The Extra light in Sweden on heavy trade show

Sweden is designated as the so-called partner country at this year's fair, which gives uk manufacturing the opportunity to prove themselves. It is about excellence in digitisation, automation, robotisation and linking manufacturing with artificial intelligence (AI).

– There are many other countries that also are good at it, but few countries are so good at cooperating that Swedish companies are, " says Ylva Berg, ceo of Business Sweden.

Ylva Berg, ceo of Business Sweden, in Löfvens state visit in the united states. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

"Sweden co-lab" as the slogan for the exhibition. A play with words in order to show cooperation and innovation.

Even Stefan Löfven stresses the importance of cooperation.

"We have much to gain by collaboration, both with Germany and with other countries. The EU should become a world leader in the digital and technological developments," he says in a comment before the fair.

the State and the business sector 17 million each at the hannover messe. Around 160 Swedish companies will be exhibiting this year, against the usually 50. There are heavyweights such as ABB, Ericsson, SKF, Tetra Pak, Electrolux, SEB, Investor, Vattenfall and Stora Enso, but also many small start-up companies.

the German market, which draws. Germany is Sweden's biggest trading partner.

But the fight for visibility is great. Total sets 6 500 companies from 75 countries out on a gigantic fairground. Of the foreign exhibitors tops China with the most companies, followed by Italy and Turkey. This year, Sweden is in fourth place, ahead of the united states.

a few years ago coined the term industry 4.0 at the hannover messe to emphasize that the future of the manufacturing industry will need to be connected. Today, almost all at the fair about how the industry should make use of, for example, digitisation and automation. Great emphasis is placed on 5G and AI.

One of the Swedish start-up companies invited to be in the Swedish pavilion is Sentian AI.

– It is a supermöjlighet for us to meet with many large companies at one time. We hope the large German manufacturing enterprises, but also medium-sized German companies. There are many like our products, is well-suited for, " says Martin Rugfelt, president of malmö-based Sentian.

and is vertical on the industrial AI. The company has 17 employees and has primarily Swedish industrial companies as customers, but the German market attracts.

" Our experience so far is that many people talk about AI, but still can't really deliver. The demand is greater than supply. I think that Sweden is a little ahead of the German companies in general. But there will be fierce competition in all the cases, " says Martin Rugfelt.

Without the Swedish support has been done had Sentian not gone to Hanover. Meetings are already booked every day during the week and Martin Rugfelt also hope to establish contacts on the spot. Among other things, arranged speed dating between the Swedish start-up companies and German corporations in the Swedish pavilion.