Knock on wood
And yes, we mean literally.
The Nordic Hardtech movement is gaining momentum — and at the core of it are the founders turning industrial challenges into tech-driven opportunities.
In this edition, we meet the team behind Taigatech, a Gothenburg-based company using AI and computer vision to optimize one of Sweden’s most traditional industries: the sawmill.
We also spotlight The Yard, a one-of-a-kind workspace for early-stage hardware teams. Truly a place where the future of Nordic hardtech quietly is taking shape.
Nordic Hardtech Partners 🤝
Nordic Hardtech is a community for builders of complex tech companies based on physical products. Here are some of our outstanding partners.
- The Yard — Gothenburg’s dynamic home for entrepreneurs and startups — blending community, co-working, and a bold industrial vibe to fuel new ideas. If you're looking for a unique workspace with industrial feeling, this is it. Check out their memberships or take a tour.
- Recuro — a growth partner for hardtech and deep tech companies. They help with strategy, marketing, and scalable business models to drive sustainable growth. Learn more and schedule an intro call.
- SISP — Swedish Incubators & Science Parks is the industry association for 63 incubators and science parks across Sweden. Members support innovation, scaleup, and investments. Find your incubator or science park here.
Want to partner with Nordic Hardtech?
Nordic Hardtech Podcast 🎧
Christoffer Johnsson from Taigatech on Making Sawmills Smarter
Episode #22: AI Meets Timber – Reinventing a Billion-Euro Industry
"Precision matters"
Based in Gothenburg, Taigatech is combining industrial automation and AI to optimize log rotation in sawmills — one of Sweden’s most traditional sectors. In just a few years, the company has become a symbol of how hardtech can drive competitiveness in legacy industries. CEO Christoffer Johnsson takes us on an impressive journey from log to code.
It’s not every day that a cutting-edge AI company targets the sawmill industry. But that’s exactly what Taigatech did when CEO Christoffer Johnsson and his co-founders launched the company during their final year at Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship.
– We actually started Taigatech during our last year of the master’s program. It was a very smooth transition from university to company building, says Johnsson.
Taigatech’s technology focuses on a surprisingly critical step in sawmill operations: log orientation. Using real-time computer vision and automation, their system ensures that each log is perfectly aligned before it reaches the saw — a step that significantly impacts yield and efficiency.
This type of industrial automation helps make a very traditional industry more precise, efficient, and globally competitive. According to Johnsson, misaligned logs can reduce yield by 1–3%. That's a massive loss when multiplied across millions of logs per year.
– Once we could demonstrate the value in real numbers, demand picked up quickly. It’s a no-brainer investment for sawmills, he says.
By building a product that can be layered on top of existing infrastructure, Taigatech has made adoption straightforward.
Behind the scenes, the system relies on multiple high-speed cameras and real-time processing, delivering positioning adjustments within just 300 milliseconds. Johnsson explains:
– Some logs come in at three meters per second and weigh over 500 kilos. It’s a fast, high-stakes environment. Precision matters.
That precision is where Sweden’s tech edge shows — not just in software, but in integrating hardware, AI, and real-world process control. In doing so, Taigatech is part of a broader movement to bring digital transformation to sectors that have seen little change for decades.
Taigatech has grown quickly without relying on heavy venture funding. Instead, they focused on paid pilots, strong customer validation, and a clear ROI. As of 2024, they’ve installed 22 systems and are operating in several countries, including Estonia, Norway, and soon Spain.
– Our aim is to dominate our niche, and then expand our industrial AI portfolio from there, says Johnsson.
Lately ⏮️
Selected news from the hardtech ecosystem
- The first circular electric utility snowmobile is here, featuring an all-day battery, low impact, and built for tough Nordic terrain. Developed by Swedish Vidde, it’s a meaningful step for sustainable winter operations.
- Sifted highlights Pythom Space — the Swedish-American startup building $1M rockets as a nimble, green alternative to SpaceX. Explore a bold vision reshaping Europe’s approach to space and defence.
- Sweden launches “Sverigespetsen” — a new national brand for innovation and design. STILFOLD’s origami-based tech leads the way: bold, elegant, and built to last. CEO Jonas Nyvang brings us the beautiful news.
- A final but crucial note from Hardware Velocity and CEO Michael Pica: Prototypes are cheap, production isn’t. Many hardware startups underestimate ramp-up costs – so plan ahead. The chart below is a good place to start.
Up next ⏭️
What's brewing in the community?
- Funding alert! Vinnova’s Net Zero Industry call is open — supporting projects that push toward a climate-neutral manufacturing sector by 2040. Apply by August 27! Info sessions are held on May 8 and June 10.
- Flox — the startup using AI and robotics to manage wildlife — is looking for a sharp, fast-moving CCO. Bonus if you know airports.
Learn more and reach out to CEO/Co-founder Sára Nožková. - How can Swedish innovation scale in a shifting global landscape? Join Impact Innovation on May 16 to explore strategy, collaboration, and impact.
Meet the experts shaping Sweden’s innovation agenda for the 2030s. - Cleantech Capital Day lands in Tallinn on May 19–20 — with 50+ startups, investors, and pitches on AI, energy, and materials. Features deep-tech pitches through the annual startup competition Beamline Breakthrough and targeted sessions on scaling innovation.
- Public nominations are now open for the Nordic Startup Awards — your chance to spotlight breakthrough innovation in the region. Top picks will compete globally — submit yours today.
Less friction in funding? 👉 Nordic Hardtech Funding List 💰
Easing the path to investment.
Find the Nordic investors who fund real hardtech—not SaaS, not apps, just serious engineering:
Catch up on past editions!
Jennifer Bark
Jennifer Bark
Nordic Hardtech is a platform for the hardtech ecosystem — sharing knowledge, bringing inspiration, and building community through podcasts, newsletters, events, and more.
💥Get involved. Pitch a topic. Join the podcast. Get on the investor list–if you're hardtech.
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