Visual Sweden

In the creative melting pot that has emerged, ideas and innovations are being created that attract significant international attention. More and more global companies are establishing research and development departments in the region, fully aware that it is home to strong expertise, the sharpest talents, as well as a thriving scene for entrepreneurship and unique collaboration models between universities, industry, institutes, and society.

ABOUT VISUAL SWEDEN

On this Europe’s most attractive innovation environment for visualization and image analysispage, you can learn more about what Visual Sweden is, our mission, and how we work to drive innovation and collaboration in the fields of visualization and image analysis.

In the creative melting pot that has emerged, ideas and innovations are born that attract significant international attention. An increasing number of global companies are establishing research and development units in the region, fully aware of the strong expertise and top talent found here. The region also boasts a thriving startup scene and unique models for collaboration between universities, industry, research institutes, and society.

At the core of our work lies innovation and collaboration within visualization and image analysis. Visual Sweden has a broad network across industry, public sector, and academia, and we’re happy to help identify common ground. Sometimes this means facilitating meetings, matchmaking, and visibility – other times it’s about creating shared opportunities through funding calls and innovation grants. We open the door for anyone looking to grow and innovate in this field. Our work is always driven by challenges (Agenda 2030), opportunities (technology-driven), or needs (unique problems).

Visual Sweden is an initiative based in Östergötland, focused on promoting innovation and regional growth in the fields of visualization and image analysis. No other region in Sweden brings together such a strong concentration of actors within this field. The majority are companies developing cutting-edge solutions in visualization and image analysis. Key stakeholders include Region Östergötland, the municipalities of Linköping and Norrköping, Linköping University, and several national agencies and institutes such as SMHI, NFC, and FOI, along with around 100 small, medium-sized, and large companies.

Since 2016, our innovation activities have focused on three main application areas: industry, medicine, and society.
This focus was motivated by the need to address major societal challenges and the demands of businesses and public organizations. In line with our overarching strategy, which takes a holistic view of sustainability, a few additional sub-areas have gradually been included, such as lifelong learning under the “Society” category, while each main area has been assigned a specific focus area for targeted innovation efforts.

Read more about our projects here 

Visual Sweden is operated as a center formation within Linköping University. Stakeholders such as the municipalities, Region Östergötland, companies, national authorities, and research institutes are connected to the center through collaboration agreements. Additional stakeholders are gradually associated through a simple affiliation agreement.

Process Management
Peter Westerdahl, Process Leader and Area Manager for Industry
Mario Romero, Scientific Leader
Per-Erik Forssén, Scientific Leader
Mariana Maisterrena Llaguno, Area Manager for Society
Eric Holmstedt, Area Manager for Society and Contact Person at Norrköping Science Park
Tim Larsson, Area Manager for Medicine and Contact Person at Linköping Science Park
Fredrik Larsson, Communications Officer
Maja Meurling, Communications Officer
Annika Rickne, Follow-up Researcher
Carina Malmgren, Smart Specialisation, Region Östergötland

Board of Directors
Richard Widén, Region Östergötland
Dan Jangblad, SAAB (Chair)
Martin Rantzer, Linköping University (Vice Chair)
Anders Ynnerman, Linköping University
Carina Malmgren, Region Östergötland
Lena Klasén, Polisen
Lena Miranda, Linköping Science Park
Jonas Nilson, Norrköping Science Park
Leif Haglund, Maxar
Thomas Rydell, Interspectral
Robin Hughes, RISE
Maria Karlsson, Norrköping Municipality
Per Södergren, Siemens Energy
Lisa Lindgren, Norrköping Visualisering AB
Louise Felldin, Linköping Municipality

 

 



Contact

Anders Carlsson

Mentorship and applications
LiU
anders.carlsson@liu.se
0705-388908

Per-Erik Forssén

Scientific leader
LiU
per-erik.forssen@liu.se
013-285654

Peter Westerdahl

Process leader, Industry area
Linköpings universitet
peter.westerdahl@liu.se
011-36 33 05

Eric Holmstedt

Community area
Norrköping Science Park
eric.holmstedt@nosp.se
0722-430744

Tim Larsson

Project Manager, Medicine
Linköping Science Park
tim.larsson@linkopingsciencepark.se
0739-871 471

Mariana Maisterrena Llaguno

Community area
Linköpings universitet
mariana.maisterrena.llaguno@liu.se
079 304 6266

Maja Meurling

Communicator
Linköping Science Park
maja.meurling@linkopingsciencepark.se
0725-337488

Fredrik Larsson

Communicator
Norrköping Science Park
fredrik.larsson@nosp.se
0703-161170

Mario Romero

Scientific director
LiU
mario.romero@liu.se

Per Johannesson

Linköpings universitet
per.johannesson@liu.se
011-363215

Annika Rickne

Project manager
Linköpings universitet
annika.rickne@liu.se

Reports

10 years of Visual Sweden

2025-02-13

OUR COLLABORATORS

EUROPE

NATIONAL

Financiers and partners

BE A PART OF VISUAL SWEDEN

Do you have a project idea?

An important purpose is to capture ideas at an early stage, allowing more relevant actors the opportunity to join. New projects are created through dialogue between engaged actors and Visual Sweden’s process leadership.

From idea to project plan

Would you like to join?

Are you a development-oriented company working with visualization or image analysis? Join the ranks of a hundred other companies – become a part of Visual Sweden and help shape a world-class region.

I want to know more