Sustainable skills supply
The current situation and needs described in this text are the result of dialogues conducted between STUNS, life science companies in Uppsala, and public actors. The proposed strategies for sustainable competence supply that are presented have also been discussed and agreed upon by all parties involved. The text is intended to serve as an introduction to the subject and can be used as a basis for discussion in future dialogues. The intention is to present in-depth discussions on the four strategies at a later stage.
Life science is an industry that has long been strongly anchored in the Uppsala region, thanks in large part to successful collaborations between the business sector, the two universities, and the Academic Hospital.In recent years, the sector has experienced significant expansion, partly as a result of several companies successfully transitioning from innovation to commercialization, but also due to the pandemic, which has created a high demand for healthcare consumables and medicines, materials for testing and sampling, and components related to vaccine production, among others.
Projections show that the industry will continue to expand rapidly in the foreseeable future. For the region, this represents significant opportunities for economic growth, with an increase in employment and tax revenues for the municipality and the region. These effects are expected to be substantial, as other industries such as construction, transportation, restaurants, and tourism also benefit from the growth of the life science sector.
However, in order to fully capitalize on these opportunities, the competence supply needs of the industry must be met. Without qualified and skilled personnel at all levels of operations, companies will not be able to take advantage of the favorable conditions currently prevailing, let alone sustain them over time. Currently, the available knowledge, skills, and experiences do not match the rapidly growing needs of the industry.
The competencies required vary depending on each company’s core business; manufacturing companies have a great need for process operators and personnel in quality control, while research-intensive activities require experts in specific areas. Regardless of the business focus, there is a shortage of knowledgeable personnel in automation and digitalization. Moreover, these are competency areas whose demand is expected to further increase over time, not only in life science but also in other sectors. Therefore, it is crucial to seek long-term strategies to meet future needs.
READ THE REPORT (in Swedish) Hållbar kompetensförsörjning
Erik Allard
Project Manager
erik.allard@stuns.se
+46 (0) 70 – 214 99 55