Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation

How many people work at the Government Offices? What was the central government budget like last year? How many acts and ordinances were issued last year? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the Swedish Government Offices Yearbook 2021.

A ban on extracting coal, oil and natural gas in Sweden will enter into force in Sweden on 1 July this year. It will be an important step in the process of transitioning to a fossil-free society. This was announced by Minister for climate and the environment Annika Strandhäll on World Environment Day, on June 5th.

SAS has announced that the company would like to convert debt corresponding to approximately SEK 20 billion into equity in the company. Against that background, the Swedish government has proposed in an additional amending budget that will be adopted today that the Riksdag authorises the Swedish government to convert the Swedish government’s existing state hybrid and the Swedish government’s outstanding loan facilities to shares in SAS. The measures require approval by the Riksdag and the European Commission.

In this strategy, the Government identifies a number of strategic areas. These are: better regulation, jobs and skills, knowledge and innovation, accessibility and marketing. Each area is viewed from four horizontal perspectives: sustainability, digitisation, place-based development and collaboration.

Today, Minister for Education Anna Ekström is meeting the UK’s Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, and Minister for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences, Lord Kamall. In connection with their meeting in London, they will sign a memorandum of understanding in the area of life sciences. The memorandum builds on a long tradition of Swedish-UK cooperation and is intended to promote joint progress on policy development, technical standards, industry engagement, research, development and implementation of new technologies and treatments.

The decision to grant Jokkmokk Iron Mines AB an exploitation concession for Kallak K no 1 is accompanied by several extensive conditions that the company must comply with. On this page you can read more about these conditions, what a concession means, and how reindeer grazing land is affected by a mine.

The Government has decided to grant Swedish registered company Jokkmokk Iron Mines AB an exploitation concession for Kallak K no 1. The Government has set extensive and unique conditions that the company must comply with order to prevent disruptions to reindeer husbandry. Compliance with these conditions is a prerequisite for the exploitation concession and for any future permits.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Minister for Rural Affairs Anna-Caren Sätherberg, Swedish Food Agency Director General Annica Sohlström and Swedish Board of Agriculture Director General Christina Nordin held a press briefing on 22 March on food security in Sweden.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the following sanctions, the Government is now strengthening preparedness for the Swedish business sector and foreign trade through close dialogue with relevant actors. The economic effects on Sweden are currently limited, but the situation concerning increased energy and oil prices, as well as the turbulent capital market, may deteriorate. There may be quite extensive and serious consequences for the world economy, which is why the Government is closely monitoring developments and is prepared to act depending on how events unfold.

In the proposal referred to the Council on Legislation for consideration, the Government proposes amendments to the Swedish Environmental Code and the Mineral Act that entail a ban on the extraction of coal, lignite, crude oil, shale oil and natural gas similar to the ban on uranium extraction. The Government also presents proposals aimed at tightening regulatory framework for the extraction of alum shale.

On 1 March, Minister for Rural Affairs Anna-Caren Sätherberg met with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Swedish Food Agency and representatives of the food industry to identify strengths and possible disruptions to food production chains in view of current serious security developments. Sweden is well-prepared and Sweden’s food supply chain has not been affected. However, the international situation may change quickly and, if so, we will need a full overview of what a potential worsening scenario would mean for Swedish food security.

As one of the focuses of this year’s budget, the Swedish Government is tasking the National Agency for Public Procurement with devising ways of strengthening and developing public procurement to promote the climate transition and the shift to a circular economy.

This information material contains a selection of the acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force in the second half of 2021 or some time thereafter.

Sweden’s seventh international Office of Science and Innovation was established at the Embassy of Sweden in London on 1 January 2022. The Office will develop and strengthen collaboration between the UK and Sweden on issues linked to the Government’s life sciences strategy, its export and investment strategy, the Research and Innovation Bill, and the Government’s strategic partnership programmes.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is being held in Glasgow between 31 October and 12 November. The world’s countries are gathered there to negotiate global climate action under the Paris Agreement. They will negotiate on issues such as rules on emissions trading and how countries should report their emissions. The conference will also focus on how the countries’ climate commitments measure up to the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement.

To further accelerate the electrification of the transport sector, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) was commissioned by the Government to help build knowledge in this area. This need has been clearly highlighted in the work of the Government’s strategic innovation partnership programme Climate neutral industry.

The State is a significant company owner in Sweden. The portfolio of state-owned enterprises contains 46 fully and partially owned enterprises, of which two are listed. The State has a substantial responsibility to be an active and professional owner. The Government’s overall objective is for the enterprises to create value and, where applicable, to ensure that the specifically adopted public policy assignments are performed well.

As a result of the Government’s innovation partnership programme Climate neutral industry, the National Board of Trade Sweden was recently tasked with establishing an advisory body with key skills to promote innovative and climate-focused standardisation, and Vinnova has been commissioned to support this work.

Joint non-paper by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden (2021-04-28).

The Government on instructed the Swedish Tax Agency and Tillväxtverket (the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) to make preparations so that as of 1 April 2022, the Tax Agency can be the managing authority for Tillväxtverket’s currently responsibilities under the Act on aid in the event of short-time work.