Meta evaluation of Sweden's strategic innovation programme

Longer summary of report

This report presents policy lessons from the 17 six-year evaluations that have been carried out by Strategic Innovation Programs (SIPs). The report studies the program's results, partly in terms of innovation and competitiveness, partly through a framework inspired by the research literature on socio-technical transitions, to assess how the SIP instrument could be modified to better meet societal challenges and system innovation.

The overall conclusion is that the SIP instrument has proven effective as a technology program for building national capacity and competitiveness. With some changes, it is likely to be effective also in meeting societal challenges by contributing to socio-technical transitions. However, the instrument needs to be used in a broader policy and instrument mix that meets the needs of all three generations of research and innovation policy – basic research, technological development and innovation, as well as changeovers or system innovation.

On behalf of the Swedish Agency for innovation system (Vinnova), the Research Council for the Environment, Land Industries and Community Building (Formas) and the Norwegian Energy Agency (Energymyndighet), Faugert & Co Utvärdering/Technopolis Sweden in collaboration with Technopolis Ltd and Sweco have evaluated all 17 strategic innovation programs (SIP) after six year's activities. Strategic innovation programs are a joint effort by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas on actor-driven programme through collaboration in areas that are strategically important for Sweden. They must contribute to creating the conditions for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges and increased international competitiveness. This meta- evaluation was carried out in 2023.

The report is available in a full version and as a longer summary.

Seminar

On April 25, the report's conclusions and recommendations were presented by the evaluators Erik Arnold and Tomas Åström, Technopolis Group.