Sweden 500 – a year of celebration!

This year marks 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king. The election laid the foundation of Sweden as an independent state. Celebrate the anniversary with us! With a foundation in history, let’s tell a story about Sweden today – from groundbreaking innovations and research to a stable democratic social system and a culture that includes everything from a deep-rooted fika tradition to world-class music exports.  This year’s celebration includes the Swedish National day and the jubilees of several Swedish sights and institutions. New material will be published continuously throughout the year. The first batch of material is now available. Keep an eye on our newsletter for updates! Building blocks The toolkit is co-produced with the official Sweden channels. The material consists of mostly digital components. Most of the material can be used as is, but videos and posts may need to be translated. Sweden 500 sign The Sweden 500 jubilee sign is available as animation and in still format. It can be used for printing, digital units, social media, merchandise, projections etc. User guide and inspiration (pdf) Sweden 500 sign (eps, png, giphy and mp4) Swedense at giphy.com Videos Here, you will find videos to communicate the Sweden 500 jubilee. The videos are available with subtitles in English and some in Arabic and Russian. We also offer clean versions with srt files for translation. New videos will be published continuously. Why we celebrate – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) This video is available with English , Russian and Arabic text. National Day teaser (mp4 and word file) The best thing about Sweden – English version (mp4, srt and Word) The best thing about Sweden – Arabic version (mp4 and srt) Sweden from above – long version and version for social media (mp4) “Did you know that…” Sweden’s true grit – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Mister Mussel – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Beyond microscopic! – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Restaurang Spill – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4 and srt) Recipe videos with the Sweden 500 sign Chokladbollar – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Grilled vegetables – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Vegan meatballs – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Vegan toast skagen – with and without subtitles + copy (mp4, srt and Word) Social media Use the hashtags #CelebratewithSweden #Sweden500 when publishing material connected to the jubilee. AR filter The Sweden 500 AR filter is available on Instagram. You can find it in the AR function on “Swedense” Instagram profile. QR codes with a direct link to the filter with and without text on Instagram (jpg for digital use or printing) Quiz Test your follower’s knowledge of Sweden with this social media quiz. Or use the questions and create an analogue quiz. You can use the Canva links in the Word file to translate the quiz images to your local language. Quiz images with English text and Canva-links for local language adaption (png and Word files in English) Quiz images with Arabic text (png and Word file in Arabic) Quiz images with Russian text (png and Word file in Russian) Quiz images without text (png and Word files in English) AI images of Gustav Vasa What if Gustav Vasa travelled 500 years into the future? We used AI tools to generate copy and images. The posts are available in English and Russian. Use the clean version of the images to translate them to your local language. Gustav Vasa posts and copy for translation (png) Images generated by AI. “When I hear of XX I think of…” Invite your followers to share their thoughts on common Swedish phenomena. Posts (png) Historical posts Gripsholm castle (download Word file with link to Image bank Sweden) Strängnäs (download Word file with link to Image bank Sweden) Sweden national day (download Word file with link to Image bank Sweden) Sweden on Spotify Listen to 500 minutes of songs by Swedish artists that encapsulates the festive mood of the Sweden 500 jubilee. The playlist “Celebrate with Sweden” on Spotify The Sweden Spotify profile also offers about 30 playlists on various themes, from “Swedish Eurovision winners” to “Swedish summer classics” and “Mega hits produced by Swedes”. The “Sing-Along Favorites” playlist is perfect for the karaoke party! Open the Spotify app on your phone or screen and sing along to the lyrics. Spread the word and enjoy! The Sweden Spotify profile Article Learn more about Sweden’s history from 1523 to today! The article explores milestones in Sweden’s route to becoming a centralised democracy, featuring everything from royals and opera to rollercoasters and the Nobel Prize Banquet. Use the article as a base when producing your own material or link to the article from your social media. The article in English The article in Arabic The article in Russian Images The Sweden 500 collection at Image Bank Sweden Images of the Sweden 500 balloons for social media (jpg) Images that are free to use from Nationalmuseum Invitation card Use the Sweden 500 invitation card template when inviting your community and guests to celebrate the jubilee. The cards are available in two different formats that are suitable for printing and digital use. Invitation card in landscape and portrait format (Power Point) The Sweden Sans typeface is used in the invitation card. If you don’t have the fonts on your computer you can download the typeface from Identity Sweden. The Sweden Sans typeface on Identity Sweden Financial support Swedish embassies and consulates may apply for financial support of maximum 5,000 SEK for translation to the local language, subtitling and printing. Limits may apply. How to apply To apply, please fill out the application form How to report After completed event, please fill out the short project report Contact at the Swedish Institute Don’t hesitate to get in touch and help us make this into a great celebration! For more information, please contact sharingsweden@si.se.

Bench made from metal scrap

The Swedish company Byarums Bruk has been building benches with melted aluminum and sand since 1947. The video is available in both an English version and a clean version. You can use the clean version, video copy and social media captions to translate the video to your local language. Video copy Is it possible to make a bench like this from cans and car scrap? Yes! Swedish company Byarums Bruk has been building benches with melted aluminum and sand since 1947. Aluminum melts at 650°C — which is low for a metal. So the procedure is relatively energy efficient. The sand comes from Lake Vättern and can be used over and over! Best of all? Nothing goes to waste. These leftovers of an item can be re-melted to make new items. Like these nice decorative flowers… …or a plant pot outside Stockholm City Hall! Social media captions What to do with used cans and car scrap? 🥫 Why, build a bench of course! Swedish company Byarums Bruk builds benches with melted scrap aluminium and sand, and has done so since 1947. ♻️ Music: Del Verano/Epidemic Sound Photo: Sweden.se

Beyond microscopic! (Arabic)

Did you know that a cool lab in Lund makes it possible to study atoms! The MAX IV Laboratory in Lund allows researchers to study and explore the tiny world of atoms and molecules via X-ray light. The research done at MAX IV could lead to more sustainable materials, new energy solutions, new batteries, medicines and treatments. Meet Dr. Emelie Hilner at the lab. This year marks 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king, which laid the foundation of Sweden as an independent state. Celebrate the jubilee with us!  #sweden500 #celebratewithsweden

Enride – vision zero

Last year, the number of deaths in traffic in Sweden was below 200 for the first time since the introduction of the Vision Zero road safety concept 25 years ago. 🚗🚲🚛 The goal of Vision Zero is for no one to die or be seriously injured in a road accident. The initiative has helped halve the number of deaths on Swedish roads since 2000. 🚸 Many companies also see an opportunity to contribute to improved road safety. One is Swedish Einride, which offers self-driving, all-electric vehicles for transportation. Hear Linnéa Kornehed Falk, co-founder, CMO and deputy CEO of Einride, talk about safer roads and a more sustainable future. 💚 As a side note, Einride was also elected by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2021. #Einride #Roadsafety #swedishinnovation #VisionZero #Safety  

Minesto – “flying” power plant under water

A ‘flying’ power plant under water? Sort of! Swedish company Minesto has developed a technology that generates electricity from low-flow tidal streams and ocean currents. The patented principle is similar to a kite flying in the wind. Some seriously brainy stuff – and sustainable too. Minesto’s pioneering installations are carried out in the Vestmannasund strait in the Faroe Islands – the company’s first major client. In 2020, Minesto reached the milestone of delivering electricity to the Faroe Islands’ power grid from its tidal kite system.

Dump truck

This dump truck is unlike any other truck you’ve ever seen! 👀 The truck – already in use by construction company NCC – is the world’s first vehicle made of fossil-free steel 😎🚚 📷 The world’s first vehicle made of fossil-free steel, a dump truck by Volvo Construction Equipment, loads stone, gravel and asphalt in a rock shelter in Södra Sandby in the south of Sweden.  

Urbanista

Often forget to charge your devices?🎧🪫 No worries, two Swedish companies have developed the world’s first self-charging wireless headphones. These @urbanistalife headphones use a solar cell material called @powerfoyle, which can transform any indoor and outdoor light into endless energy. Smart huh?  

Battery professor – Pioneer the possible version

The future of energy requires green batteries. Meet Professor Daniel Brandell, a future-orientated Swede that explores the portable power source side of life with a keen focus on wireless devices. Daniel’s mission is to develop a new generation of more durable, efficient and sustainable batteries! 🔋🌍 Join Daniel and Sweden to Pioneer the possible and be part of the green transition.

Sweden Tech Ecosystem

Meet Sweden Tech Ecosystem We have a long history of innovation in Sweden. Today, startups all over the country are pioneering the business disruption needed for the twin transition. With Sweden Tech Ecosystem, you can deep dive into the Swedish startup scene. The platform is open for everyone and free of charge to use. The website is a joint project between Startup Sweden/Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Business Sweden, Vinnova and the Swedish Institute.

Envac – underground waste disposal system

Underground waste disposal system in Stockholm’s Hammarby Sjöstad.♻️ Download the video with English text or use the clean version to add your own local language. Text file available for local translation.