Located in the north of Sweden, umea is the largest city in the province of Vasterbotten and has around 125,000 residents. The city is situated along the Gulf of Bothnia and is known for its unique cultural vibrancy with a vibrant music and art scene.

Umea is home to Umea University, which is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Sweden and is renowned for its cutting edge research. The university is influential in many areas, including medicine, health sciences, humanities and the arts.