Mr Anders Nilsson This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Media Releases

   www.ballarat.edu.au/vco/market - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/25/2004   Last Visited: 1/17/2006

   The founder of The Soft Centre in Ronneby, Sweden, Anders Nilsson, will also join Dr Batterham in the line-up of guests attending the conference.
   ...
   Ballarat Advantage has helped to secure Mr Nilsson to attend the event.

2. 2. Rubbing shoulders with Sweden - September 2002

   www.loc-gov-focus.aus.net/2002 - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/1/2002   Last Visited: 12/12/2002

   It is not as straightforward as that, as Anders Nilsson, the mild mannered Chairman of the Soft Center, explained at functions hosted by Ballarat Advantage and the University of Ballarat in late August.
   
   The story begins in 1985 when Ronneby, population 13,000, with 35,000 in the hinterland, was a centre for raw material processing. However, there was little R&D, no tradition of higher education, high unemployment, and the Volvo steel mill was closing with a loss of 400 jobs. A carefully selected group of local officials worked out a number of concrete projects which were presented to the Ministry of Industry. As Anders Nilsson explained, the most far reaching and daring project was the establishment of a centre for education, R&D and business related to software – the Soft Center.
   
   ...
   Companies within the Center are forbidden to have their own coffee rooms – Nilsson says that outcomes evolve just by rubbing shoulders.. Students must undertake projects with companies , as a means of building connections and driving employment outcomes. One of the success factors was that the bulk of the university personnel, companies and students came from other regions – a different mindset was thus created to that prevailing in 1985.
   
   Anders Nilsson cautions that this type of project must be seen in a 15 year timeframe. Also, though the IT industry is currently going through downturn, the cycle will turn. He also observed that unemployment is still stuck at eight per cent, presumably because of the structural shift in the regional employment market.
   ...
   In a reply to a rhetorical question from a member of the audience as to whether Anders Nilsson would consider coming to Ballarat, he said that although Australia is a great place, the answer was ‘Definitely not. It is not a McDonald's franchise...and my lack of local knowledge would be a major constraint'.
   
   If you are planning a trip to Sweden, the Soft Center people are keen to share experiences and build international alliances. See www.softcenter.com or contact Anders Nilsson direct at anders.nilsson @softcenter.se
   
   Telstra sell-off
   
   In last month's column, I argued that Local Government should be negotiating for a major slice of the Telstra proceeds to go to regional infrastructure – sell one asset and buy others. As predicted, the Treasurer has since been reported as saying that debt retirement should be the main aim. It will thus be interesting to see how the National Party approaches the issue. One of the difficulties is that while Regional Australia has its champions, they are mostly disconnected.

3. 3. TCI news letter

   www.competitiveness.org/news/n - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/22/2002   Last Visited: 3/23/2003

   Anders Nilsson, the Chairman of the Soft Center explains that in 1985, Ronneby was a only a centre for raw material processing. However there was little R&D, no tradition of higher education, high unemployment - and the Volvo steel mill was closing with a loss of 400 jobs. A group of local officials worked out a number of concrete projects...'the most far-reaching and daring project was the establishment of a center for education, R&D and business related to software - the Soft Center'. It was to be a 'creative environment', starting from local conditions rather than theoretical constructs and mobilising support from industry and public organisations.
   
   The key tenants of the Soft Center are now Ericsson, France Telecom, Deutsche Telecom. A milieu of activity is created.
   ...
   Anders cautioned that this type of project must be seen in a 15 year timeframe. Also while the ICT industry is currently going through downturn, the cycle will turn.
   
   The Soft Center people are keen to share experiences and build international alliances. See http://www.softcenter.com/ or contact Anders direct at anders.nilsson@softcenter.se
   
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