Nine-year evaluation of strategic innovation programs: IoT Sweden

This report concerns the nine-year evaluation of the strategic innovation program Internet of Things (IoT) Sverige. The overall conclusion is that IoT Sverige is a well-functioning programme that has an appropriate strategic innovation agenda with a clear system perspective on IoT and a relevant impact logic. Innovation in the public sector is important to meet today's and tomorrow's societal challenges.The evaluation shows that the program lowers the thresholds for municipalities and regions to lead and participate in innovation projects in collaboration with companies and researchers.

Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas finance seventeen strategic innovation programs. Through cooperation in areas that are strategically important for Sweden, conditions are created for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges and increased international competitiveness.

In 2023, six strategic innovation programs have undergone their nine-year evaluation. In these evaluations, a particular emphasis has been on examining results and early effects of the programs. The evaluators have also followed up action plans from the six-year evaluation and submitted recommendations for the programs' fourth and final three-year stage.

Equality and independence have been two guiding stars in the evaluation process. Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas have procured Sweco Sverige AB to carry out the nine-year evaluations. The content, conclusions and recommendations of this report are theirs.