NLS

Once a fragmented landscape of strong research but limited cohesion, Stockholm’s life science ecosystem is now accelerating toward a more integrated future – a shift that Stockholm Science City’s CEO Ylva Williams has helped drive over nearly two decades.

Nasal drug delivery is a dynamic area in pharmaceutical innovation. What was once a route for decongestants and allergy sprays is now being explored for everything from emergency treatments to vaccines – and even shows potential for future central nervous system therapies.

The Belgian region of Flanders has long been one of Europe’s most industrially dynamic regions. Its economy is anchored by advanced manufacturing, logistics, and a life science sector that consistently performs far above the region’s size.

As Sweden crowns its national champions in youth research, the country is grappling with a deeper challenge: how to inspire more young people to pursue science, technology, and maths at a time when PISA results reveal a steady decline in STEM competence across the Nordics.

Dr. Joanna Rorbach, principal researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded the prestigious Göran Gustafsson Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien).

In a region celebrated for gender equality, the life science sector tells a different story: women dominate the workforce in many jobs yet remain sidelined in leadership, funding, and research – with consequences that ripple across public health and economic performance.