"Take a chance on me!" declared ABBA in 1978, one of Sweden's most iconic musical exports. Fast forward to 2024, and it's time to embrace another of Sweden's standout contributions—its thriving biotech sector.

With BIO-Europe celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Stockholm is the ideal backdrop for exploring this science super-trouper.

As the capital and innovation hub of Scandinavia, Stockholm seamlessly blends cutting-edge research, technological breakthroughs, and entrepreneurial spirit. See it for yourself at the premier partnering conference, where the biotech, pharmaceutical, and investment worlds converge.

Let’s dive into Stockholm’s dynamic biotech scene and discover some of the big hits.

Why Sweden?

Sweden has steadily grown into one of Europe's leading biotech hubs, with Stockholm the lead singer. The country's commitment to innovation and sustainability makes it an appealing destination for biotech companies and investors.

• Global Recognition: According to the 2023 Global Innovation Index¹, Sweden is among the top three most innovative countries in the world, strutting its stuff on the global stage. The Swedish pharma R&D pipeline currently includes 351 drugs under active development, ranking fifth in Europe².
• Industry Size: Sweden's life sciences sector is a vital part of its economy. With 159 pharmaceutical and biotech companies engaged in 506 R&D projects, and 63% of these in clinical phases I-III2, Sweden hits all the right notes.
• Oncology and Neurology Dominate: Sweden's major focus on oncology and neurology projects is striking a chord in the biotech industry, ensuring that the future of cancer and brain disorder treatments is being shaped in Sweden. Most Swedish pipeline projects (89%) are based on small molecules, highlighting a focused approach in drug development².
• Investment Magnet: In 2021, the Swedish biotech sector attracted a record USD 800m underscoring its dynamic growth and chart-topping potential.
• Real World Data: Over 450 registered biobanks and 100 disease-specific quality national registries covering 20%–25% of Sweden’s population³ provide a powerful composition of rich, longitudinal data that supports robust real-world studies, making Sweden a leading source of actionable health insights.

Why Stockholm?

Stockholm’s biotech scene is like a well produced music festival, characterized by a strong ecosystem of startups, established companies, and research institutions.

• Karolinska Institutet & Hospital: Renowned globally, Karolinska Institutet and its associated hospital are celebrated for groundbreaking research and their role in awarding the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Located at the heart of two major life science clusters in Hagastaden (North Stockholm) and Flemingsberg (South Stockholm), it’s the Grammy-winning institution of medical science. Over half of Sweden’s biotech and pharma companies (56%) are spin-offs from academia or healthcare, reflecting the country's strong academic ties².
• Stockholm Science City: This cluster excels in fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and healthcare like a skilled conductor. Over a decade (2009-2019), it saw a 48% rise in the number of companies. Notably, half of Sweden’s life science workforce is based in the greater Stockholm-Uppsala region.
• Major Companies: From the global biopharma giant AstraZeneca to innovative biotech virtuosos like BioArctic (discovered lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease), Oncopeptides (launched peptide for the treatment of multiple myeloma in EU under the name Pepaxti®), and Anocca (creating a pipeline of precision T-cell immunotherapies), Sweden's biotech ensemble is in perfect harmony.
• International Focus: Just as ABBA’s music conquered the globe, Stockholm companies are highly internationally connected, engaging in cross-border collaborations, with international experts in key advisory and leadership roles.

Stockholm remains a dazzling venue where scientific excellence and entrepreneurial spirit take center stage. Much like ABBA’s timeless hits, the city orchestrates a perfect blend of cutting-edge research, industry giants, and dynamic startups. Register now to attend BIO-Europe this November 4–6, 2024 to connect with delegates spanning the global life science ecosystem to propel dealmaking and innovation.

^{[1] Global Innovation Index, 2023: https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/
[2] The Swedish Drug Discovery and Development Pipeline Report, 2023: https://swedenbio.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/report-the-swedish-drug-discovery-and-development-pipeline-2023-1.pdf
[3] Sweden is a Rich Source of Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Health Data – Together with Finland, it Offers a Population of 15 Million, 2024: https://www.medaffcon.fi/en/news-sweden-is-a-rich-source-of-real-world-evidence-rwe-and-health-data-together-with-finland-it-offers-a-population-of-15-million/}