To meet major societal challenges and strengthen competitiveness in an increasing pace of innovation in the world, Vinnova has initiated a strategic collaboration with its German counterpart SPRIN-D. The partnership will promote and accelerate radical innovation, groundbreaking ideas and technologies that have potential to change society and our lives - so-called disruptive innovation.
The Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen, SPRIN-D, is Germany's public authority for disruptive innovation with the mission to identify, finance and support radically new ideas and technologies that can lead to significant societal improvements. Vinnova and SPRIN-D have a common vision of helping to build strong European deeptech innovation system in multiple areas. By working together, both countries strengthen their international expertise with aim of achieving maximum impact.
In the films below, representatives from Vinnova and SPRIN-D talk about how to collaborate in a number of filmed interviews.
Darja Isaksson, director general at Vinnova, highlights the importance of this collaboration to share methods for system innovation and to mobilize innovations more quickly. See the interview with Darja Isaksson about the collaboration with the German SPRIN-D.
Barbara Diehl, Chief Partnership Officer at SPRIN-D, emphasizes the organisations' shared ambition to promote radical innovation through knowledge exchange. Vinnova and SPRIND's collaboration positions Sweden and Germany at the forefront of transforming visionary concepts into real, society-improving innovations.
See interview with Barbara Diehl about the collaboration between German SPRIN-D and Vinnova.
Jano Costard, Director Challenges at SPRIN-D, shares the authority's methods for encouraging breakthroughs through structured Challenges, innovation challenges linked to societal challenges.
Film: Interview with Jano Costard about how German SPRIN-D supports radical innovation
A central part of the collaboration concerns specific methods to stimulate innovations that are not yet on the market. Ann-Mari Fineman, programme manager and innovation scout at Vinnova, highlights the importance of pre-commercial procurement (PCP). It is a method of purchasing research and development services to solve a societal problem rather than buying a finished product.
The international perspective is crucial for radical innovation. By sharing experiences and strategies, Sweden and Germany can identify the most groundbreaking ideas globally, apply effective financing and support models, and promote systemic changes that have potential to solve large, common societal challenges on a broad scale.
Watch the film where Darja Isaksson, Barbara Diehl and Jano Costard discuss why international collaboration is crucial to creating groundbreaking innovations.
Last updated 19 November 2025
