What is BJØRK Innovation?
BJØRK Innovation is all about smart and sustainable communities. They’re innovation managers who put partnerships first, believing that collaboration between people, organizations, and sectors is the secret sauce to creating real, lasting results. Their focus? Helping Nordic municipalities, publicly owned ports, and energy companies work hand-in-hand with their local ecosystems to tackle complex challenges. Whether a community is just starting out or already has solar panels up and running, BJØRK is driven by making a difference together. Their programs bring together municipalities, academia, businesses, and inhabitants—from brainstorming ideas to implementing projects and seeing them through to full-scale realization.
The Main Benefit of BJØRK Innovation
BJØRK Innovation delivers concrete value for city leaders and their local ecosystems. Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes them stand out:
- Only 13% of Swedish municipalities work widely with innovation—BJØRK aims to boost this number.
- Just 16% collaborate with others; BJØRK’s cross-sector approach changes that.
- Only 7% work systematically with R&D—BJØRK’s strategic innovation model helps improve this.
- More than 10 years of experience in the Smart City sector.
- Operative approach: ideas aren’t just talked about—they’re realized in local communities.
- Non-profit mindset: focused on smarter, sustainable societies as a neutral partner.
Smart City Program for Sustainable Communities
The flagship service at BJØRK is their Smart City Program, designed specifically for sustainable community development. It’s a research-based innovation service tailored for both small and large communities across the Nordic countries. This program isn’t just theory—it’s about creating real, actionable solutions that make cities smarter and more sustainable. The program encourages close collaboration between municipalities, academia, businesses, and residents, ensuring that every step from problem formulation to project implementation is inclusive and effective.
Research & Innovation Projects
BJØRK also helps communities establish national and international research and innovation projects. This means municipalities and local organizations get the support they need to tap into broader networks and funding opportunities. By connecting local challenges with global knowledge and resources, BJØRK helps communities stay ahead of the curve and innovate in ways that truly matter.
Smart Communities Tour and Thingwalla
One of the more exciting offerings is the Smart Communities Tour—study visits for municipality leaders to some of the most inspiring smart city destinations in the Nordics. It’s a chance to see innovation in action, learn from peers, and bring back fresh ideas. Then there’s Thingwalla, which is all about the future of public digital services. It’s a democratic marketplace for digital services that citizens deserve, aiming to make public digital services more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- SDG 13: Climate Action
Building Smarter Communities Together
BJØRK Innovation isn’t just about ideas on paper. Their operative approach means they’re not happy until those ideas turn into real value for citizens. They work closely with local communities to understand their unique needs, challenges, and opportunities. By fostering collaboration across sectors and focusing on sustainable innovation, BJØRK helps build smarter, more resilient communities—ready to face the future, together.
