WORDS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

October is a busy month for SACC-USA and our Chambers. We are getting ready for our annual event, SACC Summit. We are so excited to connect, network and get inspired by speakers from
companies across the U.S. and Sweden, partners and Regional SACC Chambers. Business Through Innovation is the theme of this year's event. Boston is a perfect location as the city prides itself on being a hub for innovation  and I am aso excited to present renowned Professor Robert Langer from MIT as our Key Note Speaker. Mr. Langers lab has churned out more than two dozen companies in the past decade. Watch this video.
 
We also have an exciting project coming up for our trainee program, American Tech Talent to Sweden. There will be a seminar about this project on the 11th of October in Stockholm. You are welcome to attend if you are a Swedish company, agency or region interested in attracting technology talent from the U.S. to Sweden. You may find more information about this seminar further down in this newsletter.

I will take the opportunity to remind you to visit our website for news, interesting articles and upcoming events.
 
Have a great fall season and I hope to see you in Boston for SACC Summit later this month!



COMING UP


SECURE YOUR TICKET TO SACC SUMMIT 2017!

SACC Summit gather companies, partners, industry leaders and representatives from  20 regional SACC Chambers. The event will be held in the vibrant city of Boston, and the theme is:

 Business Through Innovation
 
The event will take place in the impressive Federal Reserve  Bank building  and we will conclude with an upscale cocktail reception and dinner at the prestigious Harvard Club in the heart of Boston.



 AMONG OUR RENOWNED SPEAKERS
INSIGHTS 

Reversing the Balance Sheet

Per consequence of the severe economic crisis of 2008, the Federal Reserve participated in a complex process called quantitative easing to put the economy back on track. In response to the plummeting housing prices, soaring unemployment rate and imminent bankruptcy of major financial institutions such as Meryl Lynch, the Federal Reserve began buying unprecedented amounts of bonds, mortgage backed  securities and other assets to keep the economy afloat.  These actions brought the long-term interest rate to an all-time low and it has more or less stayed there since the crisis took place. 

In recent months however, there has been speculation as to whether all of this is going to change. On September 20th, the Federal Reserve made the decision that it would gradually begin reversing its balance sheet, which currently sums up to about 4. 5 trillion dollars. How does the Federal Reserve plan on implementing this reversal? 














Chair of Board of Governors, Federal Reserve
NEWS 

STHLM Tech Fest - The Power of Startup

Innovation . This concept has manifested itself as the defining feature of any successful business in this technologically progressive age. Many view today's society as one in transition, as humans are moving away from traditional modes of business and becoming increasingly immersed in a world that is constantly evolving. To keep up, businesses must discover new ways to make their products and services relevant to their respective industries. Countries and cities across the world alike dedicate considerable amounts of resources to promoting and supporting innovation, typically through funding upcoming startups and making their entrance to domestic and international markets more feasible.

Workshop on Higher Education Collaboration

On the 4th of October SACC-USA held a Breakfast Workshop at the House of Sweden in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden, the Swedish Institute and the Institute of International Education. The topic for this workshop was about advancing visibility of opportunities and best practices in higher education collaboration between Sweden and the United States. 

Currently around 5000 Swedish students study in the U.S. every year, but only 1000 American students go to Sweden for studies yearly. The aim of this workshop was to build a stronger bilateral collaboration and increase the number of American students going to Sweden on exchange programs.

Sweden's New Climate Initiative

Previously a journalist at Månadsjournalen magazine, a member of the Swedish Parliament under the Green Party, and now the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, Isabella Lövin made history by passing what is being described as a historical climate change policy. This framework, to be implemented in 2018, calls for the largest investment in climate seen to date in Sweden, amounting to an additional SEK 5 billion. This proposal targets investment in the industrial and transport sectors, as well as transforming Sweden into a more sustainable country over all.

The importance of Sustainable Business - and how CellMark has commercialized it  - Doing well, by doing good

Innovation and sustainability. These two powerful words are the defining characteristics for how Fredrik Anderson runs the company, CellMark, as the current CEO, and how he wishes the company's business to impact the world. Acting as a global resource network for buyers, sellers and entrepreneurs, CellMark is an expansive and multifaceted platform that spans 30 countries and whose influence and services penetrate more than 120 different markets. How has such a massive operation managed to not only stay alive, but continue to be relevant in this increasingly digitized and technologically oriented society? 

Fredrik Anderson owes this success to a commitment towards constant innovation, not only in the ventures the company pursue, but in the way it operates and its customer centricity business modelling in order to create new or find latent customer value. The attraction of "talented, curious people with a passion for ethical behavior and an entrepreneurial mind" is a key part of how CellMark continuously evolved. The company fosters an environment of learning, where new ideas are constantly being developed, and the people who are enthusiastic about what they do are, leading the global market. 



MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 

SACC-Texas
President Hans Cederlund

Hans Cederlund won the big jackpot in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as Green Card Lottery back in 2011. Moving from Sweden to start a new life in Houston was a big step for the family but something they have never regretted. Today, he is the President of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Texas (SACC-Texas), and fosters potential for Swedish businesses to flourish in Texas, both financially and strategically.

SACC-Texas is made up of three offices, located in Dallas, Houston and Austin. They work both individually and jointly to promote trade and investment between Sweden and Texas. According to Hans Cederlund, many Swedish companies don't know the great opportunities available in Texas.
- This dynamic state is ideal for business through a variety of different aspects. Low taxes, which benefit both companies and workers, play a big role in promoting the business industry in Texas. Location is key, as Texas is positioned perfectly in terms of its closeness to Latin America, and its accessibility to the rest of the United States. Good infrastructure makes it easy to travel between other states and countries, reducing time and transaction costs that come with trade.  

SACC-USA TRAINEE PROGRAM


American Tech Talent to Sweden

Is your company/organisation one of many in Sweden in need of qualified candidates for technology positions?  We would like to invite you to a dialogue about how we can attract American tech talent to Sweden!

The Swedish Institute has a specific mission from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - together with The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce, SACC-USA, AmCham in Sweden and other collaborators enabling young tech talents from the US to do an internship or trainee position in Sweden.

Candidates are soon-to-be graduates or recent graduates of top American universities such as MIT, Georgia Tech, University of Texas Austin, University of Arizona and others. The ambition is an internship or trainee position in Sweden from 3 to 18 months.

Companies, agencies and regions in Sweden who are interested in attracting technology talent from the US are welcome to attend.  


For more information, please read here or contact:
Ziba Zareie, [email protected], or Cecilia Kullman, [email protected].


TRAINEE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Classic Clog-maker Building its Brand through Swedish Talent

The clog-maker Sandgrens is the growing, high-end yet timelessly functional, shoe brand that is reinventing the traditional clog with a modern appeal. With the brand being closely tied to its Swedish heritage anno 1846, Sandgrens has for years brought Swedish talent to the U.S. to embrace a vision of what Swedish quality entails. While all products are made in Sweden, the Minnesota team serves the international market. In effort to build a strong brand mirroring Swedish culture, Swedish trainees help reflect the culture externally. 

Swedish trainees are vital for the clog-maker to remain on track with its heritage. At an early stage, Sandgrens placed  Swedish talent on  tasks mainly within finance,  sales and logistics but more recently they began to explore untapped fields where young Swedish talent could add real value.

The company has capitalized on the millennial genera­tion's tech-savvy nature. As Sandgrens marketing shifted towards online, the SACC Trainee Program has helped them speak to consumers in their own language - increasing sales. Sandgrens offers its trainees stipends, easing living costs, and the program is rigorously focused on the train­ing aspect. David Giese, Director of Sales, says the return on
 investment to their operations is exponentially higher because of trainees' eagerness to learn and contribute. The obligation to train its young talent is embraced, and Sandgrens takes great pride in its  commitment to Swedish culture.
"When trainees walk out of Sandgrens, they know what they want to do in their respective careers," says  David.  The selling point for any host company is undoubted: Swedish trainees can add unparalleled attitude and motivation. 
"You are simply not going to get that same passion out of a hired employee," says Nick Sieberg, Operations Manager. After 12 or 18 months of intensive training, several trainees have gone back from the Minnesota to Sweden to work for Sandgrens there. 

Continue Reading                                                

Photo: Trainees Natalie Hartman and Ajla Rustempasic.                                                                   
Photo courtesy: Emmy Richardsson 


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