Sustainable growth

Since 2009, Gothenburg’s regional economy has grown at an annual rate of around 3.7 per cent, well above Sweden’s national average, and has welcomed 170,000 new residents and 36,000 new companies. These figures testify to a city that is not only expanding but evolving — one able to attract talent across it key sectors: automotive, logistics, ICT, creative, maritime, and the life-sciences. And there’s more to come. Gothenburg expects its population to grow by as much as 150,000 inhabitants in the coming decade, driving major infrastructure and housing developments while cementing its role as Sweden’s second-largest urban hub. Significantly, this growth has not been to the detriment of the environment.

On the contrary, Gothenburg has become an exemplar of sustainability, regularly topping the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), which benchmarks the environmental performance of cities. It’s a distinction that resonates with event planners and delegates: eco-certified hotels, green public transport, and a robust strategy for climate action help give the impression of a city that delivers more than it takes. Of course, not all associations put the environment at the top of their agenda when organising meetings, but - in an age of overtourism and environmental degradation - Gothenburg is nicely positioned for those who do.

Clusters of innovation

Gothenburg’s economic strength lies in both heritage and transformation. The city remains home to one of the world’s great industrial legacies — automotive giant Volvo — while its contemporary economy thrives on high-tech clusters and research collaboration. Life sciences and health innovation are particularly dynamic sectors, with AstraZenaca playing a key role in the development of the city’s life sciences cluster. With institutions like the Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital working alongside initiatives such as GoCo Health Innovation City, Gothenburg is shaping itself into a hub for health-tech and life-science breakthroughs. These interlinked clusters — from advanced manufacturing to mobility tech, digital services and medtech — create fertile ground for international conferences.

A place to meet

So, how does the meetings infrastructure stack up?

Gothenburg is never going to host a mega meeting. Associations who convene 10,000 people or more should look elsewhere. But for meetings on a smaller scale it has everything you need. First port of call would be the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers. This expansive hotel complex – whose three towers have become a landmark in the city - offers 60 meeting rooms for two to 3,000 delegates and a congress hall for 1,500 people.

Because it has 1,200 hotel rooms and several excellent bars and restaurants, it provides a self-contained environment for conference goers, within walking distance of the city centre. The congress centre opened in 1918 with a trade show and, to maintain neutrality, has been owned by a private foundation ever since, with no external investors. The first hotel tower opened in 1984, the second in 2001, and the third in 2014 – making it the biggest fully-integrated hotel, congress, and exhibition venue in northern Europe.

One recent highlight was EVS38, the European Conference on Smart Electrification, where industry leaders met to showcase and discuss how electrification is reshaping energy, transport and infrastructure — a fitting theme for a city at the forefront of sustainable innovation. In fact, the synergy was picked up internationally – with more than 700 media articles written about the conference. The event also proved an ideal showcase for The Gothenburg Way to Legacy - a strategic framework developed by Göteborg & Co, the city's official destination and experience agency, designed to create lasting positive impacts from meetings and events.

Why now?

Whether you’re planning your next large net-zero-aligned congress, an executive offsite, or a corporate delegation, Gothenburg offers a rare combination of industrial might, scientific ambition and sustainable urban life. From its gritty industrial roots to its accolade-rich present as a sustainability frontrunner, the city represents both where Europe is and where it’s heading.