IVA in Brief

An independent bridge-builder

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA, is an independent arena for the exchange of knowledge. By initiating and stimulating contacts between experts from different disciplines and countries the Academy promotes cross fertilisation between industry, academia, public administration and various interest groups. Bringing people together to take part in lectures, conferences, research exchanges and other projects serves to generate new ideas and knowledge.
 
The Academy has a longstanding tradition of clarifying the implications of strategic choices. Projects and studies describe the potential of technology and problems in society, the economic consequences of new technology and prerequisites for sustainable development.

The Academy directs its activities into four areas:

• Education and research
• Development of Business Society
• Technology and society
• Foresight

IVA seeks to promote international interaction and forge closer ties with the EU Commission, which seeks qualified advisers for its decision making processes via the academies. The Academy also showcases and rewards achievements in the natural sciences, engineering and economics.

Expert network

IVA’s network consists of distinguished engineers and economists from business and industry, education and public administration. With close to 1 000 Swedish and foreign members elected to the Academy by their peers and some 250 members in IVA’s Business Executives Council, the Academy constitutes a highly competent knowledge bank. IVA also works closely with foreign academies and is engaged in Euro-CASE, a joint body for the European engineering academies.
 
IVA’s Swedish members are assigned to one of the Academy’s twelve divisions. The divisions hold regular meetings and organise their own special activities:

Mechanical Engineering (Division I) • Electrical Engineering (II) • Built Environment (III) • Chemical Engineering (IV) • Mining and Materials (V) • Management (VI) • Basic and Interdisciplinary Engineering Sciences (VII) • Forest Technology (VIII) • Economics (IX) • Biotechnology (X) • Education and Research Policy (XI) • Information Technology (XII)
 
IVA also has regional chapters in other parts of Sweden where IVA West and IVA South arrange an extensive programme of activities.

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf is the patron of IVA and takes an active part in Academy activities. Among other things he heads the Royal Technology Mission, an annual study trip to a country or region of interest to the research or business community in Sweden.

Supporting Swedish business and industry

The Academy needs close ties with companies and industrial activities to enable it to promote the development of business and industry. The Academy highlights issues relevant to the Swedish business community in many of its projects.

Membership of IVA’s Business Executives Council gives companies and organisations an opportunity to play an active role in Academy projects and programmes, thereby enhancing their knowledge and allowing them to influence matters relating to industrial, educational and research policies. IVA helps members forge new contacts outside their normal sphere of activity and take part in new constellations for the exchange of knowledge.

The Business Executives Council arranges its own meetings but members are also invited to other Academy activities. Member companies and organisations pay an annual fee to IVA, thereby providing financial support