In international comparisons, Swedes stand out as holding overwhelmingly positive views about job prospects in areas such as technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Sweden’s strong support for workers, in combination with exposure to global competition, has allowed Swedish companies and industries to reinvent themselves without leaving their employees behind. Labor unions also work with employers and the government to support laid-off workers rather than preserving outdated job functions. Collective bargaining has created an environment in which the health and safety of employees is a key priority. Workers’ rights are one of the cornerstones of the modern Swedish labor market, and a majority of the working population is unionized. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with and learning from the Swedish delegates to ensure Cape Town remains one of the fastest-growing startup centres in Africa,” says Hill-Lewis.Sweden has a long tradition of supporting employees to bolster business resilience and efficiency, including through vocational training systems and job security councils. “Cape Town has a thriving startup economy and connecting these businesses to markets in other regions increases local growth opportunities.
With funding flowing into the startup ecosystem in the Western Cape, is also offered an ideal opportunity for established companies to reinvent their offerings and scale their impact and ideas, by allowing entrepreneurs and investors to network and procure talent and funding.īoth cities are home to world-leading companies, universities and innovation hubs, which are driving the development of tech and digital startups and SMEs that provide economic growth and job creation – essential to changing the trajectory of South Africa’s future. The business delegation from Sweden attending the summit, offered South Africans the unique opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and gain an international understanding of the sector. This summit, the first to bring stakeholders together in person, is just one way we’re creating local business opportunities through global partnerships,” said Juholt. “Stockholm and Cape Town have much to learn from each other and have proven essential partners in developing knowledge and commerce in the respective markets. There were three panel discussions at the summit, focusing on collaboration and business practice, disruptive tech in South Africa, and scaling successful ventures. The event also provided networking and pitching opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors with the Swedish delegation. Yesterday, Team Sweden and Team Cape Town partnered with Stellenbosch Network to hold an event to highlight the innovation and business development taking place in the region. Photo: Supplied/Ventureburn Key partners in developing knowledge While there is no silver bullet strategy for scale-up success, we can take inspiration from brands who have put Sweden on the map for entrepreneurship and innovation.” The CSC Business Summit featured a diverse group of speakers, including Håkan Juholt, Swedish ambassador to South Africa. “Sweden has honed its reputation as a tech powerhouse to rival Silicon Valley. I believe there is an incredible amount that we can learn from Sweden’s enormous success in technological innovation. She went on to add, “Wesgro’s focus is deliberately shifting to what needs to be done to scale up and take our place as a tech powerhouse on the global stage. These blockbuster startups are: Spotify, Skype, Mojang, King and Klarna. Increasingly traditional, mature sectors and industries that contribute to the Western Cape’s GDP, are being transformed by, and incorporated into, the tech ecosystem.” Accounts of Disruption from Sweden and Beyond Robin Teigland, Shahryar Siri. Stander spoke to why Cape Town and the Western Cape has a strong economic story to tell, indicating that “the tech and green value propositions are successfully driving the province’s competitiveness to capture its share of global investment. The event featured a diverse group of speakers, including Geordin Hill-Lewis, executive mayor of Cape Town, Håkan Juholt, Swedish ambassador to South Africa, and Wrenelle Stander, chief executive of Wesgro. The CSC Business Summit, which took place this week in Cape Town, brought together companies, government, investors, entrepreneurs, and key ecosystem players from across Cape Town and Stockholm to share ideas and brainstorm solutions to shared problems.