Spaceport Sweden Selects IDEAS to Lead Development of Space Visitor & Science Center

Kiruna, in Swedish Lapland, together with Spaceport Sweden, are proud to announce the partnering with IDEAS, a world leading innovation studio, for the development of a Space Visitor & Science Center in Kiruna, Sweden contributing to a world-class all year round destination.

The tourism industry is one of Sweden’s fastest growing industries where the national objective is to double the industry revenue, jobs and visitors until the year 2020. As part of this, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, on behalf of the Swedish Government, has identified Kiruna in Swedish Lapland, as one of five locations in Sweden with the potential to develop into sustainable and internationally competitive destination. Kiruna was selected for its rich space heritage and its pioneering efforts to establish space tourism and manned spaceflight as an emerging industry. As part of the project, a feasibility and concept study has now been initiated to develop a world-class attraction in a SpaceVisitor & ScienceCenter in Kiruna

“Kiruna in Swedish Lapland was selected in the government led project due to our unique potential to further our space tourism industry,” says Dharma Johansson, Project Manager, Sustainable Destination Development in Kiruna. “Together with Spaceport Sweden we have contracted team IDEAS to conduct a feasibility and concept study for a science center. We are proud to be working with a very qualified team and the concept will contribute to a solid basis and further help leverage our whole destination.”

IDEAS leads a team of companies that will work together to provide the feasibility and concept study during a three month initial contract. Other team members include: Integrated Insight, Inc.; Exline Design and Architecture; Hurricane Communications and Consulting; and Blackhorse Worldwide. Team IDEAS members have provided a broad range of services in experience design for a list of clients that includes multiple Walt Disney theme parks & resorts around the world, major Universal Studios theme parks, NASCAR, the San Diego Air & Space Museum, the United States Air Force and the United States Navy.

“Building on Kiruna’s heritage, our aim is to establish Europe’s gateway to space and by further capturing the synergies between space, mining, aviation and tourism, we seek to create a center for adventures, education, research and cross-industry collaboration,” says Karin Nilsdotter, CEO Spaceport Sweden. “Team IDEAS forms a cutting edge group of leading and relevant experience. They are ideally suited to design and develop the market analysis, story, concept and facilities of the Kiruna Space Visitor & Science Center, creating value for our partners and contribute to growth by strengthening the region’s attractiveness.”

Team IDEAS visited Kiruna last week to meet with key stakeholders, learning more about the destination and to further conduct StoryJam™. StoryJam is a process designed by IDEAS to help develop a core narrative to in this case, support the development of a thriving commercial spaceport and visitor’s experience. Over 40 representatives from local to international stakeholders participated in a full day and very creative workshop.

“Kiruna is already a destination whose value increases daily. It’s the center of what I would call an “experience nexus” and there are things available here that are not possible anywhere else in the world, from touring the largest underground iron mine on the planet to seeing the northern lights as part of an exploration of hundreds of kilometers of pristine arctic wilderness by foot, snowmobile, dogsled and ski,” commented Bob Allen, Chief Storytelling Officer, IDEAS. “This great wild place is one of the few left and it is quite literally on the top of the world. As it evolves along with the growing industry, Spaceport Sweden will offer not only a gateway for European space tourism, but a singular destination for research and discovery of all kinds. Team IDEAS is honored to have been chosen to explore initial creative concepts and preliminary feasibility planning for this absolutely unique dream.”

About the project, sustainable tourism destination development: The tourism industry is one of Sweden’s fastest growing industries where the national objective is to double the industry turnover, revenue, jobs and visitors until the year 2020. As part of this, the Swedish Government has initiated a national project to help develop sustainable and competitive world-class destinations where of which Kiruna has been selected among 40 other destinations, much due to the potential of space tourism. The overall goal is that the project will lead to an overall master plan for tourism in Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. This will strengthen the prospects of doubling sales by 2020.

About Spaceport Sweden: Spaceport Sweden is a pioneering initiative to establish commercial human spaceflight in Sweden and become Europe’s gateway to space, a center for excellence and cross-industry innovation. Located in Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, Europe’s premier space city since 1957, Spaceport Sweden work together with selected partners to offer customers unique world-class space adventures and learning experiences, further supplying launch infrastructure, R&D facilities and high-tech expertise to commercial space operators. Already today Spaceport Sweden offer learning space adventures such as Northern Light Flights, Zero-G Flights and Spaceflight Preparation and Centrifuge Training. For more visit www.spaceportsweden.com

About IDEAS: Located in downtown Orlando, IDEAS is an Innovation Studio using the central premise that powerful stories create powerful experiences. IDEAS creates products for healthcare, corporate, government, and entertainment clients worldwide as well as creating its own intellectual property. The team at IDEAS has more than 400 years aggregate experience in experience design, brand repositioning, training, and media creation.