An important part of Samarkand2015’s work takes place in working groups and network groups. Samarkand today runs a number of groups and networks within various focus issues according to the Samarkand circle’s priorities.
Cooperation between different parties within the region is a prerequisite for meeting future development issues. Networking is a strong tool for bringing about development and change. Participation and activity of many actors is required for a network to be successful.
Housing and infrastructure issues
Samarkand is the coordinator and pusher for infrastructure issues in Ludvika and Smedjebacken. The group works with railway, road transport and housing. Some current questions are:
To develop and improve rail traffic on the routes Ludvika-Västerås-Stockholm and Örebro-Gävle respectively.
Better opportunities for road transport, including on RV 50 and 66 and develop alternative routes for heavier goods.
A functioning common housing market and a mixed attractive range that meets population development in the long term and contributes to regional attractiveness.
The working group consists of representatives from:
Ludvikahem, Hitachi Energy, Bärkehus, SEAB, Smedjebacken municipality, Engelbrektoffice, Svensk Fastighetsförmedling, Ovako, Trafikverket, Handelsbanken, Ludvika municipality, VB Energi
Contact person:
Lars Lindblom
Youth Questions
The group must be a network for dissemination of knowledge and information sharing with a broad child and youth perspective. We must also clearly communicate what is being done and increase the participation of business.
Furthermore, the group must be an arena where schools can raise questions and challenges. The group must give the school the opportunity to acquire ideas, collaborate with business, society and other relevant actors. In addition, the group must be a path for these actors to reach the school, with the goal of contributing to good schools (from preschool to high school) in Ludvika and Smedjebacken. The Guldläge’s school group is included.
The working group consists of representatives from:
Ludvika municipality, Smedjebackens, municipality, Hitachi Energy, Hitachi, high school, labor market knowledge, VBU, Dalarna University, Church of Sweden, Spendrups, the police, Ovako
Contact person:
Lars Lindblom and Janna Johansson-Pereira
Media and communication issues
The Media and Communications Group is a network for exchange of experience, inspiration, development and to help each other spread information.
The network collaborates on communication, social media, branding, media coverage and environmental monitoring in relevant issues.
The group wants to highlight the value of organizations investing in well-functioning communication.
The network consists of representatives from:
Spendrups, VB Energi, Hitachi Energy, Ludvika Municipality, Smedjebacken, Municipality, WBAB, Dalarna Science Park, Unique Ludvika, Ludvikahem, Seab, Bärkehus, Meken, Ovako
Contact person:
Petra Holmlund and Marianne Liinanki
Bergslagpendeln's interest group, BIG
The Bergslagspendeln has an important function to connect the Ludvika – Västerås – Stockholm route.
An important part of the infrastructure work is to influence the relevant authorities to develop the measures and efforts needed in the short, medium and long term to develop the railway route all the way from Ludvika to Stockholm.
Affected municipalities, regions and the larger companies in the area have therefore formed Bergslagspendeln’s interest group, BIG.
Contact person:
Lars Lindblom and Petra Holmlund
Read more about Bergslagpendeln’s interest group
The HR Network
Samarkand’s HR network manages the entire HR chain and is also a network for competence and information exchange between participating companies and organisations.
The network’s way of working is solution-focused, unprestigious and with high integrity.
The goal is for the HR network to be a valuable support for the respective HR function.
Participants in the HR network:
Smedjebacken municipality, Ludvika municipality, Hitachi Energy, Region Dalarna, Spendrups brewery, VBU, Ovako
Contact persons:
Linda Varga and Janna Johansson-Pereira
Digitization
The purpose of the Digi group is, among other things, to work for; New business in collaboration and/or partnerships, the effects of digitization between the public and private sectors, develop the school and benefit from local skills.
Samarkand2015, for example, works with a programming project aimed at the schools in Ludvika and Smedjebacken, where educators receive training in programming, to further implement the knowledge of the students’ education.
The working group consists of:
LG IT, Agnito, Griddiagnoze, Hitachi Energy, VB Energy , Deserve IT, Loxodonta, VB Electricity
Contact persons:
Lars Lindblom
Sustainability - activity-based work
Sustainability is about the responsibility of companies and organizations in society with regard to social, ethical and environmental aspects. In the work for “sustainability”, we share current issues, good examples and create opportunities for concrete projects.
Sustainability is a key word for all Samarkand’s work areas.
For a number of years, a so-called sustainability group was run, which is now transitioning to more activity-based efforts.
Contact persons:
Janna Johansson-Pereira
Internationalization - Activity-based work
Good international relations are especially important for our region. To meet the Japanese ownership of companies in the region, for example Hitachi Energy, Ovako, Logmax and Tomoku Hus, better and broader knowledge of Japanese culture is desired both in terms of business and leisure, treatment, language and Japanese history. For a number of years, a so-called Japan group was run, which has now switched to an activity-based group for knowledge-enhancing efforts.
The picture is from Zento Garden, a Japanese-inspired garden at Väsmanstrand in Ludvika.
Contact persons:
Lars Lindblom
The Innovation Group
The innovation group increases the focus on innovation development and on how we can help innovators to the market.
The work is also part of establishing and developing a broad research and development activity that can contribute to the development of both existing and new companies and operations.
Contact persons:
Lars Lindblom and Marianne Liinanki