Skellefteå Science City
Skellefteå Science City is a municipally owned innovation hub in northern Sweden that operates testbeds, coworking spaces, and incubation programs for startups, game studios, industrial firms, and public sector organizations, with a focus on green transition, electric aviation, and game development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSkellefteå, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Skellefteå Science City does
Skellefteå Science City AB is a municipally owned innovation hub headquartered at Skellefteå Innovation Park in Skellefteå, Sweden. Founded in 2015 by Skellefteå Municipality, the company operates as a kommunalägt bolag (municipal enterprise) with a workforce of approximately 16 employees and a turnover of MSEK 25. It runs an integrated portfolio of physical innovation environments (Skellefteå Innovation Park, Skellefteå Game Park), specialized test facilities (Skellefteå Droneport for drones and electric aviation, a 16-camera motion capture studio for games, film, and medical research), and ecosystem programs (Arctic Game, Arctic Game Incubator, Arctic Aviation Hub, Arctic Center of Energy). Customers served include startups, game studios, industrial companies, public sector organizations, and research institutions across northern Sweden, with explicit focus areas in circular industry, sustainable mobility, future society, digital and cutting-edge technology, and innovation and growth.
The business model is hybrid. The majority of revenue flows through project-based grants from European Union funds (notably ERDF), Vinnova, Region Västerbotten, Region Norrbotten, Tillväxtverket, and Formas, supplemented by recurring municipal contributions from Skellefteå Municipality as owner. A secondary, smaller recurring revenue stream comes from coworking and office subscriptions at Skellefteå Game Park (monthly billing, 11-23 sqm offices), and ancillary income from training, events (Arctic Game Week, Society Expo), and the self-serve Innovationsanalys digital tool. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with member growth driven by physical infrastructure, ecosystem programming, and network memberships in SISP and IASP.
Strategically, Skellefteå Science City positions itself as a city-as-system-demonstrator for green transition, with the municipality serving as both owner and anchor partner. Recent moves have emphasized offensive expansion into electric aviation (Droneport, 2025), game development industrialization (Arctic Game Incubator, 2025), and energy transition infrastructure (ACE building under construction through 2027), supported by long-cycle funding partnerships with Northvolt, Skellefteå Kraft, ABB, Boliden Rönnskär, and Luleå University of Technology. The Arctic Game ecosystem, scaled from 5 founding companies in 2015 to over 70 members, is the most cited outcome metric and the most mature vertical.
Skellefteå Science City firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skellefteå Science City
- Legal name
- Skellefteå Science City AB
- Website
- https://skellefteasciencecity.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skellefteå Science City is a municipally owned innovation hub in northern Sweden that operates testbeds, coworking spaces, and incubation programs for startups, game studios, industrial firms, and public sector organizations, with a focus on green transition, electric aviation, and game development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skellefteå Science City industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation and Business Development Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Mitigation Programs (Energy, Industry, Transport) (BPADALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)
Keywords
Where Skellefteå Science City is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skellefteå
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skellefteå Science City business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Project Funding: Primary funding comes from project-based grants primarily from European Union funds, Vinnova, regional development funds, and government initiatives. These funds enable various programs and initiatives supporting companies, entrepreneurs, sectors, and industries in the region.
- Municipal Funding: Partial funding comes from owner Skellefteå Municipality as a municipally owned company.
- Coworking and Office Rental: Revenue generated from renting coworking spaces, offices, and coaching rooms at Skellefteå Game Park to game developers and creative tech companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Coworking memberships at Skellefteå Game Park |
| Subscription | Monthly | Office spaces at Skellefteå Game Park |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Skellefteå Science City product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skellefteå Science City operates physical innovation environments (Skellefteå Innovation Park and Skellefteå Game Park coworking), specialized testbeds (Skellefteå Droneport for drones and electric aviation, Motion Capture Studio), and ecosystem programs (Arctic Game, Arctic Game Incubator, Arctic Aviation Hub, Arctic Center of Energy) supporting startups, game developers and industrial companies in northern Sweden. The organization provides business coaching, access to funding networks, and a digital self-assessment tool (Innovationsanalys) for innovation climate analysis.
Product overview
Skellefteå Science City operates as an innovation and business development organization offering a portfolio of physical environments, digital tools, and ecosystem programs. Core offerings include Skellefteå Innovation Park (physical innovation environment) and Skellefteå Game Park (coworking for game developers), alongside digital tool Innovationsanalys for innovation assessment. Specialized test facilities include Skellefteå Droneport and Motion Capture Studio. The ecosystem is supported by programs including Arctic Game Ecosystem with Arctic Game Incubator, Arctic Aviation Hub, Arctic Center of Energy, and initiatives like Watt an Idea and Female Meetup. Together these offerings support innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth in northern Sweden.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Arctic Game: Game hub that has grown from 5 to over 70 companies in northern Sweden, providing business development, incubation and inclusion initiatives.
- Arctic Aviation Hub
- Skellefteå Droneport
- Skellefteå Innovation Park
- Skellefteå Game Park
- Arctic Game Incubator
- Innovationsanalys
Products and services
- Skellefteå Innovation Park Physical innovation environment at Laboratorgränd 14, Building E, Skellefteå, serving as a creative meeting place for entrepreneurs, startups and established companies developing new solutions across tech, academia, industry and the green transition.
- Skellefteå Game Park
Quantifiable outcome
- Arctic Game ecosystem grew from 5 to 70+ companies since 2015
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Skellefteå Science City
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Skellefteå Science City technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature2 records
Skellefteå Science City partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Luleå University of Technology (LTU)coreAcademic partner collaborating on talent pipeline, research projects, and education programs. LTU's project-based fourth year connects students to Arctic Game Incubator. ACE (Arctic Center of Energy) established as center within LTU.
- Skellefteå MunicipalitycorePrimary owner providing municipal funding and strategic alignment. Joint initiatives include Arctic Center of Energy building project and city-wide system demonstrator approach.
- Skellefteå AirportcoreCo-developer of Skellefteå Droneport and funder of Arctic Aviation Hub. Provides aviation infrastructure and expertise for drone and electric aviation testing.
- NorthvoltcoreFounding partner of Arctic Center of Energy (ACE) initiative for electrification of society. Contributing to energy transition and sustainable solutions research.
- Skellefteå KraftcoreFounding partner of Arctic Center of Energy and funder of Arctic Aviation Hub. Energy company partner for Watt an Idea innovation matching program.
- European Speedrunner Assembly (ESA)minorPublisher of Hellsprint game by DigitalMole, supported through Arctic Game. First time ESA has published a game. Organization behind major speedrunning events.
- EIT InnoEnergyminorEuropean energy innovation agency that partnered on Watt an Idea program, helping distribute challenge calls internationally and connect startups to Skellefteå Kraft.
- Boden Business ParkminorPartner in CreativeTech North project for creative tech and gaming sector development in northern Sweden (2026-2029).
- Umeå kommunminorPartner in CreativeTech North project for creative tech sector development in northern Sweden.
- SISP (Swedish Incubators & Science Parks)minorSwedish industry association for incubators and science parks with 65+ members supporting 5,000+ companies. Provides networking and knowledge sharing platform.
- IASP (International Association of Science Parks)minorGlobal network bringing together science parks and innovation areas from 70+ countries. Supports international exchange and knowledge sharing.
- Piteå Science ParkminorCooperator in Intersective Innovation project (2017-2023) to strengthen innovation capacity in northern Sweden.
- RISE Research Institutes of SwedenminorResearch institute partner in Intersective Innovation project and various innovation initiatives.
- PininfarinaminorItalian automotive design house partnered with Vidde (supported company) for electric snowmobile design. Led to multiple prestigious design awards.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Skellefteå Science City competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skellefteå Science City social profiles
Digital presenceSkellefteå Science City financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skellefteå Science City leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Skellefteå Science City subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Skellefteå Science City funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skellefteå Science City M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skellefteå Science City
What does Skellefteå Science City do?
Skellefteå Science City operates physical innovation environments (Skellefteå Innovation Park and Skellefteå Game Park coworking), specialized testbeds (Skellefteå Droneport for drones and electric aviation, Motion Capture Studio), and ecosystem programs (Arctic Game, Arctic Game Incubator, Arctic Aviation Hub, Arctic Center of Energy) supporting startups, game developers and industrial companies in northern Sweden. The organization provides business coaching, access to funding networks, and a digital self-assessment tool (Innovationsanalys) for innovation climate analysis.
Is Skellefteå Science City a public or private company?
Skellefteå Science City is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Skellefteå Science City founded?
Skellefteå Science City was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skellefteå Science City based?
Skellefteå Science City is headquartered in Skellefteå, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Skellefteå Science City make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Project Funding is the primary driver. The others are municipal Funding and coworking and Office Rental.
Does Skellefteå Science City have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skellefteå Science City.
What industry is Skellefteå Science City in?
Skellefteå Science City's product category is Innovation and Business Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAC, Climate Mitigation Programs (Energy, Industry, Transport), with a secondary code of BPAIAMAD, Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs.