Welcome
to our
playground!
250
Game developers
100
Games released
600
Students in game development programs
100
Companies
A creative community and home to several global success stories.
Iron Gate
Iron Gate was founded in Science Park Skövde with the support of Sweden Game Startup. The game Valheim is a smashing hit and the response from the players was massive right from the start. In the first month, more than 5 million copies were sold. Today Embracer Group is an investor in Iron Gate.
Helps you accelerate your business through established programs. You get support to start your own business or help to grow an existing company.
Get your game idea ready for business with, among other things, experienced business coaches, a strong community with like-minded colleagues and contacts with investors.
The game industry is growing fast in Skövde
| 2021 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue SEK | 1.8 billions | 2.76 billions |
| Profit SEK | 760 millions | 1.26 billions |
Coffee Stain Studios
Did you know that the game Goat simulator, that has sold nearly 5 million copies, is from Skövde? The world renowned company behind the international success was founded by students from University of Skövde. A real success story from Sweden Game startup. The company is now part of the Embracer group.
Get direct access to competence and research. The University offers Northern Europe’s broadest range of courses in game development. It’s also Sweden’s leading research hub for game research.
Skövde is the largest city in Skaraborg, and with its excellent logistical capabilities, the city acts as a hub for the region. It is home to several innovation arenas, a university with outstanding research, and world-leading companies in smart industry, game development and tech.
”Thanks to the ecosystem that exists for game development here in Skövde, it is possible for students and people with creative ideas to dare to take the chance to test. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the support and training we received through the incubator process.”
Stefan Hanna Founder Coffee Stain Studios
3 ways to success
01.
Business programs
Through established programs you can start your own business and get support from existing companies to grow and develop. Follow the hundreds of other successful cases and step up your game.
Sweden Game Startup
- Structured and well-proven startup program
- Experienced business coaches
- Strong community with colleagues and like-minded individuals
- Help with financing
- Contacts with investors
- Attend international events and fairs
- Subsidized and non-profit
Growth
- Workshops and skills-enhancing events
- Access to specialized business coaches
- Unique networks and a vibrant community
- Access to financial support
- Test environments
- Work close to research projects
02.
Sweden Game Arena
A unique ecosystem that creates a breeding ground for entrepreneurship and innovative research while fostering future game developers and taking games to the global market.
This is Sweden Game Arena
- A collaboration between Science Park Skövde, regional gaming companies, the University of Skövde and Skövde Municipality.
- Sweden Game Arena organizes social and professional events for the game community, such as developer pubs, language lunches, workshops, and lectures.
Find skill, funding, and business potential in one place. - Opportunities to develop within game development whether you are a student, an entrepreneur who wants to start your own game company, a researcher or a job-seeking game developer.
Organizers of Sweden Game Conference
One of Europe’s leading industry conferences for game students, game developers, and start-ups with more than 1000 participants from all over Europe.
03.
Science Park Skövde
Science Park Skövde is an established arena for innovation and growth. It’s a complete environment that offers a meeting place, a strong community and an innovative ecosystem that enables smart and sustainable solutions, digital services, and experiences for the society of the future.
What Science Park Skövde offers
- Contact with students and talents with the right skills
- Access to specialized business coaches
- A proven and successful startup program
- Unique networks and a vibrant community
- Skills-enhancing events
- Access to financial support
- Test environments
- Premises and support services that simplify everyday life
- Work close to research projects
And there is more…
A network for game development students and alumni who identify as female, trans and non-binary, with the mission to make the Swedish games industry more inclusive.
Sweden Game Start-up organizes a pitch event with international investors and publishers to give Swedish start-ups the opportunity to make contacts in the computer game industry.
An event organized by Sweden Game Arena. Companies showcase their ongoing projects or finished products to other studios and get feedback and ideas to develop the product.
Investment events
Sweden Game Conference
Sweden Game Pitch
International game conferences and fairs, such as Game Developers Conference and Gamescom
Skövde Science city
A new district designed with game developers in mind
A safe, green neighbourhood, right next to the university, the city center, and Skövde’s most creative companies and entrepreneurs. Housing and business premises side by side, in combination with meeting places and services.
25 years of experience
1999
Science Park Skövde is founded.
2002
The first two education programs in computer game development are started att the University of Skövde.
2004
The Game Incubator is started in Skövde Science Park.
2010
The University of Skövde gets the right to award doctoral degrees in information technology including computer game research.
2010
Sweden Game Conference is held for the first time.
2011
DONNA is started.
2011
Stunlock Studios releases the international success Bloodline Champions.
2014
Sweden Game Arena is started.
2014
Skövde-based Coffee Stain Studios launches Goat Simulator.
2015
The Game Incubator starts in Gothenburg.
2021
Iron Gate Studio launches 2021’s big international game success Valheim.
2022
5 doctoral students within gaming, out of which 2 are financed by companies, are enrolled at the University of Skövde.
2022
V Rising is released by Skövde-based Stunlock Studios.
2023
Level up – An investment was initiated by Science Park Skövde and Sweden Game Arena. The project will further develop regional and national support structures for the industry.
What’s so great
about Skövde?
Skövde has over 380 sports and cultural associations, ranging from elite
teams in handball and soccer to culture school with courses in music, film
and music production and game programming.
1 hour by train to Gothenburg and 2 hours by train to Stockholm. A better
starting point is hard to find!
Here you are close to nature, culture and activities, and if you have half an hour to spare, you can easily take a mountain bike ride on the mountain
Billingen or a lap on the ski track during the winter, all within a 3 km radius.
You can enjoy nature, the countryside, and city life while having all the community services you need within reach. Do you want to live on the train line, in new development, near nature yet still close to town or in the heart of the city pulse?
Read more or get in touch!
Contact
Gustaf Sandegren
Vice President Establisment
+46 767 12 20 22
gustaf.sandegren@scienceparkskovde.com
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