Nine-year evaluation of strategic innovation programs: Swelife

This report concerns the nine-year evaluation of the strategic innovation program Swelife. The overall conclusion is that Swelife is a well-structured and well-managed programme that has succeeded in mobilizing a large number of companies, universities and public organizations. Particularly important results are about having increased the ability to collaborate between the sector's actors, that prototypes and demonstrators have been developed and that the universities have a more industry-relevant R&D focus. Since its inception, Swelife has established itself as a coordinating force, free from different sector interests.

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.