Industrial structures in Materials

Östergötland has a strong and diverse materials industry, spanning metals, polymers, composites, bio-based materials, semiconductors, and electronics. Close collaboration between industry and Linköping University supports innovation, knowledge transfer, and the development of sustainable, advanced material solutions, creating a competitive and future-oriented ecosystem.

A well-developed industrial structure

Östergötland has a broad and well-developed industrial structure within the materials domain, characterized by strong industrial diversity and close integration between research, innovation support, and industrial application. The region hosts activities across a wide range of material areas, including metals, polymers and plastics, composites, bio-based and cellulose-derived materials, semi conductors, thin films, and printed and organic electronics.

Industrial landscape

The industrial landscape spans the full materials value chain — from fundamental research and material design to pilot-scale development, industrial manufacturing, and system integration. This breadth enables cross-sectoral knowledge transfer and the combination of different material technologies in advanced products and production processes. Established manufacturing industries coexist with emerging technology fields, creating a dynamic environment that supports both incremental improvements and the development of new material-based solutions.

Long-standing collaboration between industry and academia

A key strength of the regional industrial structure is the close and long-standing collaboration between industry and academia. Proximity to Linköping University provides access to advanced research competence, specialized infrastructure, and a continuous supply of highly skilled engineers and researchers. Joint research projects, test beds, and innovation platforms support rapid knowledge transfer and facilitate the transition from research results to industrial implementation.

Strong links between research and industry

Together, the scale of industrial activity, the diversity of material domains, and the strong links between research and industry form a resilient and future-oriented industrial structure. This ecosystem supports competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation across a wide raange of material technologies and application areas.