In search of Innovation Systems

In the official appropriations document for 2005, VINNOVA was commissioned, onthe basis of the government policy document “Innovative Sweden – a strategy for growth by means of renewal”, to describe and assess the situation in those parts of the research and innovation sector that lie within the scope of the agency’s area of responsibility.

This report is the result of the government’s assignment. In it, VINNOVA has tried to cohesively describe the progress that Sweden has made in the development of certain strategic elements of innovation policy.

The picture that emerges is that Swedish innovation policy is in a state of constant development. In some areas we are already well ahead in international comparison. In other areas, however, a lot remains to be done in order to strengthen the role of the system as a driving force for renewal and growth in industry and society in general. The universities need support to strengthen the infrastructure that makes it easier for companies and researchers to commercialise research results. Contacts between institutes of higher education and business and industry need to be developed. This applies not least to small and medium-sized firms, which need to improve their competitiveness in the face of increasing global competition, partly with the help of research. The industrial research institutes can also play a role here – provided that they are afforded the importance that such institutes have internationally. The report also reveals that much remains to be done to develop the environments in which researchers and other innovative forces meet to take further strides towards scientific excellence and global competitiveness.

For Swedish version see/För svensk version se VINNOVA Policy VP 2006:01.