北欧ではイノベーションをどのように推進しているのでしょうか？
前編では、インキュベーターとは何か、どのように機能するのか、そしてヨーロッパ各地の代表的な事例を紹介しました。
後編では、北欧のスウェーデンとデンマークに目を向け、これらの北欧諸国がいかにして最も生産性の高い、世界的に評価の高いスタートアップ環境を構築してきたのかを探ります。
スウェーデンとデンマークでは、政府、教育機関、民間企業が連携することで、ヨーロッパで最も効果的な スタートアップ エコシステムを構築しています。
スウェーデのンのMincやIdeonなどのインキュベーターは、ディープテック領域のスタートアップがグローバルに拡大する支援をしています。この記事では、北欧のスタートアップシステムのモデルがどのように機能しているか、そしてなぜ北欧のイノベーションへのアプローチが世界中で注目を集めているのかを考察します。
<Part Ⅱ> Europe’s Innovation Hotbeds:
A Deep Dive into Sweden and Denmark’s Startup Ecosystems
In Part I of this series, we explored what incubators are, how they function, and introduced key examples across Europe. In Part II, we turn north - to Sweden and Denmark - to see how these Nordic nations have created some of the most productive and globally respected startup environments.
Both countries consistently rank near the top of global innovation indices, and it's not by accident. Their success lies in carefully designed ecosystems where government, academia, and the private sector work in tandem. But more than that, these ecosystems thrive on trust, openness and a shared commitment to long-term value creation.
Sweden: A Nation Engineered for Innovation
Sweden is widely seen as a global innovation leader, thanks to a model that blends generous public funding with a strong tradition of research and collaboration. One of the cornerstones of this model is Vinnova, the Swedish government’s official innovation agency. Operating under the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, Vinnova plays a critical role in financing early-stage innovation, funding incubator programs, and supporting ecosystem development across the country.
Many incubators in Sweden receive direct support from Vinnova, often in collaboration with SISP (Swedish Incubators & Science Parks), a national umbrella organization that coordinates more than 80 incubators and science parks across Sweden. SISP functions as a knowledge-sharing and policy advocacy hub, ensuring that Sweden’s innovation infrastructure grows in alignment with national priorities while staying responsive to global trends.
Another initiative worth noting is Ignite Sweden, launched in 2017 to connect startups with established companies and public institutions. Rather than leaving collaboration to chance, Ignite facilitates structured matchmaking—bridging the gap between agile startups and larger organizations in search of innovation. It’s a nonprofit effort, co-funded by Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency, and is closely integrated into the broader SISP network.
Together, these programs create a system where startups aren’t just supported with funding and facilities—they’re embedded in a culture of collaboration that emphasizes mutual benefit and long-term impact.
Denmark: Government-Driven, Globally Minded
Denmark’s innovation landscape is similarly built on public-private collaboration, but with its own flavor. The Danish government takes an active role in shaping the national innovation strategy, primarily through agencies like the Innovation Fund Denmark and the Danish Business Authority.
Innovation Fund Denmark, under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, offers a suite of funding instruments aimed at different stages of development. For example, InnoExplorer helps commercialize academic research, InnoBooster supports startups developing new solutions, and Grand Solutions funds large-scale collaborations between business and academia.
Meanwhile, the Danish Business Authority manages national and EU-funded innovation programs, oversees digital growth strategies, and provides support for business clusters and incubators. This dual structure of targeted funding and policy implementation has made Denmark one of the top countries in Europe for startup support, particularly in sectors like clean tech, biotech, and digital health.
Minc (Sweden): Incubation with Heart and Hustle
One of the standout examples of Sweden’s incubator ecosystem is Minc, located in Malmö - a city that forms part of Greater Copenhagen, one of the most innovative regions in the world. Founded in 2002 as one of Scandinavia’s first municipal incubators, Minc operates as a non-profit backed by the City of Malmö. Unlike many accelerators, it doesn’t take equity in the startups it supports. Instead, its mission is focused on building a vibrant, sustainable local economy through innovation.
Minc is known for its unique atmosphere - startups thrive in its open, collaborative community where casual coffee chats often lead to major breakthroughs. Its programs are structured to guide entrepreneurs from idea validation all the way to investment readiness. Early-stage founders can access one-on-one coaching through the “Test Your Idea” track, while more mature startups can join Minc’s full incubator program, which offers up to 36 months of tailored support.
In addition, Minc runs an accelerator program in collaboration with Skåne Ventures, offering startups access to investment opportunities, Nordic venture capital networks, and over €250,000 worth of tools and credits.
Two success stories stand out. Remotive Labs, a startup developing cloud-based platforms for automotive software testing, raised €900K in 2024 with backing from Volvo Cars Tech Fund and others. And MedBeat, founded by a Swedish physician with experience in Japan’s healthcare system, created a wearable ECG device that detects heart arrhythmias. The company has raised over €2.5 million and has plans to enter the Asian market, leveraging its unique clinical and cultural expertise.
Ideon Innovation (Sweden): Deep Tech with Global Impact
Located in Lund, Ideon Innovation is part of Sweden’s oldest and largest science park. Founded in 1983, Ideon has long been a hub for cutting-edge research and commercialization. In 2019, it became the first science park in the world to align its operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Supported by Vinnova and integrated into the SISP network, Ideon Innovation focuses on deep tech fields like AI, IoT, cleantech, and semiconductors. Its four-tiered incubation model - Start, Build, Grow, and Scale - supports startups at every stage of maturity. The programs emphasize peer learning, strong mentorship, and close integration with academic research.
Among its notable startups is Cognes Medical Solutions, which is developing smartphone-based tools to detect early signs of dementia using facial analysis and machine learning. Another standout is Adamant Quanta, a company building chip-scale atomic clocks for use in GPS-independent navigation systems - an innovation with applications in telecom, aerospace, and defense.
Accelerace (Denmark): Scaling Danish Startups for the World
On the Danish side, one of the most influential incubator programs is Accelerace, based in Copenhagen. Founded in 2008, Accelerace has helped hundreds of Danish startups scale globally, with strong backing from both the public and private sectors - including the European Innovation Fund (EIFO) and the European Union.
What sets Accelerace apart is its emphasis on investment-readiness. Startups can receive up to 1,000,000 DKK in convertible loans and gain lifetime access to a tight-knit founder community. The program includes personalized mentorship, intensive workshops, and direct access to Nordic investors.
Accelerace’s impact can be seen in the companies it helped grow. Templafy, an AI-powered document automation platform, has raised nearly $241 million in funding and is now a global enterprise software leader. And Trustpilot, the online review platform known worldwide, went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2021 and now boasts over 64 million active users and billions of impressions each year.
Whether it’s the structured matchmaking of Ignite Sweden, the deep-tech focus of Ideon, or the investment muscle of Accelerace, the Nordic approach to innovation offers valuable lessons. These countries don’t just fund startups - they build ecosystems that are designed to last.
If you're interested in how Sony Acceleration Program connects with these innovation ecosystems - or how your organization can benefit from similar partnerships - don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to share more.
And don’t forget to stay tuned for more insights!
