Municipality of Umeå

Umeå holds a unique position as a dynamic growth region in northern Scandinavia. A strong export industry exists along with a steadily increasing population. Today approximately 118 000 people live in the municipality. Recently, Umeå was highlighted by the EU’s Eurostat office as one of the leading growth cities in Europe.

The city offers world-class art, drama, films, industries, music and research. Umeå aims to attract more companies, break new construction records and, not least, become the European Capital of Culture 2014.

The growth really sped up in 1965, the same year that the university threw open its doors. Umeå University gives priority to many different areas of research. These include life sciences, human technology interaction, social welfare, ecology and gender perspectives. The university with its 37 000 students works collaboratively with companies such as ABB, Volvo, Skanska and Ericsson. Another center for world class research is the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå.
Business growth is occurring primarily in the private sector, both through industrial investments as well as business-oriented services. Rapid growth means a steadily increasing flow of goods to and from the region and that is dependent on a fully developed, intermodal transportation system. To meet these demands, Umeå has invested in a new freight yard and logistics areas, (NLC Park and Terminal) with strategic proximity to the Bothnia Line, the main railway line, E4/E12, the airport, the Port of Umeå and ferry traffic to Finland. The city has the natural conditions to become a transport hub in northern Sweden and for northern Scandinavia and Russia.

The City of Vaasa is one of the key growth centres of the future. Relative to its population, it is the largest university city in Finland and boasts 12,000 students studying on six university campuses. Vaasa offers work for all kinds of people. The energy cluster, for example, employs 10,000 people. The city’s self-sufficiency in jobs is the best in Finland. The largest employer in Vaasa is the city itself, employing roughly 6,000 people. The city is also a home to representatives from a hundred different nationalities.

The Port of Umeå in brief

• Strategically located where the European motorways E4 (north-south) and E12 (east-west) converge. Excellent rail and road connections thanks to its position at the northern end of the Bothnia Line.
• Sweden’s northernmost container port, with frequent liner traffic to and from the continent and Finland.
• The last outpost in the Bothnian Sea, with open waters all year round and manageable ice conditions even during harsh winters.
• Covers a large area of 92 hectares. Prepara­tion is underway for further expansion.
• A multipurpose terminal which is in increasing use. It handles load carriers for transport by sea, road and rail.
• An integrated part of the Nordic Logistic Center (NLC) in Umeå.

The Port of Vaasa is strategically located in the very vicinity of the leading Nordic business concentration in energy technology. The port handles import and export cargos related mainly to fuel transports, agricultural produce, chemistry, paper industry. It also has the specialized know-how and resources to handle the heavy-duty project cargos of the energy technology and metal industry companies in the region. The Port of Vaasa also provides the world’s northernmost sea-crossing operating all year between two nations. This maritime link, Vaasa-Umea, to Sweden completes the E12 highway, which runs from Russia all the way to the Atlantic coast of Norway.

The Kvarken Council is a Nordic cross border cooperation association for the Ostrobothnian counties in Finland as well as Västerbotten and Örnsköldsvik in Sweden. The Kvarken Council was founded in 1972 and is one of the official Nordic cross border bodies, which are co-funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Welcome to Wasaline! We take you across the Gulf of Bothnia every Day in only 4 hours. M/s Wasa Express provides a shortcut between the cities of Vaasa and Umeå, which saves hundreds of kilometers by car. M/s Wasa Express offers excellent conference facilities and our group and conference booking will help you with all the arrangements needed. Welcome aboard!

Through Region Västerbotten, the county’s 15 municipalities and Västerbotten County Council take clear political responsibility for development in Västerbotten County. This includes for example modern, sustainable communications and good social services that transcend municipal and administrative boundaries. Region Västerbotten also promotes business and commerce.

A statutory joint municipal authority which strives to build up the necessary conditions for balanced development and economic growth. Responsible for regional and spatial planning in Ostrobothnia and deeply involved in promoting and developing cross-border transport networks.

The Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) offers modern and safe shipping routes with 24 hour service. We take responsibility for the future of shipping. SMA is a governmental agency and enterprise within the transport sector and is responsible for maritime safety and availability.

Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximizes the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2013, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion with approximately 18,700 employees. The company has operations in more than 200 locations in nearly 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

We are a leading producer of high-strength steel and have a capacity for producing six billion tons of crude steel. Our goal is to increase our sales of high strength steel so they make up half of our sales by 2015.

At SSAB, we work towards a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. By working closely with our customers we find solutions that will solve their challenges while making their business more profitable and environmentally friendly. That means that we need to take the lead in our field and develop steel solutions that are at the very forefront of technology.

Komatsu Forest is an international group with its headquarters and technology center in Umeå, Sweden. Komatsu Forest produces the Komatsu brand of forest machines and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers in this sector. Komatsu Forest has some 1,400 employees and is represented in all markets where mechanized forestry is used. The company has two manufacturing units, one in Sweden and one in the US. Komatsu Forest has customers all over the world, served by own sale companies or dealers in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Oceania and Asia. Komatsu Forest AB is owned by the Japanese company Komatsu Ltd.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies. ABB marine solutions secure reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly shipping. The spearhead products include Azipod® propulsion system, EMMA energy management system and shore-to-ship equipment for connecting vessels to onshore power.

The leading classification society, with a 24% share of the world’s classed ships and mobile offshore units, DNV GL Maritime supports a safe and sustainable future for the maritime industry.

Further, our 16,000 employees in 100 countries provide services within the business areas of: Technology & Innovation, Oil & Gas, Energy, Business Assurance, Software

Technology Centre Oy Merinova Ab promotes utilisation of new technologies and the growth of companies by, together with its partners,  offering development services especially for companies in the energy technology sector. Merinova is, in co-operation with its associated company Oy Vaasa Parks Ab, responsible for the technology centre services in the Vaasa region.

Volvo is one of the world´s leading manufacturer of heavy duty trucks. Volvo Trucks, Umeå, is the main producer of cabs for Volvo Trucks and one of  the largest manufacturing site in northern Sweden with 2000 employee.

SCA Logistics provides an extensive sea and land transport service within Europe and other overseas destinations. The business is supported by a network of terminals at strategic locations in Europe.

SCA Logistics is part of SCA’s Forest Products business unit, which produces paper for packaging and print, pulp, solid-wood products and renewable energy. SCA Forest Products also manages SCA’s extensive forest holding, supplies SCA’s Swedish industries with wood raw materials, in addition to offering cost-efficient transport solutions.