The intention of this paper is to analyze the impact of a threat environment in the creation of a hi-tech cluster through the development of an independent defense industry. In order to conclude the implications of a military industry in the development of a hi-tech cluster, it was studied the case of the evolution of Israel’s defense industry into a diverse hi – tech industry (Silicon Wadi). This work emerges from a personal concern in order to understand if there are some benefits or positive side effects in developing an indigenous military industry.  Coming from a country in the developing process that has no military forces (Costa Rica) and at the same time has been struggling to create a hi-tech cluster, I wanted to learn what are the implications in the hi-tech sector for lacking an indigenous defense industry and a threat environment. As it will be presented in this study, the major implication of having an independent defense industry is that it creates a path dependency in the military sector and if it’s handled correctly through the cooperation between academia, military forces and business sectors it will be possible to create transitions of this technologies into civilian applications, diversifying the entrance of resources and creating an entrepreneur environment.

Food system is complex and encompasses stakeholders from local, regional, and global level. The activities and outcomes of the food system are associated with environmental, economic, and social impacts. Due to the growing population, and urbanization, along with the fact that global food system contributes up to 30% of anthropogenic GHG emission, one of the main contributors to climate change, a sustainable food system that could meet the food demand in the urban areas is in need. Therefore, high-tech urban agriculture (HTUA) that uses advanced technologies and enables food production in a controlled environment is seen as a promising solution, which remains niche in Sweden. This study adopted the sustainable food system approach and used the theory of multi-level perspective (MLP) on sustainability transitions to explore this technology-driven transition and identify the challenges and opportunities in developing HTUA in Sweden. Through the analysis of five Swedish policy documents and interviews with four HTUA initiatives in Stockholm, three main aspects are identified: 1) external context; 2) policy environment; and 3) communication and influence, which are independent but also interconnected. According to the findings, the global environment and Swedish context, such as climatic condition and Swedish consumption, provide HTUA an opportunity to develop. The findings also suggest that though the characteristics of HTUA initiatives and the priorities within the Swedish policy environment have overlapping traits, the policies are not effectively translated into practice and thus making it challengeable to develop HTUA in the long run. Implementing more strict restrictions and regulations on the external price, providing an easier access to urban space, simplifying the procedure for the financial support, raising public awareness towards HTUA, and bridging the knowledge gap among all stakeholders through collaborations and partnerships are suggested to reduce the risk of initiating HTUA. However, further research is still required to understand the potential of HTUA in the transformation towards a sustainable food system.

This study seeks to review the topic of how deep tech innovation is raised in Sweden and more particularly, the finance-related constraints of this ecosystem. The study proceeds from the idea of mapping out the available, and subsequently more suitable financing alternatives for novel deep tech ventures. A more specific focus lies within understanding what factors are influencing investment decisions amongst such actors.  Thereon, there is an attempt to ground a theory revolving around what kind of features in the deep tech start-up, are critical in order to overcome the identified financial challenges. Theoretically, it is explained how the inherent uncertainty of new innovative ventures in general, and those of deep tech character in particular, entails additional financing constraints that deter investors. This results in an s.c "Valley of Death", normally transpiring as a firm aspires to transition from a research-driven development business to a market-driven commercial business. The findings in this study can be considered to confirm this phenomenon as transpiring in Sweden, whereupon it is also seen as a reasonable opinion that the respective problem can be maneuvered. The main arguments in terms of success factors in this respect is; (i) the ability to match with investors with a solid understanding of the particular industry of operations, as wells as for deep tech in general, (ii) the ability to acquire a diverse team with solid industry experience and contacts, (iii) the ability to demonstrate market proximity, (iv) the ability to demonstrate a potential that can justify the intensified uncertainty, as well as a credible plan to reach it, (v) and abilities to argue positively for impacts in sustainable aspects. Furthermore, a few suggestions for further research in relation to the topic and problematization have been identified; alternative choices for fiscal policies, deep tech opportunities in the shadow of s.c impact investing, eventual opportunities in addressing public markets, and eventual constraints in the external dichotomy between public and private sector financing.

Bakgrund: Startupföretag bidrar i dagens samhälle med flertalet innovationer, vilket storföretag kan ta del av genom öppen innovation. När företagen samarbetar med varandra kan parterna tillsammans främja innovation och ta del av ny kunskap. Startupföretag får hjälp med kommersialisering av affärsidén och storföretag kan behålla sin marknadsposition genom användningen av ny teknik. På grund av den stora asymmetrin organisationerna emellan är det av intresse att ge en förklaring för vad som påverkar en affär mellan startupföretag och storföretag, för att möjliggöra fler lyckade samarbeten.  Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utifrån startupföretags perspektiv undersöka faktorer som påverkar en lyckad affär mellan startupföretag och storföretag inom högteknologiska branscher.  Metod: Studien utfördes med en kvantitativ metod där empirin samlats in med hjälp av enkäter via en tvärsnittsdesign. Vidare har studien utgått från det positivistiska perspektivet där en deduktiv ansats använts. En hierarkisk logistisk regressionsanalys genomfördes för att analysera hur tidigare erfarenhet av storföretag, matchad via stödfunktion, avtalsdesign, förtroende, kommunikation, indirekta värden och direkta värden samvarierar med en lyckad affär mellan storföretag och startupföretag.  Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att ökad omsättning, avtalsdesign, tidigare erfarenhet av kontraktering, stödfunktioner, kostnadseffektivitet och indirekta värden har ett statistiskt signifikant samband med lyckad affär. Ökad omsättning, ett detaljerat avtal, tidigare erfarenhet av kontraktering och matchning via stödfunktion ökar sannolikheten för en lyckad affär. När vikt läggs vid kostnadseffektivitet och indirekta värden minskar sannolikheten att affären blir lyckad. Genom att ta studiens faktorer i beaktning kan både startupföretag och storföretag öka sannolikheten att det blir en lyckad affär. / Background: Startups contribute in today's society with multiple innovations, which large companies can take part of through open innovation. By collaborating, both companies can enhance innovation and take part of new knowledge. Startups receive help with the commercialization of their business idea and large companies can keep their market position through the use of new technology. Due to the large asymmetry between the organisations, it is of interest to create a broader explanation of what affects the deal between startups and large companies, in order to enable more successful collaboration.  Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine different factors that affect a successful deal between startups and large companies in high-tech industries from the startup perspective.  Methodology: The study used a quantitative research method where the empirical data has been collected by questionnaires. The study is based on a positivist philosophical standpoint with a deductive approach. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze how the factors previous experience with large companies, matched by a support function, contract design, trust, personal chemistry, communication, indirect values and direct values affects the deal between large companies and startups.  Analysis and conclusion: The result of the study shows that increased revenue, contract design, previous experience of contracting, support functions, cost efficiency and indirect values have a statistically significant correlation with a successful deal. Increased revenue, a detailed contract, previous experience of contracting and matched by a support function increases the probability to perform a successful deal. When focus shifts to cost efficiency and indirect values, the probability of the deal being successful decreases. By taking the factors into account, both startups and large companies can increase the probability that it will be a successful deal.

Den personliga integriteten på internet har de senaste decennierna växt fram till att bli en existensiell fråga för många privatpersoner. För att värna om EU medborgarnas integritet och det fria flödet av information upprättade EU, The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. En konsekvens av detta är att företag måste utföra en rad kostsamma aktiviteter för att skydda sina kunders personliga data. Görs detta inte på ett korrekt sätt kan företag räkna med dryga böter. Privacy One har skapat en patenterad säkerhetslösning på Google Markets vid namn Harpoctates för att adressera problemet. Trots att marknaden har ett behov, och det finns en lösning anser företaget det är svårt att hitta kunder. Det är inte ensam, endast 14 % av små och medelstora företag ser digital affärsutveckling som en effektiv lösning, trots att det i många fall är viktigare HUR företag gör affärer, än VAD de gör. Denna studie ska besvara vad som skapar värde i en digital affärsmodell. Baserat på en positivistisk världssyn, induktiv metod och kvalitativ ansats bygger denna uppsats på en fallstudie av Privacy One. I syfte att skapa en repeterbar och skalbar affärsmodell baser sig teorin på företagets värdeskapande faktorer och marknadspositionering. Trots att Privacy One har en produkt i tiden visar resultatet på att företagets fokus är otydligt. Genom att fokusera på en nischad marknad, exempelvis skola kan företaget skapa ett gott renommé och goda kundreferenser. Något som ger skalbarhet då Privacy One kan sälja sin mjukvara utan att först skapa förtroende hos kunden genom utbildning eller kurs i GDPR. Privacy One kan därmed bygga sin marknadsposition, bredda portföljen och expandera till andra verksamhetsområden. Vad betyder det här för andra företag som ämnar ta efter processen att skapa en digital affärsmodell? 1. Analysera vart företaget befinner sig på en normalfördelningskurva i syfte att hitta en startpunkt. 2. Skapa en målbild, en plats på marknaden där företaget kan skaffa sig en dominerande marknadsposition. 3. Formulera företagets värdeskapare baserat på företagets position och målbild. Utveckla en digital affärsmodell för målgruppen.

High-tech (HT) innovation-oriented entrepreneurs start 35% more ventures and create 10% more jobs in the first 5 years of operation than the rest of the private sector and drive significant economic growth across all industries; however, more than 50% of the entrepreneurial HT ventures fail during the first 5 years of operations. Guided by the conceptual framework of transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this multicase study was to explore skills used by successful entrepreneurial leaders to sustain their HT ventures in Silicon Valley, California. Data collection was from 8 participants in semistructured 1-on-1 interviews and 3 participants in a focus group discussion. All participants were entrepreneurial leaders with experience in sustaining their entrepreneurial ventures beyond 5 years. A thematic data analysis approach involved text search, content coding to nodes, and code comparison techniques of collected data to extract themes and identify relationships in the findings. The emergent 4 leadership skill themes for HT entrepreneurial venture sustainability were the recruitment of the right team, situational adaptability, market orientation, and providing innovation stimulation. The right team can resourcefully assist the leader to execute market-leading competitive products and overcome challenges in the dynamic and intensely competitive and innovative HT industry. A culture of openness, ownership, and trust is conducive to the sustainability of an HT venture. Findings from this study may contribute to social change by promoting the formation of new HT ventures, increasing job creation, reducing work stressors, improving quality of life with innovative and cost-effective products, and services in healthcare, infrastructure, personal safety, education, and communications.

Arbetets syfte är att undersöka hur deltagande processer med inslag av teknologin Internet of Things (IoT) formar den samtida konsten. Detta genom en fallstudie av projektet Över sundet. Som metod används deltagande observationer och semi-strukturerade intervjuer, då författaren är en av projektets processledare och curators. Över sundet är ett samarbete mellan Helsingborgs stad, Helsingör kommun och två konstnärsgrupper. Tillsammans med städernas invånare ska konstnärerna skapa en ljusinstallation som använder sig av IoT. Med hjälp av teori angående etik, deltagande konst och pedagogik från Claire Bishop visar arbetets analys att projektets process är användbar och positiv men kan likväl gynna konstprojekt utan fokus på teknik. Arbetets analys använder sig också av Lev Manovichs begrepp ”culture interface” och drar slutsatsen att ljusinstallationen är en hybrid av kulturformer. En annan slutsats är att installationen formas av de datakällor som städernas invånare bidrar med. Utan invånarnas data och medskapande roll, berättar konstinstallationen inget narrativ.

The doctoral thesis is concerned with Market Orientation (MO) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). MO and CRM have been under permanent focus of both theoreticians and practitioners in recent years as they are considered to be important for long-term business success. Surprisingly, these two strategic concepts have been examined separately. What is missing is research that would systematically analyse the possible interdependence between MO and CRM. The main aim of the doctoral thesis is to evaluate the existence of interconnections between MO and CRM. This doctoral thesis has been prepared on the basis of secondary research, as well as primary research activities. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been applied in order to obtain a more complex view on the topic. The main primary research of this thesis was conducted through a questionnaire survey among aerospace companies in the Czech Republic. The hypotheses were tested so as to support the partial objectives, as well. The findings constitute a valuable contribution to broaden the knowledge of MO and CRM. The doctoral thesis has revealed that MO and CRM are interconnected. A tool for CRM measurement was proposed, and the level of MO and CRM in the surveyed companies was determined. The barriers to the implementation of MO and CRM were identified, yet the actual application of these concepts in practice of companies has remained an issue. The conclusions and recommendations were formulated and the contributions to the theory, practice and education were highlighted. The findings offer the possibility of further expansion of research.

Den snabbt växande urbaniseringen och den ökande befolkningen i världen har bidragit till markexploatering i städer, vilket kan ske på bekostnad av åkermarker. Ett annat fenomen som sker globalt är det ökande behovet av livsmedel som förväntas öka med 70% i takt med befolkningstillväxten. I och med Coronapandemin har det även uppdagats att Sverige endast kan försörja 50% av befolkningen vid en kris. De senaste åren har begreppet Stadsbruk vuxit fram, vilket syftar till kommersiell odling i staden. Stadsbruk har bland annat implementerats i fyra städer i södra Sverige, men för att Sverige ska öka sin självförsörjning bör Stadsbruk även fokuseras på och utvecklas i Norrland. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur Stadsbruk kan etableras i större utsträckning längs Norrlandskusten för att möta den ökade efterfrågan på livsmedel i Sverige, den rådande klimat- och energikrisen och ökande markexploateringen. Målet var att få fram ett ramverk för framtida aktörer vid etablering av Stadsbruk längs Norrlandskusten. Arbetet genomfördes som en fallstudie där tre kustlandskommuner i Norrland valdes ut. Därefter utfördes en dokumentanalys och intervjuer. De aktörer som intervjuades var kommuner, forskare, ett företag inom Stadsbruk och ett riksförbund inom odling. Resultatet visade att både traditionell odling och högteknologisk odling behövs som metoder, men att högteknologisk odling bland annat ger möjligheter för större produktionsvolymer, odling året runt och ökad lönsamhet. Studien visade även att industrier längs Norrlandskusten kan integreras med inomhusodling för möjlighet till energieffektiv uppvärmning från spillvärme. De möjligheter som Norrlandskusten besitter är bland annat stora marktillgångar och möjligheterna för odling året runt inomhus med flera väletablerade industrier som kan bidra med spillvärme. En förutsättning för att Stadsbruk ska kunna etableras i större utsträckning är fler regelverk på nationell och kommunal nivå, ökad kompetens, införande av handläggare i kommunen, att företag inom Stadsbruk prioriteras och ges stöd samt att företagen inkluderas tidigt i planprocessen. / The rapidly growing urbanization and increasing population of the world has contributed to land exploitation in cities, which can occur at the expense of arable land. Another phenomenon that is happening globally is the increasing need for food, which is expected to increase by 70% in line with population growth. With the Covid-19 pandemic, it has also been discovered that Sweden can only provide for 50% of the population in a crisis. In recent years, the concept of urban agriculture has emerged, which aims at commercial cultivation in the city. Urban agriculture has, among other things, been implemented in four cities in southern Sweden, but in order for Sweden to increase its self-sufficiency, urban agriculture should also be focused on and developed in Norrland, northern Sweden. The aim of the study is to investigate how urban agriculture can be established to a greater extent along the Norrland coast to meet the increased demand for food in Sweden, the upcoming climate and energy crisis and increasing land exploitation. The objective of this study was to produce a framework for future actors when establishing urban agriculture in municipalities along the Norrland coast. The work was carried out as a case study where three coastal municipalities in Norrland were selected. A document analysis and interviews were then carried out. The actors who were interviewed were municipalities, researchers, one company within urban agriculture and a farming association. The results showed that both traditional cultivation and high-tech cultivation are needed as methods, but that high-tech cultivation offers opportunities for larger production volumes, year-round cultivation and increased profitability. The study also showed that industries along the Norrland coast can be integrated with indoor cultivation for the possibility of energy-efficient heating from industrial waste heat. The opportunities that the Norrland coast possesses are the large land assets and the opportunities for year-round indoor cultivation with many of wellestablished industries that can contribute with waste heat. A prerequisite for urban agriculture to be able to be established to a greater extent is more regulations at national and municipal level, increased competence, introduction of a manager in the municipality, that companies within urban agriculture are prioritized and given support and that the companies are included early in the planning process.

Swedish tech startups are at the forefront of innovation and growth. Startups however often face challenges in knowledge management, due to their fast paced growth. The purpose of this study is to explore how Swedish tech startups work with knowledge management in order to utilize inbound open innovation across a company. The study takes on an abductive approach. Furthermore, the study is qualitative including data gathered through semi-structured interviews with eleven Swedish tech startups. The findings show that the investigated tech startups work with knowledge management systems to transfer explicit knowledge, but tacit knowledge is communicated verbally, as the systems do not successfully facilitate the transfer of tacit knowledge, nor fully support the conversion from information to knowledge. Furthermore, employees have a high level of operative freedom and initiate collaboration and networking when needed. The investigated companies selectively hire like-minded people to create a culture that facilitates information sharing and collaboration through internal commitment across the organization. Top management is important to the overall structures and in communicating the company vision, while lower-level managers support and ease the daily operations. These activities strengthen a company's knowledge management and in turn its ability to utilize inbound open innovation. Overall, it is also evident that the startups are challenged by their fast paced growth, affecting all four researched dimensions of knowledge management.