News

Latest update about covid-19 and Gothenburg as a destination

Published by Charlott Holmåker 17 March, 2020 in Destination, Events, Meetings, Tourism, Uncategorised.

Due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, international travel is now close to non-existent. Large public events and meetings are being cancelled or postponed. The conditions for businesses in the tourism industry have completely changed and Göteborg & Co has a more important role now than ever to act as a platform for collaboration. We are actively taking on a leading role in the destination’s development. That means close contact with small and large actors to find innovative solutions that can benefit everyone in the long run.

• Business Region Göteborg are bringing in extra support for the region’s companies and are continuously working to adapt advice and other forms of support to match the needs that exist – check their website for more information.
• The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth are responsible for information regarding short-term working.

Göteborg & Co is a municipal company in the City of Gothenburg and we are following their advice and guidelines. Due to the current situation, we are in close contact with the municipal government and reconciliations take place regularly. We also provide Swedish authorities with required information wherever possible and collaborate closely with actors in the tourism industry to share information and experiences.

Due to the current situation, many events have been cancelled and other tourist attractions are affected as well. Since the situation is changing constantly, we kindly ask you to check the websites of event organisers and attractions directly.

The event closest in time organised by Göteborg & Co is The International Science Festival in Gothenburg, which will not be executed as planned on April 20–29. If the situation stabilises, we hope to be able to hold the festival later this autumn. This means a smaller festival but as full of joy and knowledge as per usual.

At krisinformation.se you will find updated information from Swedish authorities about the coronavirus (COVID-19). You can also call the national information number in case of accidents and crises, 113 13.

Gothenburg aims to become Sweden’s first single-use free city centre

Published by Stefan Gadd 10 March, 2020 in Destination.

Disposable packaging may be convenient, but it results in large quantities of waste and litter. Now, the city of Gothenburg is following the initiative by Gothenburg Culture Festival to encourage single-use free lunches. Bring your own lunch box and buy your lunch from one of the first restaurants to come on board.

Ulrika Barkman starts the Campaign to buy lunch in your own lunchbox

Several Gothenburg restaurants have joined the scheme encouraging customers to buy lunch in their own lunch boxes, and more outlets are signing up all the time.

“Naturally, we hope that all restaurants and work places will take part,” says Planning Officer Ulrika Barkman from the City of Gothenburg’s Parks and Nature Administration. “Many disposable containers are only used to transport food a few hundred metres to staff break rooms, and customers’ own lunch boxes work just as well.”

Restaurants and workplaces can download free publicity materials from the website to show their support for the scheme, which is being backed by the City of Gothenburg, Göteborg & Co and the shopping organisations.

“Reducing litter is a core part of the City of Gothenburg’s work for a cleaner, more attractive city centre,” continues Ulrika. “A single-use free city is a goal that we can all get behind. This is a simple initiative which is highly topical, and which can have a great effect if we act together.”

Next year, new EU legislation will ban many single-use plastic items, which account for 70 percent of all marine debris. A third of Gothenburg residents say that they would be encouraged to start using reusable containers if they heard about the opportunity to do so at shops and restaurants, according to an interview survey carried out by Sustainable Waste and Water at the City of Gothenburg.

The 2020 Gothenburg Culture Festival will introduce a deposit system for food containers, and the festival plans to be single-use free next year. Find out more about how Sweden’s biggest city festival will become single-use free: https://www.goteborg.com/en/halla-dar-filip-eklund/

Quick facts:

Bringing your own lunch box or cup when buying take-away food and drinks from cafés and restaurants is absolutely OK. There are no rules against this.
One in three Swedes aged 18 to 29 buys food, drinks or snacks daily or several times a week.
Eight out of ten of these believe that single-use plastic is a major environmental problem.
Six out of ten say that they dispose of their used packaging in the nearest rubbish bin.
Each Gothenburg resident generates 400 kg of waste each year. One third of this is packaging, and the proportion is rising.
If you buy takeaway food in your own reusable container twice a week you will reduce your waste by an average of 90 single-use containers.

(Sources: The Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation, the Swedish Food Agency and Sustainable Waste and Water, the City of Gothenburg.)

Sustainable growth main theme at ICCA chapter meeting in Gothenburg

Published by Stefan Gadd in Meetings.

The ICCA Scandinavian Chapter in Gothenburg 2010 marked the starting point for Global Destinations Sustainability Index. Ten years later the members are back to share knowledge and best practices.

Marco van Itterzon, ICCA research director, and Malin Erlandsson, Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre greeted visitors welcome

Gothenburg sustainability strategist Katarina Thorstensson from Göteborg & Co is adamant in her belief that collaboration is the only way to success:

“We need to work together with suppliers, politicians, hotels and venues. Collaboration is our superpower. So, use these days to take steps forward and push the boundaries. It’s all about caring and sharing”, she said in her opening speech.

Gothenburg has for four consecutive years been named world leader by Global Destination Sustainability Index. And at the ICCA Scandinavian Chapter meeting in Gothenburg 4 – 6 March, six of the top-ten cities participated. Together with associations from the Nordics.

“That six out of the ten best cities are present in this room is a great asset for us all. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from each other”, says Katarina.

For the consecutive two days, delegates discussed common challenges and shared knowledge around best sustainable practices. But also, how to create legacy. An example was when Gothenburg hosted the European Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG-ER) last year.

Malin Erlandsson from the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre is chairperson of ICCA Scandinavian Chapter. Together with Marco van Itterzon from ICCA Research, she greeted several associations welcome already on Wednesday morning to a pre-meeting, while the Chapter meeting began on Thursday.

Marco van Itterzon gave a speech on the resources that ICCA can provide its members. And he also touched the topic on everybody’s minds:

“We are currently updating the information on the effects of the coronavirus. It’s important to stick to the facts and we try to gather all relevant resources at the ICCA website.”

In the concluding talks Annika Hallman, Director Gothenburg Convention Bureau shared info on how Gothenburg works together as destination and the effects of city-wide collaboration, notably the Strategic Plan for Meetings endorsed by the municipal council.

Gothenburg starts the year as Capital of Smart Tourism

Published by Stefan Gadd 12 February, 2020 in Destination, Tourism.

For the whole of 2020 Gothenburg will be “European Capital of Smart Tourism” and will mark the year with a wide range of activities. On Friday, Göteborg & Co invited the visitor industry, businesses, the city and academia to share in the task of making Gothenburg an even smarter tourist destination.

“Gothenburg has been given a fantastic opportunity to drive the sustainable development of smart tourism cities in Europe. We intend to carry the title proudly with our stakeholders and showcase our strengths as a destination,” says Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co.

The “European Capital of Smart Tourism” competition was set up by the European Commission to reward cities that set an example in smart, innovative and inclusive tourism solutions. Back in August, Gothenburg was chosen as one of two winning cities for 2020. The city that is appointed as the capital must show strong performance in four categories: accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation and cultural heritage/creativity. In its competition entry, Gothenburg highlighted its strengths in all four categories and underlined its ambition to share its knowledge and experience with other destinations.

Around 40 representatives of the city, academia and the business community gathered on Friday for a kick-off meeting for the year as capital of smart tourism. The aim is to get as many people as possible to help make this year an engine of development for the destination.

“It is genuinely inspiring that we are continuing to develop our fantastic city sustainably together,” says Helena Wiberg of Swedavia, who was present at the meeting.

Gothenburg has been invited by the European Commission to exhibit at a variety of trade fairs and conferences in Europe during the year. A range of activities will also take place on home ground, which Gothenburg will host together with various partners.

“There is a real commitment here to make Gothenburg an even better city and destination. We will put this enthusiasm to good use in this project. Working closely with our stakeholders, we will go from smart to even smarter this year,” says Peter Grönberg.

About the prize:

The European Commission awards the title of “European Capital of Smart Tourism” to two European cities at a time. The winning cities must stand out from the competition by developing tourism in smart, innovative and inclusive ways. Helsinki and Lyon held the title in 2019, and in 2020 it is the turn of Gothenburg and Malaga to take over the role of smart capital.

The competition is open to cities in the EU with a population of over 100,000. In EU countries that do not have such large cities, the largest city may enter.

By rewarding smart destinations, the EU aims to promote tourism development that is innovative, multicultural and inclusive. It also aims to highlight how tourism can contribute to sustainable development.

For more information contact: Helena Lindqvist, project manager at Göteborg & Co helena.lindqvist@goteborg.com

“Gothenburg is a great city to run a hotel in.”

Published by Stefan Gadd 31 January, 2020 in Tourism.

Hotel Royal opened 168 years ago on a street corner near Gothenburg Central Station. Its business concept has always been the same: to provide personal service with a focus on the customer. Hotel Royal was recently named Business Hotel of the Year and looks forward to a fantastic year ahead. A lot is happening in Gothenburg’s hotel market.

Markus Oddestad, CEO, and Henrik Lind, Hotel manager.

Last year Gothenburg had more hotel guests than in any previous year. Five million guest nights were calculated in December. And the forecast for the coming year looks promising.

“We expect to receive at least as many bookings in 2020. There’s a lot happing in the city, and there’s a cooperative spirit that makes Gothenburg a great city to run a hotel in,” says Markus Oddestad.

He is celebrating a double anniversary this year. His family has owned Royal for 40 years, and Markus has been CEO for the past 20 years. As soon as you step into Hotel Royal’s lobby with its beautiful ornate ceiling, you can feel the wings of history. When the hotel first opened in 1852, Gothenburg Central Station had not yet been built. But its proximity to the station would later help guests find their way here.

Last week Royal received the SSQ Award of Business Hotel of the Year. The nomination was put forward by a guest. The award may seem surprising for a family-run hotel with only 76 rooms. But the hotel’s small size and family atmosphere is widely appreciated.

The first impression is the beautiful lobby.

“It appeals to guests today. I tend to describe Royal as an artisan hotel. We have a personal touch that is difficult for a larger business to achieve – a bit like a small carpentry workshop. We notice each other, our guests, our suppliers and everyone else,” explains hotel manager Henrik Lind.

Gothenburg is undergoing exciting developments as a city. Major investments are being made in housing, workplaces and infrastructure, and a new tunnel and bridge will soon open across Göta älv river. Several large new hotels are being planned, which will bring the number of rooms in the Gothenburg region from today’s 12,800 to just over 16,000 in the next few years.

“Of course, competition will increase and some hotels will see a dip in sales. But we’re not very worried for ourselves. I think the larger hotel chains will feel the impact more,” says Markus.

He believes that increased competition results in a greater need for cooperation. For many years he has chaired the Association of Gothenburg Hotels (Göteborgshotellen), which gathers together the region’s smaller hotels. The bigger hotels are members of the Association of Large Hotels (Storhotellgruppen). Both associations have the same objective: to promote cooperation in order to increase Gothenburg’s attractiveness as a destination.

“We need to work together to get visitors to board a train and visit Gothenburg. Once they’ve stepped out onto the platform, we can start competing with each other. But until then we all gain by cooperating,” says Markus.

Royal has a high TripAdvisor rating and has been elected ‘Travellers choice’ for eight years running. This rating plays a key role in attracting new visitors to the hotel.

“Yes, definitely. It’s very important for our business, along with online agencies’ ratings. TripAdvisor is the most credible platform for hotels, and we in the industry refer to it a lot,” says Henrik.

He’s not sure whether Hotel Royal’s previous owner, Mia Palm, who ran the hotel from 1945 until 1979, would have approved of TripAdvisor. She certainly didn’t think much of marketing, and once famously remarked: “Oh, people can just take it or leave it. Whoever comes here is welcome. We don’t care about the rest!”

Attitudes might have changed since then. But the hotel’s basic approach remains the same. “We’ve got our product, we change it as little as possible and we don’t bother much about following trends. Guests essentially want a good night’s sleep, and that hasn’t changed since 1850 or 1950,” says Henrik

Drones can help save lives at sea

Published by Stefan Gadd 29 January, 2020 in Trade and industry group.

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society, SSRS, thought they could work more efficiently in an offshore accident if they had access to a fleet of autonomous drones. But how to make it work – technically and legally? In a project, developed in collaboration between Ericsson Garage in Gothenburg and SSRS, a solution has been found.

Jonas Wilhelmsson, head of Innovation and Sustainability at Ericsson, Gothenburg

Jonas Wilhelmsson, head of Innovation and Sustainability at Ericson Gothenburg has been a part of the project from the start. He shows a picture listing all the obstacles concerning the drone project. It is a long list, but Jonas Wilhelmsson proudly claims that the project has found a way to overcome them all.

– We have recently demonstrated a solution, and we think our system is ready for commercial use.

The idea of using autonomous drones during sea rescue missions was initiated from SSRS. The initiator has a friend who works at Ericsson, Lindholmen and was present at the opening of Ericsson Garage in Gothenburg a couple of years ago. He got an opportunity to pitch his idea – and it turned out to be a perfect match for Ericsson Garage.

Ericsson Garage is meant to be a practical and creative place for innovation. A place where idea owners can spend time outside their normal responsibilities to focus on an innovation project.

Should there be opportunities to commercialize and scale the idea globally, the project moves to Ericsson One – Ericsson’s global incubation and acceleration unit. This happens to be Jonas Wilhelmsson’s responsibility as well, to qualify early stage ideas and projects for global markets at One. The drone solution is a good example.

Rendered photo from the Swedish Sea Rescue Society

– It’s truly amazing to see how we can combine fast-moving grass-root innovation with the resources of a global accelerator unit. Intrapreneurs get the chance to realize their dreams within Ericsson.

The dream that brought Ericsson Garage and SSRS together was the challenge in how to handle a fleet of autonomous drones spread all over the Swedish coastline, with only a couple of pilots available. That meant that a system that enables one person to manage a whole fleet of autonomous drones over the mobile network, beyond visual line of sight had to be developed. At the same time the project had to find a way of how to receive necessary permissions and send moving pictures to the rescuing crew. All in all – a really complex task.

Ericsson Garage is a pragmatic environment where Ericsson’s assets are explored and further developed to address a real problem – typically in collaboration with eco system partners. There are projects in different areas and industries, also outside Ericsson’s current core business. A key driver is the potential for ICT solutions to disrupt or make a difference.

– Ericsson Garage at Lindholmen is very active and committed. We are fortunate enough to operate in a dynamic environment with 24,000 engineers and more than 375 companies just around the corner and a diverse pool of talented and curious colleagues in the house. There is no shortage of ideas, Jonas Wilhelmsson says.

The ability to develop an idea from opportunity into a commercial offering is an exciting possibility and a vital part for Ericsson in general to stay competitive. Around 2,000 people work at Ericsson Gothenburg. It is a cross-section of the company where all the expertise at Ericsson comes together.

– We work in a fantastic place of creativity where we are able to take advantage of all the knowledge and technology within Ericsson. Besides that, we have our own 5G-network, a high-tech test site and close access to all the collaboration areas in Lindholmen Science Park at our doorstep. It is a fantastic possibility, Jonas Wilhelmsson says.

Reflecting over how all this is made possible Jonas Wilhelmsson comments:

– When it comes to innovation, collaboration, openness and sustainability, Gothenburg is a perfect place. The city is big enough to be attractive to global companies, students and skilled professionals – yet small enough to create a good climate for innovation. People know people in different companies, in the city’s various departments, science parks and research facilities at the universities. There are co-working areas, areas where we can come together and use our different expertise to develop ideas. Ideas like the drone project that actually can help save peoples’ lives.

International guest researchers visit AI Innovation of Sweden

Published by Pauline Pontois 20 December, 2019 in Trade and industry group.

As part of the project Go Science, guest researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers got to visit and learn more about the new national center for AI research, AI Innovation of Sweden.

AI Innovation of Sweden is a national center for applied AI research and innovation, with the aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the Swedish industry and welfare. AI Innovation of Sweden is a national and neutral initiative, functioning as an engine in the Swedish AI ecosystem. The focus is on accelerating the implementation of AI through sharing knowledge and data and collaborative projects.

For one afternoon, 24 guest researchers were invited to listen to an inspirational lecture and attend a workshop to learn more about AI research in Sweden with the aim of using AI as a tool in their daily work.

Adrian Bumann (Chalmers) and Aram Karimi (University of Gothenburg) attended the lecture and workshop at AI Innovation of Sweden with Go Science.

Adrian Bumann is a PhD student in the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, at the Department of Technology Economics and Organization. He researches information systems and digital transformation with a focus on innovation processes in the maritime and marine sectors where he uses AI as a tool.

– I’m involved in one of the data factories at AI Innovation of Sweden. I think it’s a great organization to bring people together from different areas. It’s great to have one place to go to if we have a question or looking for certain contacts to provide you with specific content and knowledge. Lots of people here have very different experiences with AI.

Aram Karimi, who is researching Natural Language Processing at the University of Gothenburg at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, also uses AI in her daily work to understand semantics for text in Natural Language Understanding. She has been to several Go Science activities during the fall and appreciates it.

– Go Science is very good for international researchers. I would also like to have more meetings with companies and industries from the business community. We researchers need to understand and solve problems that help people in real working life.

From January 2020, the projects Student Gothenburg and Go Science will merge to form Unimeet Gothenburg. The purpose of the platform is to increase the collaboration between the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology and the trade and industry. The new platform does not mean a major change and will continue with welcoming activities, however with an increased focus on collaboration between Gothenburg University, Chalmers and the business community. Together, we want to make Gothenburg an even better city for international students and guest researchers and show what the city has to offer in terms of business and competence.

GBG talks – an initiative that brings strangers together in Gothenburg

Published by Charlott Holmåker 16 December, 2019 in Destination, Events.

During the weekend of 14–15 December an initiative that is part of Christmas City Gothenburg gave locals a chance to sit down and get to know a stranger at the Central Station. To break the ice and pave the way for stimulating conversations, they were given specially prepared questions to ask each other.

Gbg Talks at Gothenburg Central Station. Photo: Dear Studio/Mattias Vogel.

To encourage residents of Gothenburg to join in and talk to each other, several meetings between strangers were filmed beforehand. To watch the subtitled videos, check out: goteborg.com/gbgtalks

“Our aim is to get more people to discover and choose Gothenburg, and to help make Gothenburg a sustainable destination in every way. We are convinced that meaningful conversations lead to greater tolerance and understanding of each other,” says Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co.

Gbg Talks puts the emphasis on human encounters and also aims to promote organisations that work with such issues, such as Språkvän Göteborg (language mentoring), Stadsmissionen (Gothenburg City Mission), Kulturkompis (Culture Buddies) and Kompis Sverige (Buddy Sweden).

Christmas City Gothenburg is now in its 16th successive year and runs from 15 November to 6 January. A wide range of activities, from illuminations to Christmas markets, concerts, gift shopping and Christmas at Liseberg, attract residents of Gothenburg and visitors to the city during November and December.

Record number of JA companies in 2019

Published by Pauline Pontois in Trade and industry group.

2,921 high school students run JA companies in the Gothenburg region. Photo: Junior Achievement.

The 2019/2020 academic year beats all records. Marking an increase of seven percent over the previous year, 33,706 high school students will run a Junior Achievement company this year, 2,921 of which are based in the Gothenburg region, where 807 JA companies were set up.

Gothenburg has a total of 46 JA schools, of which Polhem high school on Lindholmen leads the way, with over 200 JA students. The students who run JA companies come from many different vocational programmes, with the majority studying economics, technology and commerce. During the year there was also a rise in the number of students from the social science and electrical and energy programmes.

Since the start, in 1980, more than 450,000 students have run their own JA companies.

On 2 March there will be a big JA exhibition and JA companies will have a chance to exhibit at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre to present and sell their products and services. This is an opportunity not to be missed!

Gothenburg prepares to show the way in smart tourism

Published by Stefan Gadd 12 December, 2019 in Uncategorised.

Next year, Gothenburg will be the European Capital of Smart Tourism. The city will stand as an example to EU cities for the development of smart and sustainable tourism. The European Commission has now visited Gothenburg for an initial planning meeting in preparation for 2020.

From the initial planning meeting on 6 December. From left: Antigoni Avgeropoulou, Åsa Borvén, Ilona Lelonek Husting, Katarina Thorstensson, Helena Lindqvist, Sandra Bumbar-Malchow, Lars Isacson.

When Gothenburg was appointed European Capital of Smart Tourism in October, the city began work on planning activities for 2020. Ilona Lelonek Husting, tourism policy officer for the EU Commission, received the first review of the plans on Friday 6 December.

“What impressed the EU Commission most was how successful we have been in building collaboration between the visitor industry and the city, and involving the residents of Gothenburg. We will now look at the activities we will organise ourselves in 2020 and what has already been planned,” says Helena Lindqvist, Project Manager at Göteborg & Co.

This will provide a platform for developing Gothenburg as a destination and collaborating even more closely with the city’s stakeholders. More importantly, it is about taking a lead role within the EU to develop tourism in a way that is sustainable in the long term.

The Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative that is intended to raise the profile of Europe as a tourist destination and to create a platform for sharing best practices in tourism in European cities. The initiative is open to cities with a population of at least 100,000 and the selected capital must show strong performance in four categories: accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation, and cultural heritage and creativity.

“It’s about integrating these four elements in order to develop really smart tourism. We have a unique capacity for collaboration in Gothenburg and I’m proud to be able to tell others about this. But we can also learn from others who have achieved a lot in these areas. That way we can become even smarter,” says Katarina Thorstensson, sustainability strategist at Göteborg & Co.

Tourism is growing and now accounts for 10 percent of the EU’s total GDP, creating 27 million jobs. It is a fragmented industry made up of 2.2 million companies, 90 percent of which are small or medium-sized. But there is great potential to grow further by enhancing visitors’ experiences, creating new opportunities for partnership and collaboration, and promoting innovation in European cities and regions.

School students will become Future Ambassadors

Published by Pauline Pontois 9 December, 2019 in Gothenburg 400 years 2021, Trade and industry group.

The Future Ambassadors initiative has begun! More school students will leave compulsory school with passing grades. Students will also test the power of digitalisation to find new ways of learning.

School students will be educated in ways that are smart, sustainable and inclusive, guided by school requirements, the learning environments of the Universeum Science Centre and the global goals of Agenda 2030. The objective is to improve skills, promote equality and ultimately ensure that school students achieve higher goals. The project will also give heads of schools assistance with developing school resources and enhancing digital skills.

The first concept, entitled Sustainable Seas, began at the end of November with around 150 students in years 4–6 from six different classes around the city. The work is divided into various sessions guided by teachers, with preparations and finishing off in the classroom, as well as visits to the Universeum Science Centre where the students explore new learning environments and gain new tools to enhance learning. Based on the foundations of biology and global goal 14 Life Below Water the students will use problem-based learning and mixed learning environments as tools to understand the contemporary world.

During the 2019/2020 academic year the project will be extended to 16 new classes and two further concepts: the Body and Health (years 1–3), and Space (years 6–9). More concepts will be developed for introduction in the 2020/2021 academic year. The intention is that the Future Ambassadors will develop from a project into a method that can be applied on a wider scale.

The project is part of the Knowledge and Enlightenment focus theme in the run-up to Gothenburg’s 400-year anniversary in 2021.

Gothenburg solution facilitates climate-smart food choices

Published by Stefan Gadd 3 December, 2019 in Trade and industry group.

With the smart service CarbonAte consumers are able to make climate smart food choices. The idea – developed at the FoodTech startup CarbonCloud in Gothenbrug – is now spreading through Sweden.
“Foodstuffs make up one quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. If we are serious about reaching our climate goals, this is one of the areas where we can act,” says David Bryngelsson, CEO and co-founder of CarbonCloud.

David Bryngelsson with part of the team at CarbonCloud.

Imagine a lunch menu with these options: meat 1.2kg CO2e, fish 0.82 or veggie 0.55. Several Gothenburg restaurants now offer guests the possibility to pick their lunch based on the climate impact of each specific dish. The innovation is the result of several years of Chalmers-based research by David Bryngelsson and some of his colleagues. A technical physicist, he has a background in climate mitigation research, one focus area being foodstuffs. This gave rise to the idea to develop a product that would make it easier for consumers and producers to make climate smart food choices and reduce their climate impact. The goal is that all food we consume should carry a climate label, with a clear indication of its climate footprint.

The company initially developed a service for restaurants, enabling staff and guests to see the climate footprint of each individual dish. The service was tested at Chalmers Conference and Restaurants, and the weekly lunch menu on the company’s website includes information about the climate footprint of each course. The same information can be seen on displays inside the university restaurants. Very well received, the service – called CarbonAte – is now available in some 40 restaurants throughout Sweden.

The amount of interest in their service has further fuelled CarbonCloud’s ambitions. Its researchers, climate strategists and web developers are currently working on the company’s next major endeavour, CarbonData, which is geared towards the food industry. It is based on the same principle as the restaurant service – to make it easier for consumers to make climate smart choices and for producers to reduce their climate footprint.

“Our business idea is to package an advanced system for life-cycle analysis into a user-friendly web-service that the clients can easily manage. This will not only make the information easily accessible but also ensure that it is current and updated, which can otherwise be a problem for companies when performing business-related life-cycle analyses. Once you are done, the information may rapidly become outdated,” says David Bryngelsson.

The Chalmers-based startup is currently expanding, in the hope that their services will find a wider customer-base. David Bryngelsson is convinced there is an interest in services such as theirs.

“The food industry has a lot to gain from measuring their climate footprint. Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, wanting to know the impact of the products they buy. The number of government regulations will also increase in the years to come. Keeping track of and being transparent about your emissions is a simple way to reduce your risk-taking, ensure customer loyalty and save money,” says David Bryngelsson.

Having a location in the vicinity of Chalmers in Gothenburg has been a key success factor to CarbonCloud. This enables a research-related business and makes it easier to secure the right talent. Another vital facilitator has been the existing institutional support framework in the area.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. As a startup company you depend on funding from authorities and organisations who support innovative initiatives for the future; players who will make sure that you succeed without looking to gain from it themselves. That is very stimulating,” says David Bryngelsson.

Facts: CarbonCloud
Gothenburg-based startup company which has developed services to measure the climate footprint of foodstuffs.
More information about CarbonCloud

News about

Recent Posts

Related pages