The scientific publishing industry in the Nordics comprises various companies producing scholarly journals, research articles, and educational content. These organizations play a pivotal role in disseminating cutting-edge scientific discoveries and innovations. They range from digital platforms synthesizing vast research outputs to traditional publishers focused on niche academic audiences. As the demand for open access and digital content grows, Nordic publishers are adapting their business models accordingly, promoting transparency and accessibility. The industry's focus is increasingly shifting toward collaborative publishing, technology-driven platforms, and integration of new metrics for measuring research impact.


The investors in our list represent a mix of private equity, corporate, and venture capital firms, primarily headquartered in Sweden and Finland. With a varying size from small teams to large organizations, these investors were established between 1889 and 2021, reflecting a rich history and modern innovation. In 2024, they collectively executed numerous investments, demonstrating a significant interest in the scientific publishing and life sciences sectors. Some have particularly highlighted their strategy in deep tech and biotech, showcasing their commitment to enhancing research outputs.


Top 14 Scientific Publishing Investors in the Nordics


1. EQT Group

  • Website: eqtgroup.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 30
  • LinkedIn: eqt-partners

EQT Group is a private equity investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. The firm specializes in a diverse range of investment strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. EQT serves institutional investors by providing expertise in managing diverse investment portfolios across multiple sectors and geographies. Notably, EQT has made significant investments in the scientific publishing sector, particularly through their acquisition of Springer Science+Business Media, which was announced in December 2009. This acquisition, valued at approximately 2 billion euros, highlights EQT's commitment to strengthening the balance sheet of a leading scientific publisher. Their involvement with Springer positions them as a key player in the scientific publishing landscape, showcasing their interest and investment capability in this industry.


2. Industrifonden

  • Website: industrifonden.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1979
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: industrifonden

Industrifonden is a venture capital fund based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1979. The fund specializes in investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the fields of Deep Tech, Life Science, and Transformative Tech. Industrifonden provides financial support and strategic guidance to startups, helping them scale their innovative solutions and create long-term value through partnerships with passionate founders. Notably, Industrifonden has invested in Nextory, a Swedish e-book and audiobook platform, which has raised significant funding to support its growth in the publishing industry. This includes multiple funding rounds, such as a €9.3 million round announced in June 2022, aimed at global expansion, and a $6 million round in March 2020 for European expansion. These transactions highlight Industrifonden's active role in the publishing sector, particularly in digital formats, which are increasingly relevant for scientific publishing.


3. Sanoma

  • Website: sanoma.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 1889
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • LinkedIn: sanoma

Sanoma is a corporate investor based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 1889. As a media and educational publishing company, Sanoma provides a range of learning solutions and media content, including printed and digital learning materials and teaching platforms. Their customer base includes educational institutions and media consumers across multiple European countries. Notably, Sanoma has made strategic acquisitions in the educational publishing sector, such as the acquisition of Santillana Spain, a leading provider of K-12 learning materials, for EUR 465 million, aimed at enhancing their position in the Spanish K-12 learning services market. Additionally, they acquired Nowa Era, a Polish educational publishing company, to strengthen their presence in the European educational publishing market. These transactions highlight Sanoma's commitment to educational content, which is relevant to the scientific publishing landscape.


4. Cellink


Cellink is a corporate investor based in Sweden, founded in 2016, with a focus on biotechnology, particularly in 3D bioprinting and biomaterials. They provide innovative bioprinters and bioinks to researchers and organizations in the life sciences sector, facilitating advancements in drug discovery, personalized medicine, and regenerative medicine. In recent years, Cellink has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities and product offerings. Notably, they acquired MatTek Corporation for $68 million, a company specializing in in-vitro technology, which is significant for cruelty-free drug testing models and research applications. Additionally, their acquisition of Discover Echo, a company specializing in hybrid microscopes, for $110 million, further emphasizes their commitment to advancing research tools that can support scientific publishing. These transactions highlight Cellink's role in the research landscape, making them a relevant player in the scientific publishing ecosystem.


5. Flerie

  • Website: flerie.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: flerie

Flerie is a venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2011. The firm specializes in life sciences, with a strong emphasis on biotech and pharmaceutical investments. Flerie supports a portfolio of over 30 companies by providing resources and expertise to navigate the challenges of drug development. Notable transactions include leading a funding round for Amarna Therapeutics, which focuses on advancing its SVac platform towards clinical studies, and co-leading a £50 million Series B financing for Microbiotica, aimed at progressing their oral Live Bacterial Therapeutics to clinical studies. These investments highlight Flerie's commitment to fostering innovation in the life sciences sector, which is closely tied to scientific research and publishing.


6. Summa Equity

  • Website: summaequity.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: summa-equity

Summa Equity is a private equity firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in thematic investments that address global challenges, with a strong emphasis on sustainable investment solutions across various sectors, including resource efficiency and technology. Summa Equity's portfolio includes significant investments in the life sciences sector, which is closely related to scientific publishing. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Olink Proteomics for $1.1 billion, aimed at enhancing their portfolio in life sciences, and the acquisition of PierianDx, a company focused on genomic data interpretation. Additionally, their investment in Axion BioSystems, which specializes in technologies for drug discovery, further demonstrates their commitment to advancing scientific research. These investments reflect Summa Equity's strategy to align financial returns with positive societal impact, particularly in areas that contribute to scientific knowledge and innovation.


7. Innovestor

  • Website: innovestorgroup.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 12
  • LinkedIn: innovestor

Innovestor is an investment management company based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, specializing in venture capital, real estate, and energy storage. Founded in 2014, Innovestor focuses on providing funding and support to early-stage startups and corporations, particularly in technology and life sciences. Their services encompass investment advice, corporate venturing, and participation in accelerator programs. Notably, Innovestor has been involved in several significant transactions in the life sciences sector, such as Neumirna Therapeutics, which raised over $20 million in a Series A round, and Teitur Trophics, a biotech company that secured €28 million in a Series A financing round to advance its drug candidate into clinical development. These investments highlight Innovestor's commitment to supporting innovative companies in the life sciences, which is relevant to the scientific publishing industry.


8. Inventure

  • Website: inventure.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: inventure

Inventure is a venture capital firm based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 2005. The firm focuses on backing ambitious Nordic and Baltic founders, providing venture capital investment and portfolio management services to early-stage tech startups. Inventure has been actively involved in various sectors, including life sciences and knowledge management. Notably, they led a $15 million Series A investment in Algorithmiq, a scaleup developing quantum algorithms for life sciences, which aims to enhance proof-of-concept work with pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Inventure participated in funding rounds for Abzu, a startup focused on AI applications in pharmaceutical drug discovery, and Stravito, a knowledge management solution that aids in market intelligence. These transactions highlight Inventure's commitment to supporting innovations that can impact scientific research and publishing.


9. AddLife AB

  • Website: add.life
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: addlife-ab

AddLife AB is a corporate investor based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2016. The company operates in the Life Science sector, focusing on Labtech and Medtech, providing high-quality medical technology products, assistive equipment, and laboratory solutions primarily to healthcare providers, hospitals, and research institutions across Europe. AddLife has a decentralized business model that allows its subsidiaries to maintain flexibility while benefiting from the company's resources. Notably, AddLife has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its presence in the life sciences market. In 2022, they acquired BioCat GmbH, a specialized distributor in the life science research market, which is expected to strengthen their position in the scientific research community. In 2024, they acquired Bonsai Lab, further expanding their portfolio in the Labtech sector. Additionally, their acquisition of EuroClone S.p.A. and Biolin Scientific AB highlights their commitment to integrating analytical instruments and laboratory solutions, which are essential for scientific research and publishing.


10. Nordic Makers

  • Website: nordicmakers.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: nordic-makers-vc

Nordic Makers is a venture capital firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, providing both funding and advisory services to help startups navigate challenges and achieve growth. Their portfolio includes innovative companies across various sectors, with a notable focus on scientific and educational technology. Among their relevant transactions, they invested in Labster, which raised $21 million in a Series B round in April 2019; Labster is known for its virtual lab simulations that enhance science education. They also invested in BioLib, which raised an undisclosed amount in a Pre Seed round in September 2019, potentially contributing to scientific research and publishing. These investments reflect Nordic Makers' commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in the Nordic region, particularly in areas that support scientific advancement and education.


11. Voima Ventures

  • Website: voimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: voima-ventures

Voima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in funding early-stage science-based innovations and deep tech ventures, providing capital and expertise to help startups scale their solutions for global challenges. Voima Ventures operates primarily in the Nordic and Baltic regions and has been actively investing in various sectors, including life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Notable transactions include their investments in NADMED, a Finnish healthtech startup, where they led a €0.5M seed round and participated in a $3.89M Series A round. They also invested in Quantrol Ox, an Oxford University spinout focused on quantum computing, indicating their engagement with scientific research and innovation. Their portfolio includes companies that are likely to contribute to advancements in scientific knowledge and publishing.


12. Lundbeckfonden Emerge

  • Website: lundbeckfondemerge.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Founded year: 2012
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn:

Lundbeckfonden Emerge is a venture capital firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 2012. It operates as a not-for-profit organization under the Lundbeck Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing healthcare science research, particularly in the field of brain health. The foundation provides various grants and prizes to researchers and academic institutions to support their projects and initiatives in neuroscience. Lundbeckfonden Emerge has been involved in several significant transactions, including investments in NMD Pharma, which has raised substantial funding across multiple rounds (including a Series A, Series B, and other venture rounds) to develop first-in-class small molecule inhibitors aimed at enhancing neuromuscular transmission. This focus on innovative healthcare solutions underscores their commitment to supporting scientific research and development, making them a relevant player in the scientific publishing context.


13. Centripetal


Centripetal is a private equity investment company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2020. The firm focuses on accelerating the growth of fast-growing and profitable European companies by providing capital and bridging the gap to strong capital markets. Notably, Centripetal has been involved in transactions within the publishing industry, such as its investments in Nextory, a Swedish e-book platform that raised funds to support its growth and global expansion in the publishing sector. Additionally, Centripetal participated in the funding of Quartr, which, while not directly related to scientific publishing, indicates a broader interest in innovative platforms. These transactions highlight Centripetal's engagement with the publishing industry, making it a potential player in the scientific publishing space.


14. Navigare Ventures


Navigare Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2021. The firm specializes in early-stage science-driven companies, providing capital, expertise, and networking opportunities to startups in advanced computing, synthetic biology, and data-driven life sciences. Their mission is to transform promising scientific innovations into successful businesses, addressing the financial and resource challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Notably, Navigare Ventures has participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Pixelgen Technologies, which raised $7.3 million in a Series A round to support the commercial expansion of its spatial proteomics tool, and $6 million in a Seed round. These investments highlight their commitment to advancing scientific technologies that could impact research and publishing. Additionally, they are involved with IntuiCell, which raised $3 million in a Seed round, further emphasizing their focus on science-driven innovations.



Scientific Publishing Insights: Key Investors in the Nordics


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
EQT GroupStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-5000199430
IndustrifondenStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden11-5019799
SanomaHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland5001-1000018890
CellinkSweden201-50020160
FlerieStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-1020112
Summa EquityStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden51-20020166
InnovestorHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland11-50201412
InventureHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland11-5020059
AddLife ABStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-500020163
Nordic MakersCopenhagen, Denmark1-1020162
Voima VenturesHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland11-50201911
Lundbeckfonden EmergeCopenhagen, Denmark1-1020120
CentripetalStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-1020200
Navigare VenturesStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-1020213


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