Hidden champions in Swedish industry - business models, importance and policy implications

Purpose and goal

The project focuses on the segment called smaller large companies, and specifically the companies we call ´hidden champions´. Understanding these companies´ business models, their future impact on Swedish industry, and their key success factors will be an important part of understanding how the Swedish economy can develop over time. This not only increase our understanding of this specific segment, but also increases the insight about the dynamics of Swedish industry and how business models are developed over time.

Expected results and effects

The project has developed a framework consisting of five archetypal business models that exist in the selected segment. This, coupled with overall analyzes of the segment as a whole, provides a good basis for identifying success factors, as well as policy implications, both at the business model and at the segment level. This combination of a micro- and macro-approach opens up for interesting future studies. Finally, this project enables a better understanding of an important segment of Swedish industry that previously have been somewhat neglected.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has used a combination of qualitative in-depth studies and more statistically oriented quantitative analyzes. We have used a 3-step approach - 1) case studies and in-depth analyzes of about 20 companies, 2) studies of about 40 companies from secondary sources 3) overarching studies of about 200 companies (corresponds to about 70-80% of the target segment). These three have then been analyzed individually but also in combination to benefit from both micro and macro data and the associated structures.