Since 1986, the Gothenburg Convention Bureau has contributed to the development of Gothenburg as an international meetings destination, with research, innovation, and collaboration at its core.
Through close cooperation between academia, industry, and the city, Gothenburg has become an established host city for world-leading congresses that create long-term value for knowledge and society.
Today, Gothenburg stands as a well-established and internationally trusted meeting destination for the world’s most prominent congress organisers.

From vision to a global meeting destination

For four decades, the Gothenburg Convention Bureau has helped transform Gothenburg into a recognised international meeting destination. Built on close collaboration between internationally renowned researchers, academia, industry, and the city, this long-term effort has positioned Gothenburg as a host for world-leading congresses that drive knowledge and societal impact.

Gothenburg’s strong position is the result of:

• committed meeting ambassadors and world class knowledge environments
• strategic investments in hotels, venues, and meeting capacity
• close and trusted collaboration between the city, academia, and industry
• a clear, long term commitment to sustainable meetings
  

A strong link to research and industry

Gothenburg’s strength as a meeting destination is firmly rooted in local world-class research and innovation. An early example is odontology, where Per-Ingvar Brånemark’s discovery of osseointegration laid the foundation for modern dental implants and led to the World Dental Congress being held in Gothenburg in 1993.

Today, the same pattern can be seen across several fields. Breakthroughs in medicine have led to numerous international congresses in areas such as neuroscience, transplantation, IVF, cardiology and precision medicine.

At the same time, a broad research base in education, law, psychology, information science, and environmental and social sciences underpins meetings within the social sciences and humanities.

Strong technical research, combined with deep industrial roots, has also positioned Gothenburg as a host city for international meetings on advanced materials, electrification, and future mobility. A recent example is Gothenburg’s leading role in sustainable mobility, where actors such as Volvo Group have contributed to international congresses, most recently in 2025.

From vision to a global meeting destination

Gothenburg has gradually evolved into an international meeting destination, where research, collaboration, and long-term investments have laid the foundation for recurring congresses and meetings.

1980s

Gothenburg begins to work more systematically to attract congresses.

1986

The foundation is laid for the Gothenburg Convention Bureau and the long-term development of Gothenburg as a meeting destination.

1990s

The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre is developed into an internationally competitive congress venue.

1993

Gothenburg hosts the FDI World Dental Congress, one of the city’s first major international congresses, enabled by a new congress hall and strong odontological research.

2000s

Strong research environments and engaged meeting ambassadors contribute to a growing number of international congresses being held in Gothenburg.

2005

A landmark year for meetings featuring the World Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy with Dalai Lama, alongside several large international congresses in fields including audiology, paediatric neurology, endocrinology, hand surgery and accounting.

2010s

Gothenburg positions itself as a sustainable meeting destination and initiates an international framework for sustainable meetings.

The efforts contribute to Gothenburg’s high rankings in the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

2010

A record year for world congresses across disciplines such as library and information science, sociology, dermatology, genetics, biochemistry, neurology, mathematics and energy.

2020s

Continued investments in hotel and meeting infrastructure.

Digital working methods increase accessibility for international organisers.

2025

A strong meeting year with international congresses in medicine and technology, ranging from surgical oncology and spinal cord injuries to electromobility, life science and higher education.

The journey continues

Through collaboration, Gothenburg continues to develop as an international meeting destination, creating long-term value for both the city and the wider world.

A city built for meetings

Gothenburg’s development as a meeting destination has progressed hand in hand with its physical growth. With the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers at its core, supported by expanding hotel capacity and new meeting environments in redeveloped former shipyard districts such as Eriksberg and Lindholmen, the city has evolved into a coherent destination where everything is close at hand. Short distances, good accessibility and a welcoming atmosphere are key competitive advantages.

As part of the development, sustainability has become a central pillar of Gothenburg’s position as a meetings destination, with consistently high rankings in the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

Meetings that create lasting value

International congresses contribute to societal development through knowledge exchange, innovation and new collaborations. In Gothenburg, the ambition goes further; meetings are also expected to generate long-term impact.
In the lead-up to the city’s 400th anniversary in 2021, congresses were used as strategic tools to support Gothenburg’s broader development goals. Tangible outcomes include open knowledge arenas for the public, the introduction of tap water accreditation and the expansion of charging infrastructure.

In 2021, the Gothenburg Way to Legacy was launched – a framework that today supports organisers in developing congresses into drivers of long-term, positive societal impact.

Here are more examples of congresses that have made a lasting difference in Gothenburg.

Towards the future

After 40 years, Gothenburg continues to develop as an international meeting place for research, ideas and collaboration.
New investments, strong research environments, and a growing innovation ecosystem provide a solid foundation for future meetings. Through approaches such as the Gothenburg Way to Legacy and new digital solutions, the Gothenburg Convention Bureau continues to develop meetings that make a difference.