Innovation Nation: Stockholm’s Pioneering Spirit in the Startup Scene
Stockholm is the capital of and most populous city in Sweden as well as the largest urban area in the Nordic countries
Cultural Heritage
Stockholm spans nearly 188 square kilometres, comprising 14 islands interconnected by 57 bridges. The city continually blends old and new, known for its historic cobblestone streets as well as hosting the annual Nobel Prize awards, while also fostering contemporary design, tech, and gaming communities. Stockholm boasts 89 museums, 423 libraries, 80 cultural and community centres, and 93 venues for theatrical performances.
Embracing Change
The city is currently undergoing a period of unprecedented growth, with its population projected to reach 1.2 million residents by 2040. This growth has spurred extensive urban redevelopment efforts, with cultural institutions and infrastructure serving as focal points for numerous mixed-use projects. Examples include the relocation of Stockholm University of the Arts to Slakthusområdet, the former meatpacking district, and the Museum of Photography as part of the transformation of Slussen into a pedestrian-oriented hub.
Stockholm has emerged as one of Europe’s most successful startup and cultural entrepreneurship hubs, home to renowned companies like Spotify, Skype, Klarna, and King. In fact, Stockholm boasts the world’s second-highest number of ‘unicorn’ tech companies per capita, trailing only Silicon Valley.
Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Stockholm’s creative and tourism sectors, leading to income loss, audience challenges, and operational difficulties for cultural organisations. Many cultural workers have left the field, and emerging creatives and recent graduates face limited opportunities to establish themselves in the cultural job market.
However, the pandemic has underscored the importance of culture to people’s quality of life, leading Stockholm to reaffirm its ongoing support for the cultural sector. In 2020, the city introduced its first nightlife strategy, streamlining permitting processes, supporting the opening of new venues, and facilitating nightlife activities on City-owned land.
The Role of Policymaker
However, Stockholm’s growth is accompanied by challenges related to widening social inequality and housing segregation. To address these concerns and guide the city’s urban development over the next 25 years, Stockholm has unveiled a new City Plan. This plan centres on four key areas: a growing city, a cohesive city, quality public spaces, and a climate-smart and resilient city. It aligns with Stockholm’s Vision 2040, inspired by the concept of the 15-minute city, aimed at ensuring residents have access to quality education, transportation, public spaces, and green areas within close proximity to their homes.
The city has also worked to integrate culture as a cross-cutting policy focus across City departments. The Cultural Strategic Programme, launched in 2021, encourages cooperation among City departments to expand cultural access to underserved communities, including the elderly and disabled.
In Spring 2021, the City released “Nystartsrapporten” (A Restart for Culture) to support Stockholm’s cultural recovery during and after the pandemic. The report outlines 21 policy proposals to promote a sustainable future for culture, particularly for freelance and self-employed cultural workers. These policies include expanding the city’s cultural budget, establishing a steering group to connect cultural sector stakeholders with policymakers, supporting the development of cultural and community centres, addressing the mental health impact on cultural workers, and enhancing tax incentives for private property owners.
The Future
Stockholm’s future will involve adapting to new forms of digital culture and consumption, ensuring that culture remains accessible to all members of society, from the young to the elderly, in local and shared spaces.
