In Varberg, early efforts to support entrepreneurship were closely linked to Campus Varberg. While this created a strong foundation, it also meant that talent-related actions often remained confined to the campus, with limited visibility and impact across the wider city.
Through its participation in C4TALENT, Varberg began to reframe talent attraction as more than an educational issue. Exchanges with partner cities helped shift the perspective towards an urban challenge — one connected to space, identity, collaboration and long-term city development.
This change in thinking led to a more ambitious and integrated vision: the creation of an Innovation District. Rather than concentrating activity in one institution, Varberg’s Integrated Action Plan sets out a pathway to link education, research, businesses and urban development into a shared ecosystem. The emerging district builds on major city transformations, such as the Västerport area, and aims to strengthen collaboration, entrepreneurial learning, research visibility and talent attraction under a common identity.
Testing actions during the project — including hackathons and hands-on entrepreneurship events — reinforced the value of connecting students, companies and local networks through real-life challenges. These experiences helped Varberg move from isolated initiatives towards a coordinated approach where talent can see clear opportunities to live, work and grow in the city.
Varberg’s C4TALENT journey shows how thinking beyond the campus can unlock a citywide strategy — one where innovation becomes part of everyday urban life, not a separate track.
👉 Varberg’s full Integrated Action Plan, short version and a visual infographic are available in the 'Integrated Action Plans' section of this website.
