Prime Minister Visits Science Park Skövde – Stunlock Studios and the Game Industry in Focus

The visit took place at Stunlock Studios’ office at Science Park Skövde. In addition to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Justice, Theres Sahlström, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board of Skövde, and Simon Wallin, second candidate on the Moderate Party’s Skaraborg list for the parliamentary election, were in attendance.

“It’s very rewarding to highlight our successful Science Park and companies like Stunlock that truly put Skövde and Sweden on the map. At the same time, it gives us the opportunity to raise important issues such as innovation support and industry conditions directly with representatives of the government,” said Theres Sahlström.

The discussions were marked by strong engagement, with Ulf Kristersson asking questions about investment in the game industry, the impact of AI on the future of games, and developments in platforms and game engines.

Stunlock Studios is a clear example of the growth generated by the game industry in Skövde. In 2025, the company topped Deloitte’s Sweden Technology Fast 50 ranking, becoming Sweden’s fastest-growing technology company. With growth of nearly 15,000 percent, the company has achieved international success from its base in Skövde.

When asked what made the strongest impression during the visit, the Prime Minister’s answer was clear:

“The enthusiasm, the creativity, and the fact that so many different competencies are required, and that they must work together. It actually reminds me a bit of the world I live in. To get anything done, you need everything from bold ideas to systematic execution, building support, convincing others, and believing in your idea,” said Ulf Kristersson.

The visit to Skövde was part of a broader tour, and the Prime Minister expressed great appreciation for traveling across Sweden.

“It’s truly enjoyable. Sometimes you need to attend government meetings in Stockholm, but if you only sit in the corridors of government offices, you don’t learn enough new things. I enjoy meeting hardworking people who do things completely different from what I do,” said Ulf Kristersson.

Behind Stunlock Studios’ success lie many years of hard work and uncertainty — but also an ecosystem that has enabled growth.

“We’ve received fantastic support here in Skövde, from the university, Science Park Skövde, and the municipality, and today we’re also able to give back to the community. But it hasn’t always looked like this. At its core, it’s been eleven years of uncertainty, wondering when the next paycheck would come and when the next investment would land,” said Rickard Frisegård, CEO of Stunlock Studios.

In the conversation with the Prime Minister, Rickard Frisegård also emphasized the collective strength of the game industry, where creativity and technology together drive innovation and development.

“We’re pleased to see that the Parliamentary Committee on Culture has begun to recognize games as a cultural form. At the same time, game development has a strong technical dimension. There’s sometimes discussion about whether technical innovation in games is high enough, but I would argue that we are at the forefront and that the game industry often drives technological advancement,” said Rickard Frisegård.

Over several years, Skövde has built a strong national and international reputation in game development under the brand Sweden Game Arena, where collaboration between industry, academia, and the science park has played a decisive role.

“For us, this visit clearly demonstrates the strength of the game industry, while Skövde continues to solidify its position as one of Sweden’s leading locations for game development,” said Ingi Jonasson, CEO of Science Park Skövde.