Sustainable Steel Region

Name

Sustainable Steel Region

Legal name

Sustainable Steel Region

Website

https://sustainablesteelregion.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Innovation Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure, Engineering & Public Works Technical Assistance (WASH/Transport/Energy) (BPADAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• Steel industry innovation
• Additive manufacturing services
• Industrial cluster development
• SME innovation support
• Green transition steel

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlstad

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Grants: Sustainable Steel Region operates as a publicly funded innovation platform. Funding is received from Vinnova, the European Regional Development Fund (Europeiska Regionala Utvecklingsfonden), Region Dalarna, Region Gävleborg, and Region Värmland. The organization generates new business opportunities for regional companies through innovation projects rather than selling products or services directly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sustainable Steel Region is a regional innovation platform that connects the steel industry's green transition challenges with innovation capabilities from SMEs, academia, and research institutions across Dalarna, Gävleborg, and Värmland counties. It coordinates multi-stakeholder programs such as On Demand 2033 (local sustainable manufacturing of critical spare parts), Swedish Metals & Minerals, Materials Connection Arena, Focus Industry, BOOST Dalarna, and Innovativa SMF. The organization does not sell products or services commercially; it facilitates collaboration, project execution, and access to funding on a publicly funded basis.

Product overview

Sustainable Steel Region operates as a regional innovation platform (not a traditional software product) focused on the steel industry's green transition. The core offering is a coordination and networking platform that connects steel industry needs with innovative solutions from SMEs, academia, and research institutions. Key programs include On Demand 2033 (local sustainable manufacturing of critical spare parts), Swedish Metals & Minerals (sustainable metal and mineral supply), Materials Connection Arena (material technology innovation), Focus Industry Gränsöverskridande Innovation (cross-border innovation for SMEs), BOOST Dalarna (SME growth support), and Innovativa SMF (connecting SME innovations to steel industry needs). These initiatives work together to drive sustainable innovation, spetskompetens (cutting-edge expertise), and internationalization within the steel industry ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On Demand 2033: A long-term initiative to secure industry access to critical spare parts and components through local and sustainable manufacturing, creating resilient supply chains.
• Focus Industry - Gränsöverskridande Innovation
• Swedish Metals & Minerals
• Materials Connection Arena (MCA)
• BOOST Dalarna
• Innovativa SMF:s bidrag till stålindustrins omställning

Products and services

• On Demand 2033 A long-term initiative to secure industry's access to critical spare parts and components through local and sustainable manufacturing, reducing supply chain risks and strengthening industrial competitiveness. Targets SMEs and large steel corporations across the three counties.
• Swedish Metals & Minerals A program within Impact Innovation led by Jernkontoret to ensure sustainable and resilient metal and mineral supply for society's transformation.
• Materials Connection Arena (MCA) Initiative strengthening research, innovation and skills supply within material technology in Northern Central Sweden through collaboration between companies, academia and innovation actors.
• Focus Industry - Gränsöverskridande Innovation Project helping SMEs in Northern Central Sweden strengthen innovation capacity and meet future challenges through increased collaboration, sustainable innovations and systematic working methods.
• BOOST Dalarna Collaboration project strengthening SMEs' ability to develop new ideas and grow sustainably through needs-adapted support, coaching and access to relevant networks.
• Innovativa SMF (Innovative SMEs) Program connecting small and medium enterprises' innovative capabilities with the steel-related industry's transformation needs for fossil-free and competitive steel production.
• On Demand: Dual-use Forstudy Pre-study project investigating how regional companies can contribute to increased supply preparedness through flexible, local, and demand-adapted production.
• PLATIS R&D Project Research and development project evaluating plasma as a potential heat source in steel industry furnaces, including pilot plant setup, trials, process evaluation, and techno-economic analysis.

Quantifiable outcome

• On Demand 2033 initiative secured 50 million SEK in public and industry funding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• India Collaboration - Embassy of Sweden / Klimat- och näringslivsdepartementetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Pilot trip to India (Bangalore and New Delhi) in April 2025 organized by Sweden's Embassy and Ministry of Climate and Business, involving SSR, Region Dalarna, Region Norrbotten, Luleå municipality, and IUC Dalarna. Included meetings with Department of Mines and Geology Karnataka, AMSI, APS College of Engineering, TEXMiN, and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
• IUC VärmlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Business development organization in Värmland county, partner in Focus Industry Gränsöverskridande Innovation (2025-2027).
• Focus Industry Gränsöverskridande InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project (2025-2027) led by Dalarna Science Park with partners SSR, IUC Dalarna, IUC Värmland, IUC Gävleborg, Paper Province, Propell, and Sandbacka Science Park. Funded by ERUF, Region Dalarna, Region Gävleborg, and Region Värmland.
• Materials Connection ArenacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Project (2025-2029) led by Dalarna Science Park with partners including SSR, IUC Dalarna, Högskolan i Gävle, Högskolan Dalarna, Karlstads universitet, and Bergsskolan i Filipstad. Funded by ERUF, Region Dalarna, Sparbanksstiftelsen Dalarna, and Hugo Carlssons Stiftelse.
• Swedish Metals & Minerals (Impact Innovation Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2024Strategic innovation program within Impact Innovation led by Jernkontoret, running from 2024-02-27 to 2030. Partners include Luleå tekniska universitet, LTU Business, SveMin, Svenska Gjuteriföreningen, Svensk Aluminium, and Örebro university. Maria Swartling serves as program director.
• On Demand 2033 ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Consortium project (2023-11-13 to 2027-09-30) led by SSR with partners including SSAB EMEA AB, Holmen Iggesund Paperboard AB, Ivaldi, Lasertech LSH AB, RISE, Propell, Sandbacka Science Park, Paper Province, Karlstads universitet, Högskolan Dalarna, and Högskolan i Gävle. Funded by Vinnova, Region Dalarna, Region Värmland, and Region Gävleborg.
• Boost DalarnacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration project (2023-2027) strengthening SMEs in Dalarna. Project owner is Region Dalarna, with partners Dalarna Science Park, Högskolan Dalarna, SSR, IUC Dalarna, Coompanion, Byggdialog Dalarna, Visit Dalarna, and Region Dalarna. Funded by ERUF and Region Dalarna.
• Högskolan Dalarna (University of Dalarna)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution with focus on materials science, collaborating with SSR on student thesis projects, research initiatives, and workforce development in the steel industry.
• Högskolan i Gävle (University of Gävle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution specializing in sustainable living environments and sustainable work environments, partnering with SSR on research and education aligned with industry needs.
• Karlstads universitet (Karlstad University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Sweden's youngest and most modern universities, collaborating with SSR through the DAMI research center on digital adaptive manufacturing for industry, student thesis projects, and exam work opportunities.
• Swerim (Metallforsk­ningsinstitutet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute conducting industry-relevant research and development on metals from raw material to finished products. Swerim's vision is to promote a fossil-free and circular industry.
• RISEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Institutes of Sweden (RISE) is the knowledge hub for a sustainable future and competitive business. RISE serves as an innovation partner with products, services, processes, and technologies for tomorrow's solutions, participating in On Demand 2033 and other SSR initiatives.
• Jernkontoret (Swedish Steel Producers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swedish steel industry's trade association, leading the Swedish Metals & Minerals strategic innovation program. SSR's Maria Swartling serves as program director for Swedish Metals & Minerals.
• Dalarna Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation park in Dalarna, project owner for Boost Dalarna, Materials Connection Arena, and Focus Industry Gränsöverskridande Innovation. Co-located with SSR's Borlänge office.
• Sandbacka Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience park in Sandviken (Gävleborg), partner in On Demand 2033, Focus Industry, and Materials Connection Arena. Co-located with SSR's Sandviken office.
• Paper ProvincecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation cluster for process industries, partner in On Demand 2033, Focus Industry, and Materials Connection Arena, collaborating on cross-industry innovation.
• PropellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and business development organization, partner in On Demand 2033, Focus Industry, and Materials Connection Arena.
• IUC GävleborgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness development organization in Gävleborg county, partner in Focus Industry and Materials Connection Arena, part of the IUC network.
• IUC DalarnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness development organization in Dalarna county, partner in Focus Industry, Materials Connection Arena, and the circular industrial accelerator. Hosting SSR's communication lead.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden): Sweden's national research and innovation partner with deep involvement in On Demand 2033 and other SSR initiatives. Operates a similar industry-academia bridging model but at national scale across multiple industries, not steel-specific.
• World Steel Association (worldsteel): Global steel industry trade association covering decarbonization, sustainability, and innovation programs worldwide. Broader geographic scope and broader mandate than SSR, but parallels the steel-industry intermediary role.

Direct peers

• Swerim (Metallforskninginstitutet): Swedish metals research institute covering the full value chain from raw material to finished product. Comparable as a metallurgy R&D and innovation bridge between academia, industry and SMEs in the steel sector.
• IUC Sverige (Industrial Development Centers network): National network of Swedish industrial development centers (IUC Dalarna, IUC Gävleborg, IUC Värmland) supporting SME competitiveness. Operates the same publicly-funded intermediary model focused on industrial SMEs, though not steel-specialized.
• Paper Province: Innovation cluster for process industries (paper, pulp) in Sweden and active partner of SSR across multiple programs. Operates the same regional cluster-and-innovation-platform model, just for an adjacent process industry.
• ESTEP (European Steel Technology Platform): EU-level steel innovation platform coordinating R&D priorities across European steelmakers, supply chain, and academia. Same industry-academia bridging mandate as SSR but operating at European rather than regional level.
• Jernkontoret (Swedish Steel Producers Association): Sweden's steel industry trade association and the strategic innovation leader of Swedish Metals & Minerals — the same program in which SSR's CEO serves as program director. Closest functional peer as a steel-focused industry intermediary.
• Stahl-Zentrum (Steel Institute VDEh): German steel research and industry association coordinating German steel producers, research institutes, and universities. Closest international analog to SSR's regional steel-innovation-cluster model.

Emerging players

• Dalarna Science Park: Regional innovation park that co-locates SSR's Borlänge office and is project owner for Boost Dalarna, Materials Connection Arena, and Focus Industry. Similar publicly-funded cluster model but broader industrial scope.
• Sandbacka Science Park: Science park in Sandviken co-locating SSR's Gävleborg office and co-leading multiple SSR programs. Operates a similar regional innovation intermediary model for industrial SMEs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-steel-region

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Steel Region