This overseas faculty development in international business (FDIB) study tour to Sweden (Stockholm and Roslagen) is led by the George Washington University's Center for International Business Education and Research. It will showcase the advancements and uniqueness of Nordic innovation and technology entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the importance of sustainability in creating business solutions.
The Nordic business culture of collaboration and openness, as well as its focus on flat organizational structures, has led to a high concentration of innovative entrepreneurs and born-global companies, some of which are now leaders in their respective industries worldwide. The Scandinavian region is the birthplace of prominent innovative companies such as Ericsson, Skype, Spotify, Maersk, and Novo Nordisk, among others. Additionally, Stockholm is second only to Silicon Valley for the number of Unicorns – billion-dollar tech companies – per capita (2015), and the density of start-ups in Sweden is four times higher than in the US (OECD, 2016).
The Nordics are also global leaders in developing sustainable solutions to today's world challenges. They are proactively addressing global issues such as the need for clean energy, sustainable urban development, and access to finance and healthcare. Nordic politicians and CEOs have embraced the ideas of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Accord, and have committed to industry practices that foster innovation while being responsible and inclusive.
This year's program will include a deep dive into the emerging area of ImpactTech - technology solutions that aim to enhance outcomes for both people and the planet. Participating faculty and practitioners will have an opportunity to engage with thought-leaders who attempt to accelerate the green transition through joint research and commercialization of innovative sustainable energy ideas.
Who Should Attend
Faculty members who want to:
- Conduct research and/or offer courses related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in general.
- Conduct research and/or offer courses related to the business, economic, and innovation environment of Sweden and the region.
- Examine the role of institutions for creating a thriving culture of start-up innovation.
Practitioners who want to:
- Acquaint themselves with the Nordic way of doing business.
- Learn about best practices in Nordic innovation that can help companies enhance their competitiveness – such as recognizing and taking advantage of opportunities to internationalize early, and identify which practices are easily transferrable to the US context.
- Network with local entrepreneurs, industry experts, and policy makers.
Learn more and register here: https://business.gwu.edu/research/ciber/faculty-development-ib
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GW CIBER
Washington DC
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