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.

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

International Affairs

IVA is a national academy with a global outlook. The Academy’s international activities are focused on a global outlook and developing influential international relations.

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.

How can the Swedish mining cluster strengthen Europe's supply of metals and minerals?

Sweden is one of Europe's most important mining countries, and the Swedish mining cluster is world-leading. But what role can Sweden, together with Finland, play in securing the supply of metals and minerals in Europe? Welcome to an international seminar where leading experts from the IVA project's international reference group, with participants from the USA, Latin America, Australia, and Europe, will discuss how we can strengthen our supply chains.

PhD Education: A Key to Swedish Entrepreneurship and Industrial Innovation

Seminar with Professor Geoffrey Hinton

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

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 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 Uncertainty

The World Uncertainty Index (WUI) has remained steady at an average of 30,000 over the past 17 years, with a temporary peak of 50,000 during the pandemic years. The latest index from October shows the remarkable figure of 122,000. The responsibility to take ownership of our own future is particularly important in times of great uncertainty.

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 Gold Medal 2025: Daniel Stenberg

From Huddinge to the Moon. Through his work with open-source software, Daniel Stenberg has built a technological foundation that quite literally reaches into space. With curl, he has created a tool that has become an indispensable part of digital communication – not only on Earth, but also between our planet and other celestial bodies.

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.

IVA's 106th Annual Meeting Festivities

Many thanks to all fellows and friends of IVA who contributed to the festivities during this year's Annual Meeting - an evening to celebrate the art of engineering sciences!