Four start-ups with links to the forest - in food tech, AI, wood processing and unmanned vehicles - have been selected for the ninth round of the Forest Business Accelerator. With SCA, IBM, RISE and this year also Sweco as new program partners, an arena is created where innovations are developed through close collaboration between entrepreneurs, industry and research.
- It will be exciting to see how and if we can cross-link these different startup companies so that they can reinforce each other in a good way," says Pelle Berglund, project manager for the Forest Business Accelerator and business developer at BizMaker.
The program is BizMaker's most well-known initiative for business development of startups in bioeconomy and forest innovations. 59 companies have over the years had the opportunity to shape their offers and business in close collaboration and with the support of industry and research resources.
Sweco - new partner in the program
The addition of architecture and engineering consultancy Sweco as a partner opens up further opportunities for participating start-ups. With more than 30,000 assignments per year and consultants all over the country, the company sees the accelerator program as an important arena for following technology shifts and collaborating with early-stage companies. Sweco's role will be both to create new contacts with the market and to contribute broad expertise that can help the companies solve complex challenges.
- Through our wide range of consultants throughout Sweden, we can help the startup companies get in touch with relevant customers and partners and at the same time provide expertise based on their needs," says Malin Kullström, Innovation Lead at Sweco.
In this year's round, three of the companies come from Västernorrland and one from Skellefteå. Among the participants is Sleipner Robotics in Örnsköldsvik, which develops unmanned vehicles for unstructured environments - places without rules, signs or fixed routes. One of the markets the company is targeting is forestry, where their vehicles can replace manned machines in demanding terrain.
- We see it as an excellent opportunity to get closer to our end-users and in close cooperation with them develop our solutions so that they really fit the user's needs, says Sverker Svärdby at Sleipner Robotics.
Participating startups in fall 2025
Scandinavian Woodprinting - Converting wood products into high quality building and interior materials.
Sleipner robotics - Develops unmanned vehicles for unstructured environments.
RM Labs - Develops plant-based ingredients for food and health.
Conifer vision - Develops AI models and measurement methods for field inventory of forests.
Contact
Pelle Berglund, BizMaker
073 847 94 24, pelle.berglund@bizmaker.se
Malin Kullström, Sweco
malin.kullstrom@sweco.se
Sverker Svärdby, Sleipner Robotics
070 377 15 88, sverker.svardby@sleipnerrobotics.com
