Navigation path

Partners - Sweden

Updated 10/2010

Legal requirements

Types of collaboration

Cooperation with other companies can provide a larger customer base, greater competitiveness and higher profit margins.

Companies wishing to cooperate at European level have several options to choose from, making it easier to conduct cross-border business and, for example, move the company headquarters within the EU.

EU legislation in this field has been incorporated into Swedish law.

European company structures

European cooperative societies (SCEs)

These are regulated in the Act on European Cooperative Societies and also partly in the Act on Economic Associations.

  • Act on European Cooperative Societies svenska
  • Act on Economic Associations svenska

European economic interest groupings (EEIG)

Special tax rules apply.

  • Act on Taxation of European Economic Interest Groupings svenska

European Companies ('Societas Europeae' or SE)

Regulated by the Act on European Companies.

  • Act on European Companies svenska

Other options for expanding your business are taking over an existing one, merging with another company or opening a branch in another EU country.

Resources

The Family Business Network (FBN) Sweden is a special organisation for family businesses.

  • Family Business Network - Sweden svenska

The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth website contains links to networks for women in business.         

Trade fairs are an excellent way of finding business and cooperation partners, as well as meeting visitors and other exhibitors.

Business to business (B2B) events are a very efficient way to connect with other companies that might otherwise be difficult to identify. Companies can present their business activities at B2B events. You can often pre-book meetings with potential business partners.

You can find potentially interesting companies by searching Internet-based trade directories, such as:

  • Europages - The European Business Directory (contains 500 000 companies from around 30 countries).
  • Europages
  • Kompass International (search for company addresses free of charge)
  • Kompass
  • Chamber Trade (partner-matching database where you can also enter your company free of charge).
  • Chamber Trade

The Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA) providers information free of charge on the conditions and regulations applying to Swedish entrepreneurs.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Act on European Cooperative Societies (Lag (2006:595) om europakooperativ) svenska
    • Act on European Companies (Lag (2004:575) om europabolag) svenska
    • Act on Taxation of European Economic Interest Groupings (Lag (1994:1853) om beskattning av europeiska ekonomiska intressegrupperingar) svenska

Living and moving in Europe

Still need help?

Still need help?

Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) and the Federation of Private Enterprises (Företagarna) offer support for various aspects of entrepreneurship. They can arrange activities and supply contacts within various industry sectors.

CONNECT Sweden connects entrepreneurs with skills and capital. The organisation provides advice and help free of charge.

There are a number of regional chambers of commerce in Sweden. They offer help with contact networks, training and advice.