– A Thriving Hub for Innovation and Excellence
Blekinge, Sweden, is a compact and internationally connected region with strong industrial capacity and a proven ability to turn research into commercial value. Home to global companies such as Volvo, Ericsson, SAAB, Tarkett and Roxtec, the region offers established strengths in the sectors Digital Technology, Marine Technology, Forming and Advanced Manufacturing, Food Production and Tourism.
– 350 years of excellence
Blekinge’s marine technology expertise dates back to 1680, when King Karl XI founded Karlskrona as a naval stronghold. Since then, the region has developed continuous competence in maritime and naval technology, making Blekinge the core of Sweden’s naval development.
Today, Blekinge remains at the forefront of marine and underwater technology, with SAAB Kockums operating one of the world’s most advanced shipyards for submarines and surface vessels. Through long-term investments and highly specialised expertise, the region has become a global leader in naval production and underwater systems.
With the Swedish Navy and Coast Guard headquartered in Blekinge, the region was a natural choice for the establishment of the National Underwater Technology Center (NUC). Inaugurated in 2018 by the Swedish Minister of Defence, NUC serves as Sweden’s national hub for underwater research and innovation. Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) further strengthens the ecosystem through its Master of Science programme in Marine Technology, focusing on marine information systems and underwater technology.
SAAB Kockums – advanced naval and submarine production
NKT – global leader in offshore high-voltage cable systems
Roxtec International – flexible sealing solutions for marine and industrial applications
National Underwater Technology Center (NUC)
MTC is an innovation ecosystem dedicated to advancing marine technology for a safer and greener Europe. MTC focuses on three core areas Offshore Energy, Defense and Sustainable Oceans. MTC serves as a collaborative platform that brings together industry, academia, and public sector partners to drive research, innovation, and growth in marine technology.
– from Telecom City to a Strong ICT Ecosystem
Over 30 years ago, Blekinge became the birthplace of the world’s first telecom cluster, Telecom City, pioneered by Ericsson and what is now Telenor. This early collaboration between industry, academia and the public sector laid the foundation for a strong and resilient ICT ecosystem that continues to develop today.
A central part of Blekinge’s digital technology landscape is Ericsson’s R&D centre in Karlskrona, developing services that are fundamental to operators’ 5G networks, including activation, monetisation and fintech solutions. As manufacturing and industrial companies increasingly rely on advanced digital competence, many international ICT companies such as HiQ, CGI and Sigma have established operations in the region.
Today, digital technology is one of Blekinge’s largest sectors, employing more than 5,000 people. The region has also developed strong expertise in IT and cybersecurity, driven by the growing need for secure connected systems. Blekinge is home to leading companies in this field, including Truesec and Outpost24.
Blekinge is also recognised for its gaming industry, centred around Gameport, one of Sweden’s established gaming communities and incubators. Supported by Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) and its programmes in Software Engineering in Games, Interactive Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, the region has produced several successful game studios.
Well-known companies such as Tarsier, Thunderful, The Station and the BAFTA award-winning Something We Made illustrate how Blekinge combines technical excellence with creative innovation.
Ericsson – telecom and 5G R&D
Telenor – telecom and network services
HiQ, CGI, Sigma – international ICT consultancies
DNV Cyber, Outpost24 – cybersecurity and IT security
Gameport – gaming community and incubator
Blue Science Park is an innovation hub based in Karlskrona, Sweden, focused on fostering growth in marine technology and digital solutions. They brings together businesses, academia, and the public sector to drive innovation, research, and development. Blue Science Park has over 80 members from business, research, and the public sector
– Forming and Advanced Manufacturing
Blekinge has a long tradition of metalworking, dating back nearly 300 years to the establishment of its first ironworks. Over time, this heritage has evolved into advanced manufacturing and forming technology, with the region today supplying critical body parts to leading automotive manufacturers such as Volvo, Porsche, Audi, Ford, Land Rover and Aston Martin.
Forming technology in Blekinge has developed through close collaboration between industry, academia and public actors. The region’s manufacturing companies operate at a high international level, combining advanced forming processes with precision, quality and efficiency required by the global automotive industry.
Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) supports the sector through specialised programmes in mechanical engineering and industrial economics. Research at BTH focuses on areas central to modern manufacturing, including simulation-driven product development, structural analysis, material dynamics, and the application of AI and big data to improve production efficiency.
Blekinge is also home to RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden, which has strategically located its operations for materials and production research in the region. Together with industrial testbeds, universities and a strong base of manufacturing companies, this reinforces Blekinge’s position within advanced and sustainable manufacturing.
The region’s smart industries span a wide range of fields, including automotive manufacturing, underwater high-voltage systems and cable laying, advanced defence and marine technologies, composite boat building, floor coverings with a focus on recycling, and industrial-scale textile recycling. A well-developed ecosystem of subcontractors and professional service companies further strengthens the competitiveness of the industry.
Automotive and forming technology suppliers
Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH)
RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden
Advanced manufacturing and smart industry companies
Techtank is an industrial cluster and a regional development organisation in Blekinge, whose mission is to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry. Techtank works with manufacturing companies to identify their needs and coordinate efferts to meet present and future.
– Sustainable and Plant-Based Food Systems
Blekinge’s food industry has grown out of fishing, agriculture and food processing, gradually building practical knowledge in raw materials, quality and production. This experience still shapes the region’s food sector today, where established production competence supports the development of sustainable and plant-based food systems.
The industrial segment of Blekinge’s food production is anchored by global companies such as AAK, a leading producer of vegetable oils and fats, alongside Orkla and Atria. Food production in the region spans several parts of the value chain, from raw material processing and ingredients to finished food products.
Alongside established food production, Blekinge is developing new capabilities in sustainable and plant-based food systems. Companies such as The Green Dairy, Bärta and Plant Protein Production focus on innovative dairy alternatives and protein ingredients, building on existing production competence and industrial structures.
Producers such as Elleholms Tomater, Sweden’s second-largest tomato grower, add further breadth to the food industry, alongside fruit, berry and fish processing.
The combination of long-standing food production experience and modern processing capabilities has resulted in strong expertise in food processing and ingredients. This competence is one of the reasons why companies such as Alfa Laval and Tetra Pak have chosen Blekinge for parts of their product development.
Key focus areas include:
Vegetable oils, fats and value-added food ingredients
Plant-based foods and dairy alternatives
Protein ingredients and advanced food processing
Efficient and scalable food production
– Close to Wonderful Waters
Blekinge is a coastal region in south-eastern Sweden, where water, nature and experiences are always close. The region’s compact size is one of its key strengths – making it easy to move between archipelago, forests, cultural sites and food experiences, all within short distances. This proximity creates a tourism landscape where visitors can experience a great variety in a limited area.
Tourism in Blekinge is closely connected to the sea and the surrounding landscape, with a strong focus on nature-based experiences, outdoor activities and sustainable development. The region combines accessibility, high-quality environments and a clear identity shaped by water, history and local culture.
Blekinge is home to well-known destinations such as Eriksberg Nature Reserve, offering large-scale nature experiences, Marinmuseum in Karlskrona, highlighting the region’s strong maritime heritage, and Listerlandet, known for its coastal landscape, beaches and food culture. Together with archipelago experiences, cycling routes, cultural environments and local food destinations, these actors form a diverse and attractive tourism offering.
At the same time, there is room for new concepts and investments that build on Blekinge’s character – nature-close accommodation, experience-based hospitality, sustainable tourism concepts and year-round destinations.
Blekinge has been awarded the prestigious Green Destinations Gold Award 2025 for its long-term work with sustainable tourism. As the only Swedish region on the Top 100 Stories 2025 list, Blekinge is recognised internationally for its approach to responsible destination development.
A key example is ARK56 in the UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve Blekinge Archipelago, where nature-based experiences are developed with care for both conservation and local value creation.
Together, Blekinge’s natural assets, established destinations and sustainability focus create strong conditions for developing distinctive and future-oriented tourism experiences.
Visit Blekinge is the region’s destination management organisation, working to develop and promote Blekinge as a sustainable and attractive destination in close collaboration with tourism businesses and local stakeholders.
Every year, Blekinge welcomes ambitious and highly skilled students from around the world. Many of them choose Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH)...
Sweden is known worldwide for innovation that makes a real difference—from platforms like Spotify to breakthroughs in healthcare and industrial techno...
Blekinge is strategically positioned in southern Sweden, in the heart of the Baltic region and close to key European markets. With strong infrastructu...
Blekinge combines globally recognised companies, applied research and specialised competence across digital technology, maritime industry, advanced manufacturing, innovative food and tourism. We offer international companies direct access to applied research, specialised talent and existing industrial ecosystems, enabling faster establishment and scalable long-term investment.