Dear friends,

As we approach the summer break, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an busy and rewarding winter and spring for all of us at ACE.

The season culminated in a true crescendo through SE26, where we spent two weeks filled with inspiring meetings, seminars, demonstrations, and countless valuable conversations. During these weeks, we had the privilege of interacting with politicians, international media, industry professionals, students, enthusiasts, researchers, experts, and members of the public. What continues to impress us is the curiosity and engagement we encounter from such a wide range of people. It reinforces our belief that the shift toward a more electrified and sustainable society is something that concerns us all.

One particular highlight was the overwhelming interest in ACE Powerhouse. Throughout SE26, we welcomed more than 300 visitors on guided tours of the building. To see so many people eager to learn more about the future Innovation Campus and everything that is taking shape around it was both humbling and inspiring.

We also had the opportunity to provide sneak peeks of the upcoming ACE Leadership Program. The response has been extremely encouraging. It’s exciting to see the interest in developing the next generation of leaders capable of navigating the complexity of the electrified society.

Another topic that generated considerable interest was Arctic Mobility Arena. While the framework is still being designed, many important discussions are already taking place, and the ecosystem is steadily coming together. We look forward to sharing much more about this initiative after the summer.

We’re also pleased to see strong momentum building around several future Signature Labs. Discussions with potential partners and sponsors are progressing well, and the level of interest confirms a genuine appetite for collaborative environments where industry, academia, and society can come together to solve tomorrow’s challenges.

Another encouraging sign is the growing presence of Lyten in Skellefteå. Seeing their representatives on the streets is a visible reminder that progress continues and that important developments are taking shape at the factory site.

Looking ahead, it’s becoming increasingly clear that we’re entering a new phase of the electrification journey.

For many years, the focus has been on demonstrating possibilities, deploying new technologies, and accelerating the shift. Those efforts remain important, but the questions we face today are increasingly about integration, resilience, competence, security, business models, and long-term value creation. In many ways, we’re moving from the early stages of electrification into a more mature phase.

At ACE we find this both exciting and important. It challenges us to think differently about how technologies, organizations, infrastructure, and people come together to create real impact. It also raises questions about how we should organize ourselves – as companies, municipalities, universities, and society as a whole – to make the most of the opportunities ahead.

This is a conversation we look forward to continuing together with all of you. We believe the coming years will be defined not only by new technologies, but by our collective ability to collaborate, adapt, and build robust systems that stand the test of time.

Before we all head into a well-deserved summer, I would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who works with us, supports us, challenges us, collaborates with us, and cheers us on. ACE is built on partnerships, trust, and shared ambition, and we are grateful for the energy and commitment that so many of you contribute.

We leave for the summer with plenty of positive momentum, exciting opportunities ahead, and a strong sense that something special is being built together.

Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing you again after the break.

/Tobias Vahlne