Our quest to discover the future potential of the Nordic nations
As we reach the dawn of our trip, our group thought it would be nice to go over our goals for this two week excursion. First off, as the Valhalla Visionaries we will be focusing on what the future looks like for Sweden in an economic sense. We also look forward to learning from the companies we visit and discovering their plans for the future, their priorities in technological advancement, and how those particular technological advances shape the landscape of their respective industries. For instance, in the preliminary classes leading up to the trip, we learned about Northvolt’s green batteries and Einride’s industrial EV charging stations and autonomous vehicles. While Sweden and Finland are lauded for being high-tech countries today, we want to take a moment to understand how they’ve gotten to this point in the first place.
Growing up, the first thing that came to mind for most of us when we heard Sweden or Scandinavia was likely the Vikings. While a bearded sea raider may not be the greatest mascot for a technologically driven society, the need to adapt and survive from that age actually represents the region’s changing values and priorities. Being one of the most northern regions in the world, the Nordic nations needed to find creative ways to survive the frigid and rugged conditions. This form of adaptation in the 800s involved the raiding of English monasteries, which caused them to become skilled shipbuilders and navigators. For as long as time tells, Scandinavians have been innovating. While naval transportation and warfare are a long cry from EVs and green technology, Sweden and Finland today are famed as technological powerhouses and served as the incubator for many innovative companies like Spotify, Supercell, Skype, Volvo, and more. The region’s modern transformation began in the late 1800s when there was an increased emphasis on the importance of education. Sweden and Finland invested heavily in education funding, not only increasing the quality of their education but also providing free tuition for their citizens. This resulted in a culture of higher learning and a population poised to take on the world’s challenges. Nowadays, Nordic people still carry the spirit of their Vikings ancestors as they embrace their lust for exploration and adaptation by striving to develop cutting-edge technologies to help move the world forward.
So, what is around the corner for Sweden and Finland? As we continue our journey through these two nations, we will stop to soak in several Scandinavian companies’ practical work and learn how university students are working towards the unlocking future. We plan to find out about their plans, what technologies they are investing in, and how they see the future of their industry. We hope that the Scandinavian point of view, possibly informed by their culture of Jantelagen, love of nature, and value for moderation, may lead to breakthroughs or secrets that should be brought back to North America. Join us as we uncover what makes Sweden and Finland two of the leading nations in technological advancements and innovation.
Vi hörs!
Brian & Logan
