The conditions for deeptech in Sweden

On October 4, 2021, the government commissioned the Agency for innovation system (Vinnova) and the Growth Agency to analyze and propose improvements for the conditions for research-intensive companies to be able to scale up and grow in Sweden, with a focus on deeptech companies.

During implementation, the government assignment has had an ecosystem perspective and demonstrated several strengths in academic research, intangible assets, start-up companies and established businesses. At the same time, the work has shown certain shortcomings in the ecosystem that need to be addressed so that Sweden can benefit from these strengths in the future and in international competition.

The following measures appear in the report:

• Sweden needs a national deeptech strategy as a basis for investing in power
• Development of financing instruments and public risk sharing
• Development of the deeptech ecosystem

In summary, Vinnova and the Agency for Growth recommend continued assignments to develop national support for Sweden's deeptech ecosystem. The efforts below would also serve as platforms for a larger effort.

• Joint mission to assist in the development of a national strategy for deeptech.
• Assignment and funding to the Swedish Growth Agency to put into operation the support function for funding that the authority has built up within the framework of the assignment.
• Individual assignments to the respective public authority and funding for competence development for selected parts of the deeptech ecosystem.
• Joint mission and funding to continuously collect data and statistics, with aim of mapping and making visible deeptech in Sweden.

Mapping of Swedish areas of strength within deeptech

Vinnova has commissioned a mapping of Swedish areas of strength within deeptech from an international perspective as part of the work with the government assignment Assignment to strengthen growth in research-intensive companies (N2021/02465). The purpose of the survey is to provide knowledge to authorities and financiers in order to support the development and growth of the knowledge clusters and companies within deeptech that exist in Sweden today.

Mapping of Swedish areas of strength within deeptech

From research to competitiveness

Deeptech companies have an important role for today's and future competitiveness. But how can research and development lead to more research-intensive companies being formed and growing?

Research-intensive startups, i.e. deeptech companies, are often the ones behind the most ground-breaking ideas, while the companies take big risks and often have problems raising capital. Together with Vinnova, we have been tasked with strengthening the conditions for research-intensive startup companies to grow.

The report is produced as part of the government's mission to strengthen growth in research-intensive startup companies in Sweden.

The report "From research to competitiveness" on the Agency for Growth's website