Evaluation: Strategic innovation programs contribute to strengthened competitiveness

Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas finance 17 strategic innovation programs for collaboration in research and innovation in areas that are important to Sweden. The programs must contribute to creating the conditions for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges and increased international competitiveness.

The first five programs that started in 2013 have now undergone a major evaluation nine years after the start: LIGHTer (lightweight), Metallic materials, Processindustriell IT and Automation (PiiA), Produktion2030 and Swedish Mining Innovation. The evaluation has been carried out by Sweco Sverige.

Some of the conclusions of the evaluation:

• A majority of the participating companies state that they have become better at innovation collaborations both with other companies and with universities and research institutes. Researchers state the same when it comes to collaborations with companies.
• Companies and researchers state that they have increased their innovative capacity in the area in question. A large percentage of the companies assess that the innovation process goes faster in their organizations thanks to the participation, something that is important because the value of being first on the market with a new product can be very large.
• The programs have contributed to networking and collaboration and to the increase in knowledge that it generates.
• The programs have implemented strategically important initiatives in competence provision.
• The programs are assessed to a large extent to contribute to the overall impact goals for the investment, which are about strengthened sustainable growth, strengthened competitiveness and making Sweden an attractive country to invest in and conduct activities in.

- Cooperation in research and innovation is crucial for strengthening Sweden's long-term competitiveness and for being able to solve important societal challenges. We look carefully at these evaluations when, together with the Energy Agency and Formas, we decide on continued funding of the programs. The learning that the evaluations provide is also something we take with us when we design future efforts to promote research and innovation. This applies not least to the strategic innovation program of the future, Impact Innovation, where the first programs are planned to start in 2024, says Darja Isaksson, director general of Vinnova.

Facts about strategic innovation programs

Strategic innovation programs are an effort by Vinnova, the Energy Agency and Formas on actor-driven programme through collaboration in areas that are important to Sweden. They must contribute to the conditions for sustainable solutions to global social challenges and increased international competitiveness. It is a government effort of a total of eight billion kroner on 17 programme that can receive funding for up to 12 years, where business and other actors contribute equally. All programme undergo a comprehensive evaluation every three years.

About the programs evaluated nine years after the start

LIGHTer is about materials, construction and production of lightweight solutions. Lightweight materials contribute to increased sustainability because they reduce energy and resource needs, not least in the area of transport. The efforts include, among other things, project announcements, support for research training, and promoting networks between companies and researchers, companies and companies, and between researchers and researchers. The program has had a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is led by RISE in Mölndal and at the end of 2021 had granted a total of SEK 346 million.

Metallic materials must promote renewal, growth, competitiveness and sustainability in the Swedish metal industry, for example by creating new networks and constellations of actors to drive development in electrification and the circular economy. The program's activities include project announcements, analyzes and mapping, advice to funded project, as well as various activities to promote the intervention area and the actors within it. It is managed by Jernkontoret and at the end of 2021 had granted a total of SEK 574 million.

Processindustriell IT and Automation (PiiA) focuses on industrial digitization and automation technology, "IndTech", for increased competitiveness and sustainability in the process industry. PiiA carries out project announcements and environmental analyzes as well as runs several strategic cooperation initiatives. It also works to build networks within research and between sectors and industries, as well as spreading knowledge about the IndTech industry. The program is led by RISE in Västerås and at the end of 2021 had granted a total of SEK 461 million.

Produktion2030 is about digitalisation and sustainability in the manufacturing industry. The program has a broad approach that includes, among other things, project announcements, dissemination of results to small and medium-sized companies, initiatives in master's and postgraduate education as well as continuing education for employees in companies, and participation in international initiatives. It is led by Teknikföretagen and at the end of 2021 had granted a total of SEK 575 million.

Swedish Mining Innovation (formerly STRIM) targets the mining industry and today has a clear focus on sustainability and digitalisation. The efforts include, among other things, announcing project funding, promoting networks not least between small and medium-sized companies and large companies, support for research training, and stimulating international R&D collaborations in the field. Luleå University of Technology hosts the program, which by the end of 2021 had granted a total of SEK 309 million.