Digitalisation

Sweden’s competitiveness will increase if we can exploit the opportunities offered by digitalisation. The conditions are good, but we need to deal with the challenges, not least by stimulating the digital transformation of companies, strengthening cybersecurity and engaging in a nuanced discussion about digitalisation as an enabler of future welfare.

Focus Areas

IVA drives factual, science-based debate in several areas that are important for society. Below you can see what IVA has to say in these areas, in the form of reports from project activities, consultation responses, statements from the President and press releases.

Skills Supply

The school and education system is vital for Swedish competitiveness – as is making Sweden an attractive country for highly skilled people and companies to work in. IVA aims to stimulate lifelong learning, positive attitudes to knowledge and education, and young people’s curiosity, problem-solving skills and joy of discovery.

Energy and Resources

Energy and resource efficiency and the circular economy are key to Swedish competitiveness and achieving the climate goals. Sustainable alternatives are needed if promises of a fossil-free energy system and a climate-smart industrial and transport sector are to be realised.

Global Tech Diplomacy as a Guardrail for AI and Other Disruptive Technologies

Design Thinking & Change

The Future of Solar Energy – research and development of Solar Cells

Addressing global challenges and building sound international partnership

Science diplomacy, the intersection of science and diplomacy in addressing global challenges, has gained prominence on the international stage. While Sweden boasts a long-standing tradition of scientific excellence and international collaboration, it is yet to fully embrace the discourse of Science Diplomacy within its institutional landscape. Join us as we explore the emerging field of science diplomacy and delve into its relevance within the Swedish Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem, and whether Sweden measures up to compared to the development in other countries.

Climate Urgency and the Nordic Response

With respect to climate policy, Sweden was an early mover in introducing a tax on CO2 emissions from fossil fuels already in 1991. By the end of the 1990s the Swedish electricity sector was almost decarbonised. The remaining sectors, industry and transport, are curerntly the targets of ambitious decarbonization efforts, in Sweden and in the EU.

Seminar with Professor Geoffrey Hinton

Meeting the Rising Global Competition in Sweden: OECD's Science, Technology, and Innovation Outlook

How is global competition evolving, and what measures can Sweden adopt to address challenges in order to enhance competitiveness and growth? The seminar will feature a presentation of OECD's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Outlook 2023, showcasing a significantly heightened global emphasis on strengthening countries' research and innovation systems. The seminar will feature discussions with Minister of Education Mats Persson, Minister of Energy and Enterprise Ebba Busch (to be confirmed), OECD's Director for STI Jerry Sheehan, Professor Sara Mazur from KAW, as well as Sweden's appointed representatives from various countries' Innovation and Research Councils.

IVA's Annual Meeting 2023

Swedish Futures

“Swedish Futures” aims to develop an overarching vision for Sweden as a world-leading country of technology and innovation by 2035, with a focus on competitiveness, sustainability, and security.

Steering Committee and Funding Providers

IVA´s project “Swedish Futures” aims to develop an overarching vision for Sweden as a world-leading country of technology and innovation by 2035, with a focus on competitiveness, sustainability, and security. The project is made possible thanks to the commitment and financial support of a large number of actors.

The Future of Industry

Swedish industry has long been a cornerstone of the country’s prosperity and capacity for innovation. However, in the face of rapid technological development, increasing geopolitical uncertainty and intensifying global competition, the sector is now confronting new and complex challenges.

Global outlook

Sweden is an open economy that is dependent on the outside world in every sense. Global competition is fierce, not least in terms of technological development. As part of the vision project Swedish Futures, IVA now offers quarterly thematic status reports on Asia, authored by expert researchers with extensive regional experience, under the title 'Global Outlook: Asia'.

In-depth Studies

Within the vision project Swedish Futures, IVA is initiating some 20 in-depth analyses of various themes, which may highlight energy supply, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, climate, new technologies, government finances, security and other important issues for Sweden.

Government Infrastructure Investments

A thematic deep dive within the Swedish Futures vision project, exploring models for government investment in areas such as physical and digital infrastructure, as well as total defence.

IVA's President: some thoughts on dual use

Europe is ramping up its defense investments. This is, of course, a response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the radically altered geopolitical stance of the White House. Europe can no longer rely on the United States to guarantee its security.

IVA's President: some thoughts on AI

When the 2025 edition of the Global AI Index is released after the summer, I hope Sweden will have made a significant climb from last year’s ranking of 25th. The United States topped the list in 2024 (no surprise there), followed by China.