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Knowledge and experience

The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences is made up of decision-makers and experts from business and industry, academia and public administration. Within the Academy is the collective knowledge and experience of close to 1,300 members divided up into 12 areas of expertise. There are also more than 200 companies represented within IVA’s Business Executives Council.

According to the Academy’s mission statement, IVA will “...promote the engineering and economic sciences and the development of industry for the benefit of society.” The Swedish members, numbering more than 1,000, are assigned to one of twelve divisions focusing on various fields within engineering and economics:

Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building and Construction, Mining and Materials, Management, Basic and Interdisciplinary Engineering Sciences, Forest Technology, Economics, Biotechnology, Education and Research Policy, and Information Technology. 

IVA is active throughout Sweden. The hubs in the national network are Stockholm, (where the Office of the Academy is located), Luleå (IVA North), Gothenburg (IVA West) and Malmö/Lund (IVA South).

IVA’s activities incorporate an international perspective. Study trips, collaboration with other engineering sciences academies and IVA’s presence in Brussels are examples of the international aspects of IVA’s work.

Foothold in the business community

The Business Executives Council ensures that IVA has a foothold in the business community. The Council’s members – private and public sector companies and organisations – are an important part of IVA.

The Business Executives Council is part of IVA. It has around 230 member companies and organisations from both the industrial and service sectors. Both private enterprise and public sector organisations are involved.

A strong foothold in the business community is essential for the work that the Academy's does. The members’ expertise and experience play and important part in the Academy’s development. The annual fees collected from Business Executives Council members are an important source of revenue to ensure IVA’s long-term funding.

Employees of the member companies and organisations have numerous opportunities to participate in IVA’s activities. This enables them to develop their own skills and knowledge while also having an impact on issues relating to economic, education and research policy. IVA offers many opportunities for knowledge transfer and for members to exchange experiences outside their own company or industry.

 

Building bridges

IVA is an open and transboundary forum; an independent academy that builds bridges between the research, business and political spheres.

IVA creates interfaces between different areas of expertise, between regions and across national borders. It is in meetings between people that new ideas and knowledge are born.

Over the course of a year, individuals in IVA’s network gather at over 100 meetings, seminars, workshops, hearings and on field trips around Sweden and abroad. 

Happening right now

Takes a stance

IVA influences development in society by driving a scientific and fact-based debate. Sweden’s competitiveness and sustainable development are key focus areas. 

The projects are an important part of IVA’s work and often last for one or two years. They involve a combination of meetings, seminars, field trips, reports and debates. The projects act as catalysts and platforms for new knowledge – and the process is often at least as important as the end-product.

“Many positive forces interacting, from many different places: academia, the private sector and the political sphere. IVA takes a stance and stands for something – engages in the debate. And what we say must be based onfacts. This combination makes IVA entirely unique!”

Leif Johansson, Chair of IVA 2012-2017

 

Awards

IVA recognises and rewards important work in natural sciences, engineering and economics.

IVA awards its Great Gold Medal in recognition of “outstanding achievements in the Academy’s fields of activity.” Past medallists include business leaders Sune Carlsson, Antonia Ax:son Johnson and Professor Assar Lindbäck.

IVA Gold Medal recipients include Niklas Zennström, Professor Bodil Jönsson and Professor Maria Strömme.