How the Foreign Office will promote Swedish life science exports
Av The importance of Swedish-Danish cooperation in life science, the Öresund Bridge turning 25 years, and trade policy issues in light of Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States were some of the topics focused on at a reception at the Swedish ambassador's residence in Copenhagen, organized by Medicon Valley Alliance on Thursday.
One of the participants was Camilla Mellander, who recently left New York after three years as Consul General, to take on the task of promoting Swedish foreign trade within the framework of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' operations. Previously, she has also been an ambassador in Vietnam and worked at the Swedish EU representation in Brussels.
With a father who was a professor of physiology at Lund University, she has a particular interest in the life science sector.
"Life science is a very important area for Sweden. It accounts for a large part of Swedish exports, and much of our qualified research is in this area," she says to Life Science Sweden.
The Danish pharmaceutical boom, primarily with Novo Nordisk's enormous expansion through the weight loss drug Ozempic, is admirable, she notes, but emphasizes that Swedish life science is also far ahead in international competition – and has advantages that Danish life science partly lacks.
"I think part of the strength of Swedish life science is that we are good in a broad area. It includes oncology, neurology, metabolic diseases, and various types of diagnostics. Denmark has focused on a few areas and has been very impressive. But it can also be a bit risky, and there I think we have a strength with the Swedish breadth in life science."
How does the world view Swedish life science?
"There is respect for Sweden as a research nation. We are seen as one of the most innovative countries, and many in the countries I have worked in say they want the same innovation system as Sweden and ask if we can export it. I usually respond that it is very important to have an exchange of ideas and dare to question established research to find new ways."
Right now, there are some dark clouds on the horizon for Swedish foreign trade. Most notably are the statements about tariff increases from the incoming US President Donald Trump. For a small, export-dependent country like Sweden, this is bad news, says Camilla Mellander.
"It will affect companies that do not have manufacturing in the US and must export from Sweden. But we do not know which sectors will be affected and what the tariffs will be. It is 'the million-dollar question' that everyone is pondering right now."
So what does a Director-General for Trade do to promote Swedish life science exports?
"We at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are to be a helping hand in the countries where we have embassies, and we work together with Business Sweden and the local chambers of commerce. It can involve everything from giving advice and conducting market analyses to raising issues that are important for companies by approaching the country's authorities. It is a very important part of our mission, and I do not think all business leaders are aware that it is so."
Artikeln är en del av vårt tema om News in English.