Agenda 2030 as a driver for innovation

Agenda 2030 is the world's biggest order, which everyone can and is expected to contribute to implementing. For the first time, the world has common objective for sustainable development. The goals are integrated and indivisible. This means that the goals interact and that forces need to be mobilized in all 17 areas to succeed. It also means that everyone needs to take into account both economic growth, social inclusion and long-term protection of the environment in everything that is done to achieve the goals.

"When other countries reduce their efforts for global sustainability, Sweden increases them. We will lead the way for Agenda 2030."

Stefan Löfven, Government Declaration 2019

Sweden's ambition is to be a leader in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The implementation constitutes a joint journey where collaboration, pooling of power and innovation will be crucial to meeting the complex challenges and achieving the goals. The 2030 Agenda both drives and requires innovation.

How Vinnova contributes to Agenda 2030

Vinnova's mission is to promote sustainable growth by improving the conditions for innovation. Improved conditions for innovation strengthen the capacity to achieve the goals in Agenda 2030. Through our efforts, we can therefore contribute to the global commitment to achieving the goals.

In the long term, Agenda 2030 will permeate our activities and form the basis for, for example, which initiatives we implement, which project we finance and how we follow up on them.

We want to contribute to a transition where all actors work together to achieve the goals in Agenda 2030. Therefore, we promote and stimulate collaboration between politics, public organizations, academia, business and civil society. Through efforts in research and innovation, we get more people to collaboratively develop their innovative capacity and create new solutions. In addition, we work to promote Swedish participation in Horizon 2020, the European program for research and innovation, with opportunities to participate in international project relevant to the sustainability goals.

We want to ensure that sustainable innovations benefit society. Therefore, our efforts also promote policy development in both the private and public sectors.

We recognize that gender equality is one of our most powerful tools for achieving the goals of Agenda 2030. Therefore, we work to ensure that our activities contribute to women and men having the same power to shape society and their own lives.

Gender-equal innovation - how to run gender-equal project

We finance innovation that contributes to the goals

When you apply funding from Vinnova, we often ask you to explain how your project or innovation will contribute to the goals of Agenda 2030. Our expectations for the project's funding depend on the specific aim and conditions of each call and are stated in the call text. This usually affects your funding opportunities and forms an integral part of the reporting.

All project we fund indicate their expected funding for specific milestones in Agenda 2030 when the first report is submitted. We have selected and adapted the milestones that we – within the framework of our mission and as a public authority – have the opportunity to influence through the project we fund.