Last week, several of DigitalWell Arena's partners gathered for a meeting at Karlstad Innovation Park. The meeting meant both a summation of the venture's first year - and a departure towards the future with a shared history.
About 30 guests from business, Karlstad University, the municipal and regional sectors had gathered to continue the joint construction of DigitalWell Arena. They were treated to both forward and backward looks, as well as inspiring lectures by both Anders Ekholm and Emily Wise, coach and accompanying researcher in the ten-year Vinnväxt initiative.
The first year has largely been about creating an organization and a structure to build on. It has also placed increasing demands on formulating a common story and vision regarding what is to be achieved in the Arena.
Lise Bergqvist, communications manager at Compare, presented how the work done together with the innovation agency Sticky Beat continues.
- The goal is a common vision and story about what we are going to achieve in the Arena, what the core is and what we are fighting for together. We have noticed that the image of what DigitalWell Arena is otherwise is very dependent on who you ask, says Lise Bergqvist.
The story work was also one of the points DigitalWell Arena's process managers, Cecilia Karlsson and Magnus Bårdén, raised from the past year. In addition, great emphasis has been placed on building a stable organization and starting national policy work.
Another piece of the puzzle has been the work with a preliminary study on the possibilities of building a certification center for medical technology products in Karlstad, according to the new MDR legislation.
- It is a result of long-term competence building around test and validation, a regional area of strength that within the framework of Digitalwell Arena can be developed into an investment with attractiveness that can strengthen companies in the long term, says Magnus Bårdén, process manager for DigitalWell Arena.
The partners who were present were also given, via mentimeter responses, which investments they think are needed within the DigitalWell Arena next year. It produced many interesting proposals, including improved financing opportunities for start-ups, investments in cyber security and IOT as well as support for municipalities and regions to be able to make more innovative procurements.
