Regional strenghts in
Energy & Battery

Östergötland is a leader in sustainable technologies and the circular economy, with strong expertise in biogas, industrial symbiosis, organic electronics, and advanced energy systems. The region combines world-class research at Linköping University with innovative companies and industrial pioneers such as Tekniska verken, Siemens Energy, and Lantmännen Biorefineries.

Biogas

Research at Linköping University and the broad initiative within the Biogas Solutions Research Center contribute to knowledge development on optimizing biogas quantity and quality, as well as the development of new purification and energy content technologies and their practical implementation. The municipal company Tekniska verken AB is a pioneer in biogas production and operates Sweden’s largest biogas plant. They are also building infrastructure for collecting and processing biogenic carbon dioxide, opening new opportunities within the circular economy.

Industrial and urban symbiosis

At Händelö outside Norrköping, an industrial symbiosis has been established where steam from E.ON is used in an efficient process at Lantmännen Biorefineries’ biorefinery complex. Agricultural raw materials are converted into several products, primarily bioethanol (an ethanol-based fuel) and other bio-based products. For example, carbon dioxide is extracted and converted into carbonic acid for use in the food industry. Linköping University contributes research and education in industrial ecology, material flow analysis, and systems perspectives on urban symbiosis. The university is also active at the national level, for example through the Swedish Network for Industrial Symbiosis (SNIUS), where it plays an active role in research, networking, and know ledge development.

Organic electronics

The region has strong expertise in printed and organic electronics, where researchers, startups, and companies develop flexible and sustainable solutions. Linköping University is a key actor in the field, enabling companies to use advanced laboratories and test environments for prototyping and trials. Printed Electronics Arena (PEA) and the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE) offer unique opportunities to explore new materials and production technologies. For startups emerging from research, Home of Organic and Printed Electronics (HOPE) provides support to grow before scaling up. Companies within organic solar cells and lignin-based energy solutions have received support here.

Advanced energy technology

Siemens Energy’s facility in Finspång is a key player in advanced energy technology, focusing on gas turbines that are a key component for enabling a into flexible energy systems and can be operated with hydrogen, biogas and other green fuels for fossil-free electricity production. Siemens Energy has entered a strategic partnership with Linköping University to jointly invest in research, education, and innovation in areas such as energy technology, digitalization, and sustainable development. Linköping University is strong in energy systems research, with interdisciplinary expertise across the entire energy chain — from production to use. Östergötland also hosts a rapidly developing semiconductor ecosystem with solutions that are essential for high-efficiency power electronics in modern energy systems. The region hosts several companies working with energy and power optimization, building technology, and combined heat and power generation.