Cicor gears up in the Nordic region

- We are an established player globally but have been relatively unknown in the Nordic region until now. We want to change that, says Mathias Johansson, Cicor Nordic Engineering.

A year ago, he was part of NEP, Nordic Engineering Partner, which was then acquired by Swiss electronics giant Cicor, with development and production sites around the world.

- So our main purpose here at Elmia Subcontractor this year has been to showcase ourselves under a new brand. The trade fair is the right forum for us to be seen in, as you have such a wide mix of companies and industries among both exhibitors and visitors, says Mathias.

Product development, design and manufacturing

Here in Sweden, around 50 engineers work at Cicor on product development and design of advanced electronics, primarily in the industrial, defence and medical technology sectors. The head office is located in Norrtälje, and the company also has offices in Stockholm, Uppsala and Västerås, as well as a sales office in Norway. When it comes to production, Cicor has manufacturing units in Europe and Asia and is also in the process of establishing itself in the United States.

- Our global presence is a major strength. It also gives us the opportunity to relocate production in the event of geopolitical unrest, which provides security for our customers in the future, says Christer Krebs, Sales Director at Cicor EMS.

Major interest in innovation in the Nordic region

What is the market like in Sweden and the Nordic region in terms of electronics development?

- It’s very intense, Mathias notes. We work with many exciting companies, large industries, but also start-ups and universities. The desire and a keen interest in innovation are there, even if the market situation fluctuates.

Many industrial companies are facing a technological shift where they need to upgrade and connect their existing machinery. Data collection and analysis is another major area where Cicor can help. 

- Many companies have collected data but don't know how to use it. We help them unlock the code, says Mathias.

Time to shift the trend for European tech development

At the same time, it is a fact that Sweden, the Nordic countries and Europe as a whole have fallen behind in technological development in general, and not least in terms of AI development.

Christer notes that something is missing for large tech companies to be able to grow in Europe.

- This is my own personal reflection, but the fact is that all new technology is born in the United States today. Why don't we have such a climate in Europe, and how can we reverse this trend? I would say that this is a political issue where the EU has focused on the wrong things.