Celebrating Culture and Collaboration at Uppsala Castle: SPOT Nordic at the Annual Crayfish Party
- SPOT Nordic
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
On 5 September 2025, SPOT Nordic joined the annual kräftskiva (crayfish party) at Uppsala Castle together with colleagues from Uppsala University, diplomats and the Head of mission of the Portuguese Embassy in Sweden, Marta Lopes. The evening was hosted by County Governor Stefan Attefall och Cecilia Hjort Attefall in the historic Rikssalen (Hall of State). The programme blended not only the crayfish but drinking songs and sing-alongs together with music performances that counted among others with Felipe Jesús Minhava and the portuguese guitar. It was more than entertainment but a cultural experience as a common language.
The Uppsala Castle was built under Gustav Vasa in 1549 and it has witnessed decisive chapters in Swedish history, from the Sture murders (1567) to Queen Christina’s abdication (1654). Today welcomes the public back into Rikssalen for ceremonies and civic events, while serving as the residence of the County Governor. Few venues better capture the dialogue between heritage and the future.
This year’s crayfish party also celebrated the 250 years of the first Swedish veterinary school founded in 1775 in Uppsala by Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and its Fakulteten för veterinärmedicin och husdjursvetenskap, VH-fakulteten (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science).
The crayfish party goes well with the SPOT Nordic goals to connect people and ideas across borders. The conversations expanded from joint research, mobility, innovation, and the practical steps that turn goodwill into outcomes. Sharing the evening with the Embassy, the university community, and regional partners strengthens the bridges we’re building between Portugal and the Nordics.
Interestingly, we return to Uppsala Castle once again next Saturday, 13 September for the Annual Meeting of SPOT Nordic dedicated to AI – Ethics, Challenges, and the Future of Work and Education. This meeting will bring voices from academia, policy, and industry to ask how we build responsible, human-centred AI. Hosting this dialogue where tradition is so alive underscores a simple idea: enduring institutions and emerging technologies can strengthen each other. You still have time to register for it here. We will close the registration tomorrow (September 12th) at 6pm (CEST Time zone).
We extend our warmest thanks to our hosts, fellow guests, and especially to the outstanding organizer Martin Brozek for a memorable evening filled with shared experiences and the promise of future collaborations. Evenings like this recharge our purpose: build community, create opportunity, and make good ideas travel farther.
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