Student Winners at the Sustainability & Innovation Summit 2024!
On 6 December 2024, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomed the winners of our Student Essay Contest to the Sustainability & Innovation Summit: AI – Driving the Sustainable Transition at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam.
Highlights from Our Winning Essays:
“A sustainable AI-powered world in 2030 is one where technology serves humanity and nature, advancing global equality, enhancing well-being, and safeguarding the planet for future generations.”
“AI has the power to map global financial flows, uncover inefficiencies, and spotlight regions where funding fails to address critical social and ecological needs. By valuing unpriced resources like clean air, wetlands, and community health, AI can turn the vision of Doughnut Economics—balancing human well-being within planetary boundaries—into practical, actionable metrics.”
Our Inspiring Student Attendees:
Muheti Mbazima – Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Albert Szabo – Eindhoven University of Technology
Ella Ekberg – UIBS – United International Business School Zurich
Mila Ayazyan – Eindhoven University of Technology
Mariia Babii – Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School
Tamara Kanuchova – University of Amsterdam
Your forward-thinking ideas and innovative perspectives enriched the Summit, demonstrating the important role young leaders play in shaping a sustainable future. We are looking forward to seeing how you continue to shape a better tomorrow!
For event photos, key insights, and more— press !
Please ensure to give photo credits to Hanne Hansen when using pictures.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
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Thank You, Exclusive Annual Lucia Dinner
On December 6, 2024, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce had the pleasure of hosting its Exclusive Annual Lucia Dinner at the Hotel Hilton in Amsterdam. The night was filled with festive spirit and Swedish traditions, and we celebrated the long-lasting friendship between Sweden and the Netherlands.
The night began with a luxurious three-course seasonal dinner by Executive Chef Franz Conde and his talented culinary team that set the tone for an evening to remember. Guests enjoyed an enchanting Lucia procession, performed by the Svenska Högtidskören, bringing the warmth of Swedish holiday magic to the room.
A special highlight of the evening was a spectacular tribute to ABBA’s 50 Years of Music, performed by the talented Kim-Lian van der Meij. The celebration continued with live music by Anne-Lie Persson and her band, Stockholm Tivoli, which kept guests dancing into the night.
Another unforgettable moment was the Swedish Chamber Business Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated the outstanding achievements of:
Volvo Cars Netherlands – Achievement Award 2024
SKF – Tech for Good Award 2024
Younium – Entrepreneurship Award 2024
The evening also featured an exhilarating Charity Raffle, which successfully raised €2,070 to benefit the organization’s mission of creating better play spaces for children.
Guided by our brilliant Master of Ceremony, Rebecca van Dorrestein, the event was a joyful reflection on the achievements of the past year and a wonderful way to connect and celebrate with our community.
Thank You:
To everyone who attended, performed, sponsored, and supported this special evening—thank you for making it a night to remember. Your presence and contributions are what make our community so extraordinary.
Find all photos in our exclusive Lucia Album, and be sure to credit Hanne Hansen Photography.
Find all photos in our exclusive Lucia Album, and be sure to credit Hanne Hansen Photography.
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Volvo Cars Netherlands – Winner of the ‘Achievement’ Award 2024!
On December 6, 2024, during the exclusive Annual Dinner, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in The Netherlands and Business Sweden, was delighted to announce Volvo Cars Netherlands as the recipient of the prestigious 'Achievement' Award at the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2024.
"It was another challenging year for Volvo, influenced by geopolitical developments and economic fluctuations. Despite this, we set records this year in the Netherlands with the number of Volvo cars sold and new models delivered to our customers. We look back on a year full of success with the relaunch of the new EX90, the continuing success of our EX40/XC40 and the customer deliveries of over 10,000 EX30s by our retailers. But we also achieved excellent performance in after-sales and used Volvo cars. For us, this year has been not only the year of growth, it is also the year of collaboration, adaptation and innovation. Together, we got the best out of our organization! My thanks and appreciation for everyone's contribution to our great result!"
- Herrik van der Gaag, Managing Director
"Volvo Cars' achievements in the Netherlands, including multiple awards for their vehicles, demonstrate its dedication to excellence. The jury compliments Volvo Cars Netherlands for its remarkable contributions and is honoured to recognize them with this award."
- Tomas Korseman, Head of Business Sweden in the Netherlands
We are proud to celebrate Volvo Cars Netherlands for their exceptional contributions and remarkable achievements.
Read more about the other award winners and see photos from the event by pressing !
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen photography
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SKF Winner of the ‘Tech for Good’ Award 2024!
On December 6, at the exclusive Annual Dinner, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden, had the pleasure of announcing SKF as the recipient of the ‘Tech for Good’ award at the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2024.
“We are honoured to receive the ‘Tech for Good’ award as it showcases our commitment to developing solutions that reduce friction and CO2 emissions, significantly contributing to a more sustainable future. Additionally, our focus on circularity and remanufacturing services extends the life of bearings and other components, reducing waste and conserving resources, further supporting our sustainability goals. By pushing the boundaries of what's possible, SKF's researchers, scientists, and application engineering experts are demonstrating how research and technological innovation can come together to create solutions that meet evolving customer needs while benefiting both society and the environment.”
- Arnoud Reininga, Director of Research & Technology Development
''The Jury was especially charmed with SKF’s case of working to reduce friction, as roughly 20% of global energy goes to overcoming this friction. This in combination with recycled steel and collaboration with steel suppliers producing green steel including Dutch universities and industrial companies, to innovate and implement sustainable steel production methods. SKF has a clear goal to have a Net Zero supply chain by 2050.''
- Jan Sundelin, Partner Partinc, Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Interested to learn more about our Business Award winners? Press .
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Thank You, Sustainability & Innovation Summit “AI Driving the Sustainable Transformation”
On December 6, 2024, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted its flagship event, the Sustainability & Innovation Summit "AI – Driving the Sustainable Transition", at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. This inspiring gathering brought leading business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics from Sweden and the Netherlands to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in sustainability.
A Special Thanks to Our Exceptional Speakers and Moderator:
Some Key Takeaways Include:
• AI has tremendous potential to accelerate the green transition, from optimizing resources like water, air, wetlands, and soil, to ensuring food security, enhancing transportation systems, and supporting global well-being.
• The Municipality of Skellefteå in Northern Sweden serves as an inspiring example of how a human-centric approach, combined with AI, can shape sustainable communities.
• AI-driven startups focused on positive impact at scale are yet to emerge, and a new definition of success is needed to support them through financing, talent attraction, and ecosystem development.
Thank You for Making This Event Memorable:
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce thanks all attendees, speakers, Hilton Hotel, and sponsors for their participation in making this event such a success.
For the full recap and more photos, press !
Please ensure that all images are credited to Hanne Hansen Photography whenever used.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
Some Key Takeaways Include:
• AI has tremendous potential to accelerate the green transition, from optimizing resources like water, air, wetlands, and soil, to ensuring food security, enhancing transportation systems, and supporting global well-being.
• The Municipality of Skellefteå in Northern Sweden serves as an inspiring example of how a human-centric approach, combined with AI, can shape sustainable communities.
• AI-driven startups focused on positive impact at scale are yet to emerge, and a new definition of success is needed to support them through financing, talent attraction, and ecosystem development.
Thank You for Making This Event Memorable:
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce thanks all attendees, speakers, Hilton Hotel, and sponsors for their participation in making this event such a success.
For the full recap and more photos, press !
Please ensure that all images are credited to Hanne Hansen Photography whenever used.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen Photography
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Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Lucia Charity Raffle Raises Over €2,000 for Jantje Beton
On December 6, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce hosted its much-anticipated Annual Lucia Dinner, an exclusive celebration that featured a Grand Charity Raffle in support of Jantje Beton. The event successfully raised €2,070 to benefit the organization’s mission of creating better play spaces for children.
Guests enthusiastically participated in the raffle, with winners taking home various coveted prizes, including luxury dining experiences, boat tickets, high-end glassware, stays at prestigious hotels and personally signed children's books by singer Kim-Lian van der Meij.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce extends its gratitude to all participants and acknowledges the vital support of its sponsors, whose contributions made the raffle possible:
• Stena Line
• Hotel Des Indes
• Orrefors Kosta Boda AB
• Hilton
• Storytel
• Hästens Beds
• Stromma
• Kim-Lian van der Meij
Proceeds from the raffle will directly support Jantje Beton, a charity working since 1968 to provide safe, adventurous, and inspiring play areas for children. Through its efforts, Jantje Beton ensures that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and happy by promoting play in spaces designed for their well-being.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce express pride in contributing to this meaningful cause and thanks all attendees for their generosity. Together with its sponsors, the Chamber looks forward to continuing its tradition of supporting impactful initiatives.
Find all photos by pressing ; please ensure that all images are credited to Hanne Hanne Hansen Photography whenever used.
Photo credits: Hanne Hansen photography
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Welcome New Patron Member Eversheds Sutherlands
We are very proud to give a warm welcome to our new Swedish Chamber Patron Member, Eversheds Sutherlands.
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SWEDISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S BUSINESS AWARDS 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE SWEDISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S BUSINESS AWARDS 2024
December 10, 2024 | Press release On December 6th, 2024, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden, announced the winners of the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2024. The awards were presented during the Swedish Chamber's Exclusive Annual Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, recognising excellence in the following categories:- Swedish Chamber Achievement Award 2024
- Swedish Chamber Entrepreneurship Award 2024
- Swedish Chamber Tech for Good Award 2024
The SWEDISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S BUSINESS AWARDS 2024 Winners and the Business Award Jury
Members of the Jury for the Swedish Chamber Business Awards 2024:
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- Mrs. Ruth de Jager, Storytel, Chairwoman of the Jury
- Mr Tomas Korseman, Business Sweden Benelux
- Mr Jan Sundelin, Partinc Capital, Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
- Mrs. Louise Bonbeck, Deputy Head of Mission, Swedish Embassy
- Mr Jan Terlouw, SAAB Nederland, Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee
ABOUT
THE SWEDISH CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS The Annual Swedish Chamber Business Awards, launched in 2010 as The Swedish Chamber Export Prize, was established through a collaboration between the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands, the Swedish Embassy, and Business Sweden. Over the years, it has evolved into a prestigious recognition for Swedish companies making significant strides in the Dutch market. Previous winners include renowned names such as Inter IKEA Systems, Budbee, Vattenfall, Scania, Lynk & Co, and Husqvarna. VOLVO CAR NETHERLANDS - ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2024 Volvo Car Netherlands is the Dutch branch of Swedish car brand Volvo Cars. Volvo takes ‘Freedom to Move’ to guide everything the organization does. The freedom to move wherever you want to go, whenever you want to, in a safe, personal and sustainable way. By 2030, the company expects electrified cars – plug-in hybrid and full electric - to account for between 90-100% of global sales volumes. With the remaining 10%, a limited number of mild hybrid models can be sold. The long-term goal remains to become an all-electric car maker, aiming to emit zero greenhouse gases by 2040. SKF - TECH FOR GOOD 2024 SKF is a world-leading provider of innovative solutions that help industries become more competitive and sustainable. By making products lighter, more efficient, longer lasting, and repairable, we help our customers improve their rotating equipment performance and reduce their environmental impact. Our offering around the rotating shaft includes bearings, seals, lubrication management, condition monitoring, and services. YOUNIUM - ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD 2024 Younium offers a complete subscription & billing suite to replace spreadsheets and disjointed systems, streamline financial operations, and provide the right metrics for every B2B SaaS business. THE SWEDISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE NETHERLANDS The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands is a dynamic Swedish-Dutch business platform, extending trade relations between Sweden and the Netherlands and creating first-class business services through a wide range of member companies, networking, events, and programmes. The Swedish Chamber is a non-profit organisation with more than 60 years of experience, helping entrepreneurs and corporations of all sizes to grow and develop their business network. As one of the most active foreign chambers in the Netherlands, it represents, inspires, and promotes over 200 members, from start-ups to SMEs, unicorns, and large multinational companies across all sectors and industries. BUSINESS SWEDEN Business Sweden is jointly owned by the Swedish state and the Swedish business sector with a mandate and a mission to help international companies gain access to the Swedish market and help domestic ones utilise it as a platform for expansion. Find all photos by pressing ; please always refer photo credits to Hanne Hansen Photography. Visit us at .
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