International praise for Västra Götaland’s coordination platforms

The international organisation OECD highlights Västra Götaland as an exemplary approach to regional growth and development. Västra Götaland is described as “innovative and groundbreaking” on the European research map.

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is an international organisation promoting cooperation between industrial countries with representative democracy and a market economy. Last year the organisation visited Sweden and the findings are now available in OECD Territorial Reviews: Sweden. The report makes positive reading for Region Västra Götaland’s politicians, local government officers and other players who in various ways promote Västra Götaland’s growth and development.

Excellent climate of cooperation
In its report, OECD praises Västra Götaland’s system for stimulating entrepreneurship, new enterprise and research-based collaboration. The report describes the innovation system with its five platforms based on both tradition and an innovative approach. Successes include the close collaboration between universities and the business sector.
According to the report’s authors, these platforms put Västra Götaland on the European research map as innovative, entrepreneurial and groundbreaking.
-In view of the current state of the labour market, it’s naturally important that those looking to invest in R&D know that Västra Götaland has a good system and an excellent climate of cooperation, says the regional development board’s chairman, Kent Johansson.

Coordination platforms promoting cooperation
The coordination platforms are important cornerstones in the regional innovation system. The ambition is to create functioning environments for idea flows and innovative processes between corporate networks, major research projects and incubators.  Coordination platforms include Lindholmen Science Park, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Espira, Innovatum and Gothia Science Park. Their role as neutral arenas facilitates cooperation between large and small firms, institutes, the academic community and public players.