The King takes part in a Royal Technology Mission visit to Kiruna and Luleå

Ice Hotel External link, opens in new window.

During the afternoon, the delegation visited LKAB External link, opens in new window.'s mine in Kiruna, where CEO Lars-Eric Aaro explained how LKAB's development is driven by technology and innovation.

The Royal Technology Mission visit continued to Luleå on Tuesday, where the day began with a visit to Luleå University of Technology External link, opens in new window. (LTU).

Vice-Chancellor Johan Sterte gave a presentation of LTU, after which Professor Roland Larsson talked about the SKF-LTU University Technology Center External link, opens in new window..

Before lunch, the delegation visited Europe's largest data centre, where Tom Furlong, site manager for Facebook, gave a tour and spoke about operations.
 
Lunch was held at the County Governor's official residence in Luleå, and was hosted by County Governor Sven-Erik Österberg.

The afternoon began with a visit to Swerea MEFOS External link, opens in new window.. Swerea MEFOS is a Nordic industrial research institute that creates, improves and conveys research results within the production, processing, use and recycling of metals.

The Royal Technology Mission visit concluded with a visit to Metasphere Technology AB, where CEO Urban Rönnbäck spoke about the company. Wear and tear is a major cost within the mining industry. One solution is to manufacture components from hard metal. Tungsten External link, opens in new window. is the hardest of the hard metals, and Metasphere Technology AB processes tungsten components.