Sustainable, circular and resilient value chains

A value chain is all steps from raw material extraction to recycling, where both societal and economic aspects are important perspectives. Moving to sustainable and circular business models gives businesses better opportunities to adapt to changing conditions and increase resilience to various types of crises linked to, for example, geopolitical changes, supply chain disruptions or climate disasters.

To strengthen our societies and their infrastructure, we need to develop sustainable, circular and resilient value chains in several key development areas:

• Environment: minimize climate impact, resource consumption, waste and protect natural resources and ecosystems.
• Social: promote health, safe working conditions, human rights and safety for people.
• Economically: create competitive, long-term profitable and responsible business models.

Vinnova's role – to create conditions for change

Vinnova wants to promote innovation at the system level by contributing to the transition to sustainable, circular and resilient value chains. We do this through government assignment in various areas and by initiating efforts to address the societal challenge or system where transition is required. Vinnova mobilizes broad collaborations between actors from academia, business, the public sector and civil society.

In initiatives that focus on innovation at the system level, we work actively in five areas that affect the system transformation: technology, infrastructure, policy, business models and behaviors.

Ongoing investments

Vinnova drives and participates in several initiatives that in various ways strengthen Sweden's ability to create sustainable and resilient value chains, for example:

Impact Innovation – Net Zero Industry: Net Zero Industry is one of five Impact Innovation programme within the Swedish manufacturing industry. Working to ensure that the industry is competitive and resilient with net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Net Zero Industry - A research and innovation program for a manufacturing industry without negative environmental impact

Impact Innovation – Metals & Minerals: Metals & Minerals is one of five Impact Innovation programme. Bringing together actors from the entire value chain – from mining to material use – to both increase access to sustainable resources and reduce the burden on the climate, environment and society.
Swedish Metals & Minerals

FFI Cirkularitet: Vehicle Strategic research and Innovation, is a collaborative program between the state and the automotive industry that has funded research and innovation in road transport since 2009.
FFI – Road transport innovations for a sustainable society

Sustainable battery value chain: Vinnova has been allocated special funds to strengthen research and innovation along the entire battery value chain. The initiative is based on interdisciplinary collaboration between industry, academia and public actors, with a focus on system innovation, advanced materials, production and recycling.
Scaling up for a sustainable battery value chain | Vinnova

Transition journey for a sustainable and circular forest value chain: A system-level effort with initiatives during 2024 – 2028, such as foresight workshops with actors in the forest value chain, the call for proposals for future prototypes for a sustainable forest value chain and the call for proposals for business models for sustainable forest-based industries.
Business models for sustainable forest-based industries | Vinnova
Future prototypes for a sustainable forest value chain | Vinnova
The blog about foresight | Vinnova

EU-related initiatives: Planning grant for international proposal.
Planning grant for international proposal 2025 | Vinnova

Vinnova has contact persons within several European partnerships.
European Partnerships in Horizon Europe

Eureka Smart cluster program for advanced manufacturing:
Home - SMART

Eureka Circular value creation:
Circular value creation R&D call for projects - Eureka Network 
Vinnova's international work | Vinnova