The Government’s innovation partnership programmes
The objective of the Government’s innovation partnership programmes is to identify innovative solutions to major challenges facing society and to contribute to Sweden’s competitiveness. In July 2019, as part of the January agreement, the policy agreement made by the government parties and the Liberal party and Centre Party, the Government presented four themes that form the basis for the partnership programmes in 2019–2022. The themes are based on Sweden’s strengths and on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Climate neutral industry; Skills supply and lifelong learning; Digital transformation of industry; and Health and life sciences.
The innovation partnership programmes bring together small and large companies, universities and higher education institutions, civil society and public sector actors to jointly set priorities for what needs to be done to meet the challenges within the four themes.
How it works
This is the Government’s innovation partnership programmes
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1. The Government initiates innovation partnership programmes on the basis of challenges facing society. 2. The Government appoints members from different sectors to the four external partnership groups. The partnership groups prioritise challenges within their programme and jointly identify and work towards potential solutions to the prioritised challenges. 3. The partnership groups set up working groups with a broader participation for the practical work of identifying, designing and, if possible, implementing solutions to meet the identified challenges. 4. Vinnova and designated relevant government agencies support and contribute to the overall work of the programmes and in the working groups.
Illustration: Elima Mwinyipembe
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Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan, Minister for Education Anna Ekström, Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans, Minister for Energy and Digital Development Anders Ygeman and Minister for Employment Eva Nordmark were all present when the members of the government's innovation partnership programmes were presented 10 February 2020.
Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices
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The Basis for the innovation partnership programmes
The basis for each innovation partnership programme is an identified challenge facing society, where innovative ideas are needed to find solutions. For example: Business and industry must embrace the digital transformation to ensure long-term competitiveness, which in turn can enable sustainable development and social welfare. These are challenges where the solution requires gathering all relevant perspectives around the same table. In Sweden, partnership between large and small companies, academia and the public sphere has long been a powerful method of solving problems and bridging the challenges facing our society. This is why the Government has appointed an external advisory partnership group for each innovation partnership programme.
Offices of Science and Innovation
Sweden has placed Offices of Science and Innovation at the embassies in Beijing, Brasília, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington D.C. The priorities for the Offices of Science and Innovation follow the Swedish Government’s four Innovation Partnership Programmes.
The four programmes and contact information
Skills supply and lifelong learning
The structural change driven by climate transition and digitalisation will make high demands on new skills and decrease the demand of many existing skills. Accordingly, the programme needs to address not only the industry demand for new skills and secure skill supply, but also secure the individual’s attractiveness during a long work life, by strengthening the conditions for lifelong learning.
Climate neutral industry
Sweden aims to lead the way in the area of climate and the environment and be the world’s first fossil-free welfare nation. Sweden made a parliamentary decision to have net zero emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2045. Industry is committed and has a crucial part in this transition. Many enterprises and industry organizations have realized that climate change adaptation paves the way for new business opportunities, technologies and better social solutions This innovation partnership programme will contribute to the climate transition in industry.
Four themes
The themes of the four innovation partnership programmes for 2019–2022 are part of the January Agreement, the policy agreement made by the government parties with the Centre Party and Liberal Party. They build on the strengths of Sweden and Swedish industry and areas judged to be of great importance for future growth: ; Climate neutral industry ; Skills supply and lifelong learning, Digital transformation of industry and Health and life science.
Health and life sciences
Sweden aims to be a leading life sciences nation. Life sciences contribute to improving health and quality of life of the population, ensuring economic prosperity, advancing the country as a leading knowledge nation and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This innovation partnership programme lays a foundation for the implementation of the National Life Sciences Strategy.
Digital transformation of industry
Business and industry must embrace the digital transformation to ensure their long-term competitiveness, which in turn can enable sustainable growth and social welfare in Sweden. This innovation partnership programme focuses on how digitalisation to a greater extent can lead to commercial benefit, innovations and solutions to challenges facing society, such as climate change.
Contact
Do you need more information about the Government’s innovation partnership programmes? Please contact one of the persons listed on this page.
