When the steel and manufacturing cluster became one of the VINNVÄXT winners in 2004, it was an acknowledgment that this mature industry was considered to possess great development potential and that the regional cluster represented a national area of strength. Winning VINNVAXT gave a mandate and made it economically feasible to establish an organization with the task of promoting development of the industrial region so that it could better contribute to the sustainable development of the industry and the attractiveness of the region. The organization was called the Triple Steelix initiative. The work and focus of the Triple Steelix initiative have evolved over the years, as reflected by the development of its vision.
Vision - Triple Steelix, 2005-2007
• Triple Steelix’s vision is to secure and further develop the position of Bergslagen as a global leader within research, development, production and marketing of knowledge-intensive steel products, and to develop highly value-added services/products associated with this steel industry.
• Its strategic concept is based on close collaboration and exchange of knowledge among steel companies, service and manufacturing companies, institutions, universities and public sector entities, thereby creating a dynamic innovation system that further develops existing and generates new viable companies within the region.
• Triple Steelix will enable Bergslagen to become internationally recognized for its ability to renew, develop and market traditional businesses to promote successful, attractive workplaces that appeal to both men and women.
Triple Steelix 1.0, 2008-2010
Current vision 2010
Triple Steelix shall dedicate its efforts, based on the steel industry, to improving the appeal and attraction of Bergslagen.
Triple Steelix 2.0, 2011-2014
Triple Steelix Industrial Region Vision
The leading innovative region in Europe for advanced steel, steel products, industrial service and processing.
Triple Steelix Initiative Mission
To make the region more attractive through skills development within and among companies, universities and communities.
The Triple Steelix initiative has now been active for about six years. Initial efforts focused on gaining stronger support for the initiative among the primary participants of the cluster: the industry’s leading companies, regional universities, municipalities and regional community organizations. These efforts gave the initiative the mandate and legitimacy to achieve its mission in the industrial region. The second phase focused on designing structures, approaches and practices that enhanced the ability of the innovation system to contribute to the competitiveness and innovation within the industry – and thus to the sustainable development of the industry, as well as the attractiveness of the region. The main features of this development phase were formulated in the 2008-2011 Action Plan. This work is now essentially completed. This plan for the upcoming years, 2011 – 2014 has been formulated to address the central development tasks that emerged from the experience and outcomes of recent years.