Stockholm Science City to contribute to our Oxford forum this April
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Future Cities Forum is delighted that Ylva Williams, CEO of the Stockholm Science City foundation since 2009, will be contributing to our 'Global Science Cities' forum at The Oxford Science Park this April.
Ylva has been CEO of the Stockholm Science City foundation (SSCi) since 2009. SSCi is an expert organization facilitating knowledge transfer and growth. This is done by strengthening relations and increasing collaborations between academia, industry, and society to support the development of Stockholm as an attractive place for research and entrepreneurship.
Ylva is a civil engineer in chemical engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. She has a strong background in life sciences with more than 35 years within research, sales, marketing, strategic communication, and place branding from, among others, the communications agency JKL (KEKST CNC), Business Sweden, Pharmacia Biotech, KEBO Lab, and VWR International.
Between 2016 and 2019, Ylva worked on the board of the life science network Council of European BioRegions, and in the years 2016 to 2022, on the board of the company wholly owned by Järfälla municipality. She has been an associate board member in Hagastadens Fastighetsägarförening since 2010.
Since 2010, Ylva has been part of the management company Arthur D. Little's jury that awards the Arthur D. Little Nordic Life Science Award. Since 2017, she has also been one of the jury members for the City of Stockholm's innovation scholarship in the category of life science, healthcare, and health, and since 2021 a jury member for the SKAPA award, which is Sweden's most significant innovation award, providing support to inventors to develop their ideas.
Stockholm Science City was founded in 1990 with the goal of strengthening collaboration between the universities and developing the environments around them.
Stockholm Science City describes its work with the Hagastaden Innovation District:
'Our work in Hagastaden began with the creation of the area’s vision, Vision 2025*, which was signed in 2007 by the City of Stockholm, the City of Solna, Region Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, KTH, Stockholm University, and representatives from the private sector. Today, Hagastaden is a mature innovation district within life science, reinforcing the entire Stockholm-Uppsala region’s position on the global stage as a leading life science cluster.
'In developing Hagastaden, we collaborate with property owners, companies, universities, the City of Stockholm, and Region Stockholm. Our efforts focus on sharing information, creating networks, and facilitating meaningful connections. We initiate and facilitate activities that strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Market intelligence, analysis, and trend monitoring are also central to our work.
'In 2007, Stockholm City, Solna City, Region Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, and representatives from the business sector signed an agreement with a vision extending 18 years into the future. The goal was to jointly develop Hagastaden into the world’s leading life science area by 2025, creating an international innovation district for life and health.
'In 2010, the first shovel of dirt was turned, and since then, the area has been buzzing with a pioneering spirit. Karolinska University Hospital, which welcomed its first patients in 2016, is located in Hagastaden. The first residents moved into the area in 2017, the same year Norra Stationsgatan was inaugurated. St Eriks Eye Hospital opened its new facility in Hagastaden in 2020.
'The central parts of Hagastaden are largely completed, with 3,100 homes and 300,000 square meters of office and retail space. In the coming years, the final sections of this district will be completed, including more homes, offices, green spaces, as well as sports and cultural venues, senior housing, schools, kindergartens, and hotels.
'Hagastaden has a unique geographical location with close proximity to both Stockholm city and Solna. It is within walking distance of four prestigious universities: Karolinska Institutet (KI), KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), and Stockholm University (SU), as well as one of the world’s leading hospitals, Karolinska University Hospital. The E4 motorway is just a few minutes away by car, making it easy to travel to and from Arlanda Airport.'
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