40 years of innovation – stories from Linköping Science Park
Dr. Mary Spaeth, Professor of Entrepreneurship and International Business at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, became a key figure in helping Linköping Science Park develop its international profile and business incubation capacity. Her connection to the park began unexpectedly in 1995 through an online exchange between her daughter and the son of a Linköping Municipality employee, an event she loves for its spontaneity.
Having grown up across multiple continents, including the USA, Japan, and North Africa, Dr. Spaeth developed an awareness of new opportunities and maintains dual citizenship in both the USA and Sweden. Drawing on her expertise as an economic development specialist and business incubation consultant, she introduced strategic concepts to connect science parks worldwide. This work included developing a method for international establishment that she co-termed soft-landing, enabling operations to expand into new countries without requiring immediate citizenship.
In September 2000, Linköping Science Park brought Dr. Spaeth in as a senior advisor for an eleven-month assignment focused on building an incubation and internationalization strategy. This strategic work soon led to the formation of Mjärdevi Business Incubator (MBi) in 2001, the park’s first extensive incubator program. This effort placed Mjärdevi ahead of many older research parks globally that had yet to establish dedicated incubation services. Dr. Spaeth observes that Linköping benefited from its openness to an ecosystem that could unite multiple specialized tracks, contrasting with other parks often limited to a single focus.
Her insight on building resilient innovation environments remains relevant today:
“The success of a Science Park doesn’t rest solely on the knowledge base required to create innovation, but in the effective balance supported by the diversity of actors coming together.”
Dr. Spaeth continued contributing to the region, including co-leading the East Sweden Development Agency (ESDA), aimed at increasing visibility and attracting companies to Östergötland. Her dedication reflects the forward-leaning spirit of collaboration that characterizes Linköping Science Park.
This text is part of the article series based on Linköping Science Park’s 40-year book, which is available here.
