Increased business development for the steel industry value chain
In this workshop series, participants receive tools to develop new customer-centered business models within the steel industry value chain.
Through a structured approach, you will develop, test, and refine customer-focused business models with an emphasis on sustainability, digitalization, and international competitiveness.
Key facts
Target group: Small and medium-sized enterprises in the steel industry value chain—subcontractors, technology companies, and service providers—who want to develop their business in line with the industry’s transition towards fossil-free production.
Prerequisites: No specific technical background is required, but experience in business development, sales, or customer work is a must.
Scope/Duration: The workshop series consists of a total of 5 sessions (about 3 hours each) over eight weeks, with individual coaching between sessions.
Price: This training is provided in collaboration with the RUFFS project and is free of charge for participating companies.
Location: Physical kickoff meeting in Luleå followed by physical/digital sessions.
Course start: Preliminary March 2026 – to be updated soon.
Language: Swedish
Number of places: By agreement – we strive to gather participants from different companies to create opportunities for networking and exchange of experiences.
Registration: Submit an expression of interest further down the page.
Structure
The workshop series is based on a proven innovation process developed at Luleå University of Technology, where participants gradually move from idea to tested and concrete business model.
Throughout the series, practical exercises, reflection, and individual coaching are combined to create real business value. The work is based on the participants’ own businesses, which means that the knowledge can be directly applied in practice.
The structure follows a logic in four steps:
- Understand the current situation and the external environment – create a shared understanding of the company’s challenges and opportunities in the ongoing industrial transformation.
- Explore customer value and opportunities – identify customer needs, future markets, and possible value propositions.
- Test and learn – try out business ideas on a small scale, gather insights, and validate what actually creates value.
- Develop and scale – turn the lessons learned into a business model and action plan for further development.
Throughout the process, participants are trained in a customer-centered, experiment-based approach that strengthens their ability to develop sustainable and competitive businesses in collaboration with other actors in the steel industry value chain.
Instructor
David Sjödin is the main instructor for the course. He is an associate professor in entrepreneurship and innovation at Luleå University of Technology and works at the research and competence center Norrlandsnavet. David has extensive experience working with industry on business development, innovation, and digital transformation, with a particular focus on how companies can create new value in the transition to a sustainable and fossil-free industry.
Expression of interest
- Register your interest here
If there are enough registrations, the course dates will be announced.
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