On 15 August, Marlene Johansson will take over as CEO of the newly formed innovation company for the municipality and the business community. Marlene comes from the research institute RISE, where she has run many research and innovation projects. Now she will become CEO of Örnsköldsvik's perhaps most important platform for unexpected meetings and new ideas.
Earlier this year, the city council decided to start Innovation Örnsköldsvik AB. The aim is to strengthen the business community and profile Örnsköldsvik as a place where good ideas meet across companies and industry sectors. After the summer, the company's CEO Marlene Johansson will be in place.
- Marlene has a long experience of working with innovation and new thinking. She also has a drive on these issues that leaves no one indifferent. She builds relationships and is a proven team builder, ensuring that others grow around her. Marlene is therefore the right person for this job," says Johanna Forsberg who is chairman of the innovation company.
Marlene Johansson currently works at the RISE research institute in Umeå. She also has more than 20 years of experience as a researcher and lecturer at Umeå University and was 2017-2021 CEO of the business incubator eXpression Umeå.
- I really think that Örnsköldsvik is both innovative and forward-looking in taking this initiative. Science parks and hubs to promote innovation exist in many cities, but Örnsköldsvik is doing something completely new, bringing together industry, culture, service companies and the hospitality industry around the same table. This will be a platform for Örnsköldsvik to grow in a sustainable way and I'm really looking forward to getting started," says Marlene Johansson.
Innovation can be difficult to grasp and concretise. A lot is about meeting in new constellations and experimenting together. The new company should not deliver ready-made solutions, but help to lift and develop good ideas.
- The wheel was invented ages ago, but it's not long since we had the idea to put wheels on our suitcases. That's exactly the development we want to be a platform for," says Johanna Forsberg. Many companies are sitting on good ideas that could reach new heights and more applications in another company or sector. Now we're going to make them a reality and unlock untapped potential in Örnsköldsvik.
For more information
Johanna Forsberg, Chairman Innovation Örnsköldsvik AB
art@johannaforsberg.se, 070-640 38 03
Jan Lindstedt, Vice Chairman Innovation Örnsköldsvik AB
jan.lindstedt@ornskoldsvik.se, 070-527 87 22
Facts about Innovation Örnsköldsvik AB
Innovation Örnsköldsvik AB is a co-owned company that will strengthen Örnsköldsvik as an innovative and creative place. The company is owned by Örnsköldsvik Municipality's parent company Rodret i Örnsköldsvik (70 %) and the business community through the High Coast Innovation non-profit association (30 %). The business acts as a platform for development between industry, culture, the hospitality industry and the service sector. The result is a strengthened business community and a municipality that grows thanks to increased entrepreneurship, new businesses and more jobs.
