Bergslagen has a long tradition of mining, technology and the metals industry, but historically the region has had lower visibility in Sweden’s national innovation system than, for example, northern Sweden. That is why the Bergslagen Mining Node was launched in autumn 2020: to strengthen Bergslagen’s position in Swedish mining innovation, build lasting networks, and connect regional actors more closely to both national and international collaborations.
The project was led by Örebro University and funded by Region Örebro County and Swedish Mining Innovation, together with industry partners Epiroc, Boliden and Zinkgruvan Mining. The work was carried out in two phases: 2020–2023 with a focus on building networks and positioning, and 2024–2025 with a focus on turning collaborations into concrete initiatives, strengthening research strategies, and broadening the mining ecosystem to include more actors and disciplines.
Highlights – what the node actually built
Recurring meeting places that became drivers in the region
- Mining@ORU has been established as an annual gathering point where academia, industry and societal stakeholders meet around the mining sector’s development, innovation and sustainability.
- AI in Mining is a recurring hybrid-format event that brings together experts and decision-makers around AI, digitalisation and automation, with a clear focus on the interplay between technology, organisation and skills.
- Gruvlunch (“Mining Lunch”) has developed into an informal forum where stakeholders can address current issues in a low-threshold setting, with themes such as cybersecurity, biodiversity and funding calls.
Strategic academia–industry links that provide long-term value
A key milestone is the long-term strategic collaboration between Örebro University and Epiroc, creating a stable foundation for joint initiatives in education, research and innovation — including student recruitment, competence development and lifelong learning — supported by regular management-level dialogues.
Skills and the next generation – from classroom to mine
In 2023, the Student Tour – Mining Safari Bergslagen was carried out: four days in which 15 students from four Swedish higher education institutions met the industry on site through visits to, among others, Epiroc, Boliden, ABB and Zinkgruvan Mining. The tour concluded at Örebro University in connection with Mining@ORU, enabling networking between students, companies and researchers.
Visibility in policy and international contexts
The Bergslagen Node also helped bring the region’s strengths into broader arenas:
- In 2024, Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise visited Örebro University for a dialogue on AI’s role in the green transition and the potential for more sustainable mining production, together with, among others, Zinkgruvan Mining.
- The region participated in the OECD’s work on mining regions (ten regions from several countries, 2023–summer 2025). A four-day study visit to Bergslagen in April 2024 provided international perspectives and pointed, among other things, to the need for a clearer regional strategy and stronger collaboration between municipalities, industry and academia.
The way forward
The work continues. An important next step is EMRIE (Interreg Europe), which takes the programme forward towards long-term regional anchoring, focusing on how mining and minerals can be integrated into regional development strategy and how innovation capacity can be strengthened in collaboration with other European mining regions.
“The Bergslagen Node has made it easier to bring stakeholders together, create recurring meeting places, and connect the region’s strengths to Swedish Mining Innovation’s national network — so that good ideas can more quickly turn into collaboration.”
— Lotta Sartz, Project Manager for the Bergslagen Node, Örebro University.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in events, workshops and collaborations over the years — and who ensures that Bergslagen remains a strong node for innovation in the mining and minerals sector.
Images from Bergslagen Mining Node-activities between 2020-2025:
