Ab Samarkand2015

Name

Ab Samarkand2015

Legal name

AB Samarkand2015

Website

https://samarkand2015.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Development Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Generalist Staffing Agencies (BPACACAH)

Keywords

• Regional development services
• Workforce competence supply
• Distance education support
• Recruitment and relocation
• Industrial cluster management

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludvika

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from 32 member companies and organizations. The membership provides access to regional development services, networking, competence supply programs, and Samarkand Academy courses.
2. Government project funding: Project-based funding from government agencies including Tillväxtverket, Region Dalarna, and EU sources for specific development initiatives such as energy resilience, social enterprises, and infrastructure projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AB Samarkand2015 is a regional development company (utvecklingsbolag) serving Ludvika and Smedjebacken municipalities in Västerbergslagen, Sweden. It delivers an integrated portfolio of services including HögskoleCentrum (a local exam and study facility for distance university students), Samarkand Academy (professional training in Lean, Agile, 5S, career coaching, and mentoring), recruitment activities, relocation/integration services (Inflyttarservice), infrastructure coordination across six municipalities, and cluster initiatives such as High Voltage Valley.

Product overview

AB Samarkand2015 is a regional development company (Utvecklingsbolaget) for Ludvika and Smedjebacken municipalities in Västerbergslagen, Sweden. The organization operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected services focused on workforce development, education, and regional growth. Core offerings include HögskoleCentrum (providing workspace and exam facilities for distance university students), Samarkand Academy (offering professional courses in improvement methods, career coaching, and mentoring), recruitment activities, and relocation services. The company also manages strategic initiatives like High Voltage Valley (power engineering cluster), Powerful Innovation Days (annual tech conference), and the annual Hållbarhetspris (Sustainability Award). Educational offerings are coordinated with KTH and Högskolan Dalarna, and the organization collaborates closely with member companies including ABB and Ovako to address regional competence supply challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Samarkand Academy: Competence development and professional training programs, including courses in improvement and development methods (Lean, TPS, Agile, 5S).
• HögskoleCentrum
• Hållbarhetspriset
• Inflyttarservice
• High Voltage Valley
• Bergslagspendelns Intressegrupp BIG
• Powerful Innovation Days

Products and services

• HögskoleCentrum A university center in Ludvika providing physical workspace, computers, webcams, internet, quiet rooms, group rooms, and exam facilities for distance learning students from any Swedish university. Handled over 340 written exams in spring 2025.
• Samarkand Academy Educational platform offering courses in improvement and development methods (Lean, TPS, Agile, 5S), career coaching, and mentoring programs. Free for employees of member companies and organizations.
• Mentorsprogram Mentoring program connecting experienced professionals with mentees for personal and professional development in the Västerbergslagen region.
• Karriärcoachning Career coaching services to help individuals develop their careers and find employment opportunities in the region.
• Rekryteringsaktiviteter Recruitment activities including the Karlstad Hot Spot job fair, helping member companies in Ludvika and Smedjebacken find qualified personnel.
• Inflyttarservice Relocation and newcomer services including omlokaliserings-service, medflyttarservice (companion moving service for spouses/family), and Internationella Ludvika integration support. Supported over 60 international workers in 2016.
• High Voltage Valley A cluster initiative creating a neutral platform for collaboration between companies, universities, and public actors to develop the region's world-leading position in electrical power technology.
• The Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Value Chain (KTH Summer School) International four-day summer course (June 15-18, 2026) at Ludvika covering the rare earth permanent magnet value chain from mining to recycling, awarding 4 ECTS credits (KTH course code FMH3929). Includes on-site tour of mining facilities.
• Kompetensutveckling online Online competence development courses and programs accessible remotely for professionals in the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 international workers supported through relocation services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ljusnarsbergs kommunminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025New partnership agreement signed to strengthen regional business development. Expands Samarkand's territorial reach beyond Ludvika and Smedjebacken.
• KTH Royal Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2016KTH organizes international summer courses at Samarkand's HögskoleCentrum, including the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Value Chain course. KTH students can earn 4 ECTS credits. Samarkand provides facilities and local coordination.
• Högskolan Dalarna (Dalarna University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2016Högskolan Dalarna is a member of Samarkandkretsen. Continuous collaboration on education, with HögskoleCentrum providing courses, exams, and facilities for distance students. Joint strategies for competence supply.
• IVA (Kungl. Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2016IVA (Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences) is a member of Samarkandkretsen. IVA's CEO Björn O. Nilsson delivered annual 'Högtidstal' (ceremonial speech) on research and technology progress. Samarkand's VD Lars Lindblom serves as adjunct regional representative in IVA's Business Council.
• High Voltage ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh Voltage Valley is a cluster initiative providing a neutral platform for collaboration between companies, universities, and public actors. Purpose is to develop the region's world-leading position in electrical power technology. Samarkand co-develops initiatives with HVV.
• Bergslagspendelns Intressegrupp BIGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure partnership coordinating public transport improvements for 6 municipalities (Ludvika, Smedjebacken, Fagersta, Surahammar, Hallstahammar, Västerås). Samarkand serves as coordinator for improved rail and road infrastructure connecting the region to Stockholm.
• ABBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABB is a major employer in Ludvika with world-leading position in electrical power. Participates in High Voltage Valley cluster and collaborates with Samarkand on competence supply and regional development.
• Ludvika MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the two municipalities where Samarkand operates (along with Smedjebacken). Major owner and partner in regional development initiatives including infrastructure and competence supply.
• Smedjebacken MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the two municipalities where Samarkand operates (along with Ludvika). Major owner and partner in regional development initiatives.
• Länsstyrelsen DalarnaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty Administrative Board of Dalarna co-organizes the 'Energy for Data Centers' conference as part of the EFFEKT4Dalarna project.
• EcoDatacenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the EFFEKT4Dalarna project organizing the 'Energy for Data Centers' conference on energy planning for data halls.
• Dalarna Science ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the EFFEKT4Dalarna project organizing the 'Energy for Data Centers' conference on energy planning for data halls.
• CoompanionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of social enterprise development project in Dalarna along with Kompetensbyrån, Region Dalarna, and Samarkand.
• KompetensbyrånminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of social enterprise development project in Dalarna along with Coompanion, Region Dalarna, and Samarkand.
• VB EnergiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company participant in the feasibility study for 'Testbed Mining Power - Future Sustainable Balancing Power/Energy Storage' project.
• Ludvika MunicipalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipant in the feasibility study for future sustainable balancing power/energy storage using former mining infrastructure.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tillväxtverket: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. Comparable mission of regional development and competence supply at national scale, and a direct funder of Samarkand's projects rather than a direct competitor.
• Business Sweden: Swedish state-owned trade and investment promotion agency. Comparable in promoting Swedish industry internationally but operating at national scale with significantly broader mandate and resources.

Direct peers

• Robotdalen: Swedish innovation cluster focused on industrial robotics in the Mälardalen region. Comparable member-supported cluster model promoting regional industrial competitiveness and competence supply.
• Almi Företagspartner: Swedish state-owned business development company providing financing, loans, and advisory services to SMEs nationwide. Comparable in mandate of supporting business growth, workforce development, and regional economic development through a member/partner-driven model.
• CLOSER: Swedish cluster for logistics and infrastructure based at Lindholmen. Comparable cluster development model serving Swedish industrial competitiveness through member-supported initiatives and stakeholder convening.
• Business Region Östergötland: Regional development organization promoting business growth and investment in Östergötland, Sweden. Directly comparable model of publicly-supported regional economic development with cluster and workforce supply focus.
• Dalarna Science Park: Innovation and science park in Dalarna region. Comparable in fostering regional innovation ecosystem and is an existing partner of Samarkand in the EFFEKT4Dalarna energy project.
• Compare Sweden: Swedish national cluster for digitalization in manufacturing industry. Comparable cluster organization model serving Swedish industrial transformation through member-supported initiatives.
• IUC Sverige: National network of Swedish Industrial Development Centers supporting manufacturing companies with innovation and process improvement. Directly comparable cluster development and industry-focused competence supply model.

Regional players

• Sting: Stockholm-based business accelerator and growth investor supporting innovative companies. Comparable in supporting startup and SME development but operating in a different Swedish geography with a more capital-intensive model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samarkand2015.com%2F
• Facebookfacebook.com/Samarkand2015
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ab-samarkand2015

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Ab Samarkand2015