moved to Tallinn during the pandemic in 2020 with her family to finish high school.
Basically, all people need to feel safe and included in order to dare to be their authentic selves. This was something that Maria Jern, a proud mother and grandmother, picked up from her childhood and passed on to her daughters.
When the students in the group Skamvrån won the SAGA award in 2020 for their game Die, Recompile, some of them decided to follow their dream of starting a game company. With Science Park Skövde's startup program behind them, they founded Ember Paw Games, which is now working on the game Odinfall.
On Monday, August 21, the introduction for the new international students who start their studies at the University of Skövde begins. For the fall semester this year, about 300 international students have been admitted, of which 200 of the students will attend the introduction on Monday.
It started with five friends building websites in a barn in Götene. Now Stacc Farm is part of the Norwegian fintech group Stacc and new opportunities have opened up for the company.
Digital payment services are present in our everyday lives and make our lives easier in many ways, but despite this, the fintech industry is a bit of a doldrums, at least compared to the well-known gaming industry, which many people associate Skövde with. But the fact is that it was fintech that was part of the start of the development of the tech industry in Skövde.
Region Västra Götaland, together with industry, is investing SEK 16 million in the Next Generation Laboratory (NGL) environment in power electronics and new electric motor concepts. The current project will complement the physical environment Assar Industrial Innovation Arena in Skövde.
Are you a professional in Skövde or the Skaraborg region and a migrant from another country? Or a master's student at the University of Skövde who wants to build a successful career? Look no further!
The future doesn't have to knock on the door of the Balthazar Science Center - it's already wide open. It prepares the future generation for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Dedicated educators who are passionate about their subjects in science and technology meet students of all ages here - from preschoolers and secondary school students to university students. On the same premises are Volvo's development department and the ASSAR innovation arena, which opens up for exciting meetings across age and competence boundaries.
Skövdebostäder has now released twelve apartments for rent in the Bostället area. The building is located in Mariesjö, where Skövde municipality is investing heavily to create a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood with up to 4,000 homes in the long term.
17th move in a row? Michelle hoped to meet new friends at the premiere of "Language Lunch for Skövde's International Talents".
Michelle has recently moved to Skövde. She and her husband are originally from Los Angeles, USA but most recently from Germany where they lived for a few years. They have moved 16 times in 20 years because of her husband's job in the computer games industry. Now she hopes they will settle in Skövde with their two-year-old son.
Never before have avatars from very different games stood side by side on a game cover for one location. But now it's happening in Skövde. Because as the place grows and wants to attract more establishments and talents in computer games, smart industry and IT with a focus on fintech, many people are joining forces. Together they are launching Skövde as a game and a playground full of opportunities, especially through Science Park Skövde's innovation arenas. Science Park Skövde and Skövde Municipality are behind the campaign.
The leading distribution platform for computer games, Steam, has now compiled which games performed best in 2022. The lists include several games produced by Skövdebolag, which has delivered several successes in recent years.
Over the past 20 years, Västra Götaland and Skövde have developed into Sweden's leading
leading place for game development. But it was not a foregone conclusion that this would happen. At the beginning of the
2000s, the University of Skövde's profile area, the IT programs, had far too few applicants.
After a lot of thinking and long workshops, it was decided to merge several of the competencies
knowledge available at the university to create a computer games course.
Throughout the year, Skövde is an arena for several major sporting events at international level. There are also several large cups and races that attract many participants and spectators. Here we list the biggest sporting events in Skövde. Enjoy!
Material ConneXion is one of the world's largest material libraries, with 10,000 advanced, innovative and sustainable materials and manufacturing technologies. The library is a bridge between industry's technical know-how and the cultural and creative industries.
Recent statistics from Dataspelsbranschen show strong growth among gaming companies in Skövde: 68 percent increase in turnover, 39 percent increase in profit, 44 percent more employees - and a 100 percent increase in women in the companies. Based on turnover, Skövde is Sweden's largest gaming development municipality after Stockholm.
The Swedish games industry is on the rise. It is already on a par with the major export industries of iron ore, wood and trucks. More than 30,000 more game developers are needed by 2030. To develop the industry and remain at the global forefront, an extensive multi-million euro investment is now being initiated by stakeholders in Västra Götaland. At the forefront are Science Park Skövde and the computer game cluster Sweden Game Arena.
At last! New times await Skövde's landmark Billingehus. After a few years of dormancy, the new owners, Lotus Hotel Group, are now reviving the unique building that looks out over Skövde at the top of Billingen.
With strong cutting-edge areas in game development, smart industry, and IT, it is no coincidence that company after company chooses to establish right here, in Skövde. Like a playing field, Skövde is full of opportunities for those who want to. Here you can make contacts, discover new places, lay the foundation for something new and challenge yourself. And best of all. We have room for more players.
Northvolt's non-establishment in Skövde became a brave campaign that made it all the way to a nomination of the Publishing Prize 2022 as this year's brand ad.
With the aim of gathering the Swedish gaming industry, the Sweden Game Conference is back between October 13-14 at Skövde Kulturhus.
Under the theme Strengthening the Swedish game industry, the Sweden Game Conference invites participants from all corners of the game industry, politicians and representatives from the Swedish innovation system to discuss this year's theme.
Swedish game developer Stunlock Studios recently released the biggest and most ambitious game they have created. V Rising, an open world fantasy vampire survival game is now available on Steam Early Access after a promising closed beta. By the end of May, over 500,000 copies of the game had been sold and 150,000 concurrent players.
Watch the vision film about Skövde Science City - welcome to the Skövde of the future!
Perhaps Paula and Flor may inspire you. Two young girls from Argentina who left Berlin for Skövde and a career with game development studio Palindrome, despite having only googled the city.
A new city district is currently emerging in what is the very best location in Skövde – and it combines the best of several worlds. How about living in safe, green neighbourhoods adjacent to the city centre, the university and Skövde’s most creative companies and entrepreneurs? In Skövde Science City, homes will be mixed with business premises, meeting places and services to create a dynamic and vibrant city district.
A new city district is currently emerging in what is the very best location in Skövde – and it combines the best of several worlds. How about living in safe, green neighbourhoods adjacent to the city centre, the university and Skövde’s most creative companies and entrepreneurs? In Skövde Science City, homes will be mixed with business premises, meeting places and services to create a dynamic and vibrant city district.
Unique project empowers game studios to achieve international success
With the unique collaboration project Interlink, Science Park Skövde will gather the Swedish game clusters to support newly started gaming companies for their journey to the international market. The last stop is the games fair Gamescom in Cologne on August 24-26.
We welcome smart industry companies to Skövde!
There was no battery factory in Skövde. But as you can see, a lot is already done, from a world-class industrial area to this campaign. We are ready to meet companies with the ideas and solutions of the future. So all of you who want to raise your game - Game on!
New York or Skövde? Rebecca Rouse, researcher and lecturer in digital media from Georgia in the USA, chose Skövde. Her reason? New opportunities and open-minded people. Let’s connect!
January 30 - February 5, 2023, it's time for the battle for the Swedish Championship gold when the Swedish Championship week winter is arranged in Skövde. A total of 22 sports will settle for Swedish Championship medals. New sports at the Swedish Championships week in winter in Skövde are e-cycling, simulator golf and wheelchair handball. Wrestling, draft dogs, parallel slalom and dance are back on the SM-week program again together with SC-week classics such as cross-country skiing, x-trial and rally sprint.
January 30 - February 5, 2023, it's time for the battle for the Swedish Championship gold when the Swedish Championship week winter is arranged in Skövde. A total of 22 sports will settle for Swedish Championship medals. New sports at the Swedish Championships week in winter in Skövde are e-cycling, simulator golf and wheelchair handball. Wrestling, draft dogs, parallel slalom and dance are back on the SM-week program again together with SC-week classics such as cross-country skiing, x-trial and rally sprint.
Congratulations to the Skövde-based game studio iron gate, whose popular game Valheim won the award for best newcomer at the Game Developers Choise Awards in San Francisco.
After a long, cold and wet winter, the game is finally underway for Skövde AIK. Recently they won their first match of the season against Östersund and now they are of course preparing for more challenging matches with positive results.
Is it possible to run a successful company with high-tech activities in a rural location? “Of course,” says Sam Svännel, Managing Director of Elos Medtech in Timmersdala.
Artists in residence are found at all art museums today, aren’t they? Certainly! But Skövde takes the concept to a new level. With open arms and curiosity about the surrounding world, artists from around the world enrich the art scene in Skövde.
Young voices are valuable in Skövde. So valuable that the municipality has appointed youth municipal development officers to have their say in development of issues relating to their age group.
Skövde is a vibrant place – home to residents keen to develop, expanding companies and a variety of clubs and societies that engage and inspire adults and children every day to come together and get active.
A collective project is under way in Södra Ryd, which is the largest city district in Skövde, home to 6,300 residents, involving urban redevelopment with the overall aim of counteracting segregation and promoting equal conditions for everyone living and growing up in the area. One way forward is interacting with clubs and societies. Being an active member of a club or society is a tradition that is deeply rooted among Swedes, but is not equally evident in other parts of the world. Area development officers in Södra Ryd have taken this on board with the ESA project.
It turned out to be a good thing that Carl Erik Josef Nyberg felt it took too long to change compressed air tools and that their performance was poor when working at Miloverkstaden Skövde in the mid 1950s. Then as now, Skövde is good at transforming ideas and innovations into products and companies. Naturally Carl Erik had a solution to his problem, so he obtained a patent for his idea and set up CEJN – a company that now has 350 employees.
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