Soft-Spoken Sweden has an Edge or Two

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[Silicon Valley]… It’s not a place and it’s not even an organization. It’s a mindset.

–    Jan Sandred

Jan Sandred, from the country known as the Kingdom of Sweden, has been a journalist for 23 years. After studying chemistry and mathematics, he was recruited from his job on the student newspaper to work for an IT publication where he worked for 17 years. In an interview, we spoke about the types of drivers motivating start-ups he’s interested in as it pertains to his work, real versus “wanna be” journalism, privacy online, and some of the differences between the U.S. and Sweden. Jan is reserved and polite, President of the Chamber Choir of Uppsala Cathedral, and at the same time, an opinionated journalist, a social conscience innovator, and a punk rocker.

Jan Sandred interview (Part 1 of 2)

Jan Sandred interview (Part 2 of 2)

He now works for VINNOVA (The Swedish National Agency for Innovation Systems), as described on their web site, is:

a State authority that aims to promote growth and prosperity throughout Sweden. Their goal is to create growth by funding and eventually supporting commercializing in any given industry based on “needs-driven” research.

What is needs-driven research versus “curiosity-driven”? Jan answers the question.Vinnova

VINNOVA focuses on “innovation systems”, and are presently investing $280 million in companies and research. Frustrated with a telepresence model of attending conferences, Jan says nothing replaces “being there”, so while 40% of the start-ups here are founded by non-U.S. entrepreneurs, ½ of the venture capitalists are here on Sand Hill Road and he says, he really needs to be here.

Once a punk rocker, he was in a band called the “N-Liners” (the N stands for natural sciences) with 3 PhD’s in the band. Physics, Biology, and Zoology which played together from ’78 – ’82. Watch the video for more pix.

Jan Sandred of the N-Liners (far left)

Sweden has roughly the population of the state of Georgia, just over 9 million. They are a socialist country, with the highest taxes in the world, and they take a different approach on health care and education. They are the Sandals Resorts of the world. Seldom do the Swedes need to ask themselves, “Where are my taxes going?”

Does this make for the differences in culture between Stockholm and Palo Alto? Compared to the U.S., Sweden stands above us in other ways as well. Sweden has avoided participation in any war for almost two centuries. The U.S. as most are painfully aware, have had and has a strong hand in every major war. On the CIA’s website under “transnational issues”, Sweden is listed as having none. For the U.S., the list starts with arguments between the U.S. and countries all over the world over land and sea ownership. The list goes on; illegal refugees, and illicit drugs. The U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and we’re a major laundering center. Maybe the hallucinogens have affected some of our decisions, here.

In 2004 Jan joined with Stanford University’s Innovation Journalism (InJo) program in Palo Alto, California. As part of his relationship with InJo, he was engaged to run the program back home in Sweden which he did from 2005 – 2009. He selected journalism fellows and conducted building activities for the group at VINNOVA. Now the program is run at Linne University in Sweden.

Related links:
Jan Sandred interview (Part 1)
http://amiestreet.com/music/collegium-cantorum/
http://www.facebook.com/jansandredJan Sandred interview

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