Game studios based in Oresund made great performance this year. The PLAYDEAD behind INSIDE comes from Copenhagen.  Grapefrukt Game from Malmö took the Small Screen Nordic Game of the Year with its puzzle game which is Twofold Inc.  Copenhagen based IO Interactive won the Best Technology by its episodic stealth game Hitman.  Winners of the eight categories.

The Nordic Game Awards is organised by the Nordic Game Institute in cooperation with Nordic Game Resources and the Nordic Game event team.  It has attracted 2000 game industry professionals to Malmö annually in recent years. The Nordic Game Conference is the leading game conference in Europe and it comes to its fourteenth year then.

The winners of the eight categories are as follows, other finalist you can find at gamasutra.com 

Nordic Game of the Year

INSIDE by Playdead

Nordic Game of the Year – Small Screen

Twofold Inc. developed by Grapefrukt Games

Best Art

INSIDE , by Playdead

Best Game Design

INSIDE by Playdead.

Best Technology

Hitman by IO Interactive

Best Audio

INSIDE by Playdead

Best Fun for Everyone

Clapper by Bridgeside Interactive.

Best Debut

GoNNER by Art in Heart.

Special Mention

The jury also gave Owlboy , developed by D-Pad Studio, a special mention for outstanding artistic, audio, technological, and design quality.

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The Demo Day of Health2B is coming again this year. It will gather four startups in healthcare sectors to share their experiences. They are:

EATIMIZE – Ensure you get the nutrition just your body needs by optimizing your meals.

LONGLIFE DATA – A customer-focused system for life long storage of real time bio-metric data, that can be shared with doctors for health beneficial preventive care. Like for example, the project named EasySTD.com is all about finding the proper way to get tested for STI’s the best conditions and cost.

SHAPECRUNCH – Land right with 3D printed custom insoles for comfort, balance, performance, direct to the customer via App-based anlysis.

MEDOW – Innovative health care products that bring joy, efficiency and comfort to the market by using colour and design.

The event will be at Restaurang Inspira, Medicon Village – during Skåne Innovation Week in Lund on June 1st. Doors will open at 15:45 and the program starts at 16:10.

Register Here

The organizer Health2B is a lean startup accelerator with a focus on connected health providing health care services like treating fibroids and more. It runs at SmiLe Incubator at Medicon Village  in Lund.  Close to the accelerator, you will find a cluster of world class organisations, such as Ideon Science Park, HealthTech Nordic, Innovation Skåne, Mobile Heights, Bio Medicinskt Centrum (BMC), Lund University (LU), Faculty of Engineering (LTH), Faculty of Medicine (LU), The European Spallation Source (ESS), Maxlab IV Laboratory, The Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE), Health Science Lab (LU).

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We can not deny that more shoppers, more shops and more goods sold online is the future trend. Now, we are happy to see that Skåne leads the counties in Sweden in this trend.  For many startup in e-commerce, Skåne is a great place to run their business.  Thanks to  the well-established infrastructure and its location as regional hub, it is easy to access to Swedish market and the bigger markets in Nordic countries or even the world.  Thus, it attracts a lot of entrepreneurs to start and grow their e-commerce business here.  Cdon.se and Boozt.com are the two successful and noteworthy e-commerce companies that originated in Skåne. As Ehandel.se reports, Cdon.com is the second largest Swedish online store while Boozt.com ranks the 8th in terms of yearly turnovers in the last financial year.

As more e-commerce companies clustered here, more services and resources are attracted to Skåne. Now, the environment for a e-business becomes better.  For example in Helsingborg, Sweden’s first e-commerce park the E-commerce Park of Sweden provides integrated services to the e-commerce companies including incubator programs, offices and storing. Companies can easily find solutions to the problems in their different development stages.

The Swedish market is still promising. According to a report from Postnord,  shopping online is becoming a part of everyday life in the Nordic region, and the boundaries between e-commerce and physical commerce is disappearing.   Referring to the statistic, there are 4.7 million consumers who shopped online in an average month accounting for 67% of the population which is the highest in Nordic countries. The average value they purchase is 151 euro. Both sees a increasing trend in the years of future.

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With the successful game studios who root in Skåne like Ubisoft Massive, Mediocre, Illusion Labs and Tarsier, Malmö region is considered  to be one of northern Europe’s most important game development cluster.  Minc Game wants to further make Malmö a leading gaming city in Europe.

 “Until just a few years ago there were a lot of game companies here, but there was no game region. With help of the work we have done with the non-profit association Game City and now with Minc Game, it feels like we can actually talk about a region, “said Peter Lübeck, project manager at Minc Game.

So, this year Minc Game kicks off its first incubator project and selected five gaming companies to help. The progress seems pretty good so far according to Peter, most of the games are deposit and play since there is money involved.

“Although we are the most watched team and so is the companies that all have proved that there is interests in their games. Oddcomet has released a couple of games, Inglenook Games has raised over a million SEK in a successful Kickstarter campaign and FLWLESS has raised 4.5 million SEK (0.47 million euro) in a seed round. “

Here are the five companies according to the post from digital.di.se.  We will probably play one world popular video game from them in the near future worth waiting for.

Inglenook Games – Develops the game Witch Marsh, an action role-playing game set in the 1920s in Massachusetts. Players create and manage a team of investigators in a story-driven supernatural mystery. Moving to Malmö from Britain.

Odd Comet Games – Has developed the game Moomin Quest, a Moomin games in mobile platforms where the player helps the characters to figure out why the winter has not come to Moomin. Will shortly launch the game in Japan.

Pixel Had – Working on Project Catnip, an adventure about a cat, inspired by Scandinavian landscapes and tales.

FLWLESS – Developing an app based on the fantasy e-sports with game-driven challenges, where well-known e-sportsmen and teams can be matched against each other. Moving to Malmö from the US.

Frog Song Studios . Developed Spellsworn, an arena game based on the magic and quick reflexes, inspired by games like League of Legends.

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This event is the end of the accelerator program Fast Track Malmö this spring.  Along with Fast Track Malmö and MINC, Malmö Startups and Invest in Skåne wants to create one of the largest events for investors according to the report from digital.di.se. Also, startups will get to meet and pitch to a group of Angels and Venture Capitalists at the event.

“The event is aimed to companies that are in an early phase and traveling its first investment, but we will also invite the company to erect a larger venture capital round,” said Joel Larsson, program director at Fast Track Malmö.

In the last year, Malmö Demo Day attracted over 50 Swedish and international investors, including ones with direct investments in the Bitcoin Profit app.  So this year, the goal will be 100+.

 

 “This year the focus is more on investment and to allow the right investors to meet the right company and give them time for further meetings on the day after Malmö Demo Day,” said Joel Larsson.

According to a statement from the database Nordic Tech List, Skåne did a great job last year in 2016. More than 1.1 billion SEK (115 million euro) in venture capital was injected into the unlisted Skåne tech companies. This is the first time Skåne region break the billion ceiling after Stockholm and Copenhagen. It ranks third in Nordic region in terms of investment.

“We have a good momentum right now that we’ll be sure to take advantage. We see a continued strong interest from foreign investors. Malmö Startups receives an average of two large VC companies a week who are looking for potential companies to invest in, so it’ll be high pressure in Malmo Demo Day, “said Mina Hesar, software designer of the Fast Track Malmö.

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Flattr has been creating the world’s first micropayment system that works for all content online. By simply clicking the Flattr button, users can donate money to the content they like.  It has worked with Eyeo (a Germany based company) already on some projects previously, and now they officially announce to join forces.

“Together we will be able to create an Internet which is fair to all, sustainable and safe.” says Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi, co-founder of Flattr.

The new Flattr extension under the new partnership will allow users to fund content in a direct and sustainable way by simply browsing.  Users can allocate a monthly payment to online publishers or content creators. The money is then distributed based on user’s engagement with different articles and sites. As the press release said, they will make “a new, fair for all, way to pay for content”.

“Flattr makes micropayments automatic and effortless, thus it will be the most user-friendly payment solution on the internet. Together, constructive ad blocking and Flattr complete Eyeo’s vision of putting users in control of an internet that is fair and still profitable,” says Till Faida, founder of Eyeo, the company behind Adblock Plus.

Flattr said that the core team will continue to work with all staff members from Malmö. Then the co-founder Linus Olsson will lead the operations and implementations while Peter Sunde becomes an visionary advisor. The financial terms of the deal has not been revealed.

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Epson is one of the world’s leading provider of AR glasses for industrial use. Epson Group has 93 companies with 72 000 employees worldwide. It has been focusing on the growing industrial market for AR solutions.  For example, a business in search of solutions to optimize industrial processes will be a typical customer of Epson.

This cooperation will use Crunchfish’s software in the Epson product platform Moverio.  So that users will have more efficient and flexible interaction methods to use all the services with gesture control.

According to press release from Crunchfish, analyst firm Digi-Capital estimates that the use of AR technology in the industrial market will grow strongly over the next few years. The market will be worth around 108 billion US Dollar (976 billion SEK) annually by 2021, stated in a forecast from Digi-Capital.

“We see that the gesture control will be one of the main interaction methods for services Moverio platform offers. Therefore, we are very pleased that Crunchfish now is part of our network of software partners, and that we can continue to provide the market with unique solutions, “said Valerie Riffaud Cangelosi, Head of New Market Development of Epson.

Crunchfish could not agree more,

“We are proud to be a part of Epson’s partner network. Epson’s smart glasses combined with our proven software is a winning solution for the industry. A joint marketing and sales in the relevant customer segments create exciting commercial opportunities, “says Joakim Nydemark, CEO of Crunchfish

This Swedish startup grows fast with its unique technology since its establishment in 2000. It is just listed on Nasdaq First North since 2016.

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What is IoT

The Internet of Things, IoT or ” sakernas internet” in Swedish, means the digitization of things through the process of custom software development to meet the specific needs of customers. With the help of tiny embedded sensors and computers, almost everything around us from machinery, vehicles, goods and household appliances to clothing can connect to the Internet. Online business tools such as Quickbooks from Fourlane that are installed in your computers and mobile devices are also products of digitization.

In today’s fast-paced business environment, having a comprehensive and efficient Business Intelligence (BI) solution is crucial for informed decision-making and maintaining a competitive edge. The service offered by InetSoft at https://www.inetsoft.com/company/business_intelligence_solution/ provides a powerful BI platform that allows businesses to effectively analyze and visualize their data, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and strategize more effectively. Don’t miss the opportunity to elevate your business with this innovative solution.

IoT in Sweden and Skåne

There are now 8 IoT hubs in Sweden financed by Vinnova, including Helsingborg and Lund.  The hub in Helsingborg will focus more on the use of IoT between buildings and energy, while Lund focus on the solutions about flows in the city that could help to improve urban planning. In addition to the two municipalities, Region Skåne also takes part in and will develop the delivery of healthcare using IoT.

“It is smart with hubs. Instead of reinventing the tools eight times, we share resources and knowledge.” Commented Magnus Gunnarsson, energy systems architect of H+, to 8till5.

The hubs become platforms for sharing, testing and evaluation of technical solutions. The idea is that the hub solutions should be spread and applied in the whole Sweden and used to compete in an international market according to the report from 8till5.se. The idea is that what works in one city can be applied to other cities and create many ‘smart cities’.

“Then we hope that our IoT project is so good that the rest of the world wants to buy our solutions.” Said Lisa Kaati, deputy director of the program IoT Sverige, to 8till5.

What is the future of IoT

In a global view, an increasingly connected world has opened the door for enormous new services and products. 20 billion devices are expected to be connected in the world by 2020, and the total sales will reach around 235 billion US dollar worldwide as predicted by Gartner according to 8till5.se.  Also, Ericsson estimates that there are now more IoT gadgets than mobile phones in the world.

This program is a part of Vinnova’s strategic innovation areas. The vision is that Swedish industry will be the best in the world to take advantage of IoT and Sweden will become a leader in areas such as health care.

What it means to business in Skåne

It is clear that, not only offline health care, smart buildings and self-reporting paths will have the future. IoT means more new business to consulting firm, technology firms, and other platforms for startups that develop new hardware and software.

“This is the next step and every industry is dependent on this. One can not ‘just jump over’, it is like saying that the Internet was just a fly.” says Lisa Kaati, to 8till5.

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Control smart phone by gesture?

We live in a world where smart devices are everywhere and the future will not be different. Technology will integrate in our lives even further and will become even more intelligent, just like  sci-fi movies warn us. CrunchFish from Malmö is already working on bringing some futuristic uses of mobile technology into reality. Their goal is to change the way we interact with mobile phones and other devices by creating touchless technology.

Just imagine, in the near future silently waving and throwing your hands in the air will not be an odd behavior but a way to give commands to your smart devices. It might take some getting use to, but already now a lot of manufacturers are interested CrunchFish technology, expecting to install it in the next generation mobile phones. GoCam is the first app they developed to allow users to take a selfie by just waving their hands. We can expect that further integration of touchless technology into everyday life will make a huge difference to user experiences of the future.

Practical IoT in your home

IoT (Internet of Things) is one of the hottest topics of tech scene. Though it has not been widely applied in our life just yet, the possibility to create convenient connectedness of everyday technology is immense. Sensative from Lund is working on something that could help bring IoT a step close to becoming a norm of modern homes.

Strips, Sensative’s first product, is a wireless magnetic sensor that is pretty much invisible on windows and doors. Without the hassle of complicated installation, Strips help home dwellers keep an eye on their home security while away. Sensative is also working on a series of new products that will be launched in the near future bringing more possibility of intelligent home facilities.

Technology to care for the elderly

Apart from making  life convenient technology of the future will also make life easier for some vulnerable groups. Aging society is a phenomenon that we all will have to figure out some time soon. Already now there is an issue of lack of good care for elderly who stay home. Tryggel from Malmö was established exactly with the purpose to solve this problem. Tryggel‘s founder got an idea when she realized how dangerous it could be for elderly without good in home care as her own grandma had fallen a few times while alone at home. As a result Tryggel  currently develops a system of home sensors to create a protective environment in home of elderly.

Next Step Dynamics from Malmö has taken a step further. Their technology predicts and monitors the risk of fall, develops recovery program and provides remote care solutions.

In the far future, physical age may not be a problem at all thanks to the progressing technology. But the short-term goal is to increase the quality of life of elderly.

For a better world

Some companies have bigger vision where they try to use technology to solve problems caused by human activities on a global scale. For example, paper sheeting and making this valuable resource as efficiently as possible. This along with recycling ensures demand is met without impacting the state of the planet. Continuing to think on a global scale, food and water shortage are two existing problems facing the world. Innoscentia and Orbital are working on solutions that will contribute to fighting these problems.

Have you ever thought that a great deal of food is being thrown away without a good reason? According to Innoscentia terms like ‘Best Before’ or ‘Use by’ are quite misleading and result in food waste. Consumers will throw away products even when they are perfectly edible. Innoscentia‘s solution is a sensor technology integrated into packaging that could detect food degradation. Their first product is meat packages telling consumers how good the food is.

Orbital Systmes, on the other hand, is after solving the problem of water shortage. Their indoor water system could save up to 90% of water and energy compared to a conventional showers we are currently using. The technology was developed initially for space exploration but soon it might become common for showers in modern homes.

Image: news oresund

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Online payment service provider Paylane is integrated with DNB, Norway’s biggest financial service group.  It is good news for Scandinavian merchants who have DNB bank account. They can make transaction within the SEPA (Single European Payments Area) in a faster, more convenient and cheaper way.

“We are willing to show you our approach to the online payments on the European market and we guarantee that when you try it once, you will never stop using our methods.” conments Karol Zielinski, CEO of PayLane

As one of the leading online payment providers on the European market, PayLane is originally from Gdynia, a city in Poland.  During over 11 years on the online payment market, it has achieved remarkable progress including the entering of USA market recently.  Now, PayLane processes payments in over 160 currencies within over 30 payment methods.

Both PayLane and DNB are expecting the themselves be a trust worthy pair with such a new innovation.

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