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Celebrating Innovation: The Business Awards Special!

With Swedish Chamber Insights, we bring you deep-dive Exclusive Interviews, highlight our members sustainability strategies in the Insight features, and present opportunities to connect with our members and relations within our business community through the Get to Know-series. We are happy to offer our community an unparalleled glimpse into the activities within and around the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. We hope you will take this chance to interact, connect, unveil business opportunities, learn from each other, share new ideas – and, as the title indicates – gain insights. This month, we are honoring innovation and outstanding achievements through exclusive features with the three esteemed winners of the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2024: SKF, Younium & Volvo Cars Netherlands!

   

SKF - Winner of Tech for Good Business Awards 2024

Discover how SKF is advancing industrial sustainability through innovative clean technologies, ethical collaborations, and a commitment to decarbonisation. Learn about their journey toward a circular economy and recognition as a leader in the green transition.

Younium - Winner of Entrepreneurship Business Awards 2023
Explore how Younium, winner of the 2024 Entrepreneurship Business Award, is transforming SaaS subscription management with innovative cloud solutions, AI integration, and a commitment to simplifying financial operations. Discover their global expansion and vision for driving scalable growth through adaptable platforms and smarter finance solutions.

Volvo Cars Netherlands - Winner of Achievement Business Awards 2024
Volvo Car Netherlands achieved 89.3% growth in 2024, securing the Swedish Achievement Award. With 64% of sales from all-electric vehicles, Volvo is leading the charge in sustainability. Learn how their green initiatives, including solar panel installations and forward-thinking employee policies, are driving a sustainable future.
     
   
   

Rotation for a Better Tomorrow: 

SKF’s Commitment to Sustainability

   
   

''We are honoured to receive the ‘Tech for Good’ award as it showcases our commitment to developing solutions that reduce friction and CO2 emissions, significantly contributing to a more sustainable future. Additionally, our focus on circularity and remanufacturing services extends the life of bearings and other components, reducing waste and conserving resources, thereby further supporting our sustainability goals. By pushing the boundaries of what's possible, SKF's researchers and scientists together with our application engineering experts are demonstrating how research and technological innovation can come together to create solutions that meet the evolving customer needs and benefit both society and the environment.''

- Arnoud Reininga, Director Research & Technology Development

''The Jury was especially charmed with SKF’s case of working to reduce friction, as roughly 20% of global energy goes to overcoming this friction. This in combination with recycled steel and collaboration with steel suppliers producing green steel including Dutch universities and industrial companies, to innovate and implement sustainable steel production methods. SKF has a clear goal to have a Net Zero supply chain by 2050.''

- Jan Sundelin, Partner Partinc, Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce

At SKF, we have a long history of working with industrial sustainability. It is an integral part of what we do every day. We strive to create engagement throughout the business, not only by implementing sustainability on a strategic level but also by encouraging the ideas and grassroots projects initiated by our people around the world.

   
   
   

Turning Complexity into Clarity: Meet the Fintech Pioneer Transforming SaaS Subscription Management

   
   



''We are very honored and proud to have won this award. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our entire team, both in the Netherlands but also from our people in the Nordics and North America. Also a big thank you to all our customers who trust us and our solution.''

-Emelie Linheden, Vice President of Marketing

''The rapid growth of the global company (23 quarters of growth in a row) is also visible on the Dutch market, where more than doubling of the turnover has been achieved between 2021 to 2023. This was possible based on the quality of its products, shortened sales cycles and by increased awareness on LinkedIn of 50% last year.''

- Ruth de Jager, Vice President Global Content Development Storytel, Chairwoman of the Jury

As the B2B SaaS landscape evolved from simple to more complex models, so did the demand for efficient subscription management and invoicing—a necessity for growth in a sector built on recurring revenue. Recognizing this need, Niclas Lilja and Fredrik Spira founded Younium in 2017 to deliver a robust cloud solution capable of managing complex subscriptions and intricate financial operations.

   
   
   

2024: All Time High Record for Volvo in the Netherlands

   
   

'It was another challenging year for Volvo, influenced by geopolitical developments and economic fluctuations. Despite this, we set records this year in the Netherlands with the number of Volvo cars sold and new models delivered to our customers. We look back on a year full of success with the relaunch of the new EX90, the continuing success of our EX40/XC40 and the customer deliveries of over 10,000 EX30s by our retailers. But we also achieved excellent performance in after-sales and used Volvo cars. For us, this year has been not only the year of growth, it is also the year of collaboration, adaptation and innovation. Together, we got the best out of our organization! My thanks and appreciation for everyone's contribution to our great result!''

- Herrik van der Gaag, Managing Director
   

''Volvo Cars' achievements in the Netherlands, including multiple awards for their vehicles, demonstrate its dedication to excellence. The jury compliments Volvo Cars Netherlands for its remarkable contributions and is honored to recognize them with this award.''

- Tomas Korseman, Head of Business Sweden in the Netherlands

In December last year, Volvo Car Netherlands received the prestigious Swedish Achievement Award 2024. This award underlined the Swedish brand's stellar performance in what was a historic year. In 2024, Volvo achieved 30,995 registrations in the Netherlands, a growth of 89.3% compared to last year. This performance reflected an 8.1% market share, up from 4.4% in 2023. With this new sales record, Volvo ended the year as the number-two brand in the Netherlands—the old sales record dates back to 1986, with 29,016 registered Volvo cars then.

   
   

Want to be featured in upcoming Swedish Chamber Insights?

As always, we are happy to receive your feedback and ideas. Welcome to reach out to us over email via communication@swedishchamber.nl with your input, questions and thoughts about our upcoming Swedish Chamber Insights, and information on how you can present your company in the upcoming issues in 2025!