Future Knowledge Society

Future Knowledge Society is a long-term project aimed at encouraging children and young people to enjoy learning, while at the same time strengthening young people’s ability to evaluate information and make science-based decisions.

Projects and programmes

IVA believes in humanity’s capacity to contribute positively to society through the engineering and economic sciences. We run a number of projects and programmes, both short and long-term, with the ambition of promoting social development through knowledge and common sense.

Sweden a potential front-runner in AI

AI is fundamentally transforming how we work, produce and create value. However, while the technology is advancing at an exponential pace, changes in productivity and societal structures are occurring much more slowly. In this shift, Stanford professor Erik Brynjolfsson sees Sweden as a potential front-runner.

IVA's President: some thoughts on Greenhushing

At this time last year, the U.S. election campaign was in full swing. Joe Biden had stepped aside to make way for Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Donald Trump had survived an assassination attempt and was now dominating the agenda. Trump was—and is—a force the whole world must reckon with.

IVA's President: some thoughts on the new, long-term EU budget

IVA’s President Sylvia Schwaag Serger reflects on the European Commission’s EUR 2 trillion budget proposal for 2028-2034 and its priorities in security, competitiveness, and innovation, as well as Sweden’s strength in rapid technology adoption.

IVA's President: some thoughts on Infrastructure Investments

One year from now, voters will go to the polls in Sweden. I look forward to the election campaign, and as a representative of the world's first academy of engineering sciences, I have a message for the political parties: think big! Think beyond a single term of office. What we need now are big ideas to build Sweden for the future.

IVA's President: some thoughts on international perspectives

In the mid-1940s, Edy Velander, IVA’s legendary President, initiated global monitoring of technical  developments. Velander appointed a “liaison officer” in New York tasked with spotting trends and reporting back on technological progress and innovation. The world’s first “technology attaché” had been introduced. 

IVA's President: some thoughts on Sweden's Innovation Status

Two rankings recently confirmed Sweden’s distinction as an innovative country. Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published its Global Innovation Index 2025. In this ranking, Sweden stood fast in second place, maintaining the position it has held in recent years.

Opinion piece: EU’s peace project threatened by outdated research policy

Current research policy within the EU peace project excludes funding for technologies that can be used both for civilian and military purposes. However, the framework program was developed before the war in Ukraine and the rise of AI. Today’s technologies are cross-sectoral. Therefore, the expert group Esir proposes in a new report that the European Commission should change course, writes Sylvia Schwaag Serger, President of IVA and lead author of the report, in DN Debatt on July 6, 2025.

Design Thinking & Change

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.

IVA's Annual Meeting 2023

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.

R2B Summit 2023

The full-day event R2B Summit 2023 took place at 7A Posthuset in Stockholm on 4 October. The R2B Summit is a unique meeting place with opportunities for researchers and the business community to find each other and exchange experiences and perspectives, with a view to creating innovations and business opportunities together. The programme is aimed at those who hold a leading position or are responsible for innovation, research and development at a company or an organisation. And at researchers on IVA’s 100 List 2023.

Commercial R&D investment

The project publishes an annual R&D barometer that highlights how companies view the R&D investment climate in Sweden and makes the development of investments over time visible. IVA's R&D barometer aims to improve the understanding of this development and provide a basis for proposals that can help increase Sweden's attractiveness for R&D investments.

IVA’s Entrepreneurship Academy

IVA's Entrepreneurship Academy works with exchange of experiences, knowledge acquisition and policy development to promote and strengthen entrepreneurship and stimulate more entrepreneurs in Sweden. In practice the project aims to increase knowledge about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial abilities and contribute to improving policy and regulations.

Research2Business

Through targeted activities and initiatives for knowledge transfer, new successful research collaborations are promoted. Among other things, the project has produced IVA’s 100 List during 2019–2024 and hosted the R2B Summit meeting arena.

The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship

In 2004, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) established the John and Margaretha Aspegren Memorial Foundation to promote a better understanding between engineering sciences and the humanities.

Smart Industry competition

The Smart Industry Business Competition recognises and rewards companies that take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation in a smart and innovative way with clear results. The aim is to stimulate the digital and sustainable transformation of SMEs by highlighting best practice. The business competition has been held annually by IVA since 2016.

Hans Werthén Foundation

Each year, the Hans Werthén Foundation awards a number of scholarships for one year of scientific work at the postdoctoral or doctoral level, MBA or LL.M. studies in a qualified international environment. Next application period: January 8-March 7, 2027.