Indian engineers in Norrbotten – is it a possibility?
India is a rapidly growing economy and is investing heavily in the technology areas of the future. The country graduates hundreds of thousands of engineers every year – more than the large country can offer good career opportunities to. In mid-April, Region Norrbotten therefore joined us on a trip to India.
The trip was part of a pilot project led by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development. It provided an opportunity to learn about the thriving Indian innovation and industrial sector. Perhaps it could lead to future collaborations?
- India's rapid growth means that within six to eight years the country will likely have surpassed the EU in terms of economic size. By then, India will be the world's third largest economic bloc, says Per Erik Andersson, strategist at Region Norrbotten and our representative in the delegation.
Indian excellence
The trip went to the cities of Bengaluru and Delhi. In addition to Region Norrbotten, Region Dalarna was invited to participate. Also participating were Vinnova and representatives of the Government Offices and the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise.
An important aim of the project was to pave the way for the recruitment of Indian top talent. Two well-attended recruitment fairs were held, where Indian engineers and technicians could explore the possibility of pursuing a career in Sweden – one of the world's most innovative countries.
Around 200 people came to the recruitment fair in Delhi. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi.
- We presented available jobs from three companies in Sweden; SSAB, Stegra and Hitachi. The companies had selected positions, primarily for specialists, that they wanted to make visible at the trade fairs in India, says Eva Jonsson, manager of Kompetenslotsen in Luleå.
“Very gratifying”
The “Work in Sweden” fair in Bengaluru attracted 200 visitors with at least four years of education. The fair in Delhi also attracted over 400 people, meaning that over XNUMX people attended the fairs.
- It was very gratifying to see the great interest in working in Sweden, especially from such qualified people, says Per Erik Andersson.
SSAB was one of the companies hoping to find new cutting-edge expertise in India. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi.
“Overwhelming interest”
The Swedish Embassy in Delhi had hired a consultant to find candidates who matched the current jobs. Around 500 received a personal invitation. The invitation included a link to all job offers, with the opportunity to submit an application.
- There was an overwhelming amount of interest and most people had looked at the website in advance. Some had also applied. There were many individual dialogues. We also presented from the stage what is happening in Norrbotten right now and why. It aroused great interest. Afterwards, people also asked about what working life and work culture are like, about winter and the cold, whether you can bring your family and more, says Eva Jonsson.
For Eva Jonsson, Competence Pilot at Luleå Municipality, there were many conversations and questions to answer during the recruitment fair in Bengaluru. Photo: Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi.
The project also provided an opportunity to explore and share expertise in areas such as sustainable steel and innovative mining technology. Another aim was to create contacts with representatives from government, industry and academia.
“A lot to learn from India”
In Bengaluru, the delegation met with both the state government and the Department of Mines and Geology, providing insight into their regional context, priorities and potential areas of collaboration. The meetings were followed by study visits to the Additive Manufacturing Society of India and APS College of Engineering.
- "There is a strong sense of self-confidence in India. They are open to learning from others, but I believe we also have a lot to learn from India. This applies especially to investments in future technology areas," says Per Erik Andersson.
The trip included many meetings with leading industry figures and innovators. Here at the Additive Manufacturing Society of India (AMSI). Photo: Private.
In Delhi, the Swedish Embassy organized a meeting with the Office of the Indian Government’s Adviser on Science and Technology. The meeting resulted in the identification of common interests. The participants also met with the state-owned company TEXMiN, which presented its solutions in mineral exploration and mining.
- I am convinced that Sweden, Norrbotten and India have much to gain from developing closer cooperation to jointly meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, says Per Erik Andersson.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa