Mobility solutions will reach the market faster

Innovation with a systems perspective is necessary to deal with many of the complex challenges we face. Without such a perspective, solutions risk not being implemented, reaching their maximum potential or contributing fully to sustainable change.

- We know from experience that solutions are not always explored based on all aspects of system innovation. For example, the technology itself often already exists, but one may not place sufficient emphasis on such things as business models and regulations. This entails an increased risk of missing areas of use, obstacles or appropriate measures on the way to implementation. We are convinced that a concrete focus on all perspectives of innovation results in more viable solutions that can reach the market faster and increase the speed of the change we must make, says Filip Kjellgren, programme manager at Vinnova.

For the first time, Vinnova now offers existing and recently completed project to analyze its solutions based on all five dimensions of system innovation. This may, for example, be about obstructive legislation, lack of business models or the need for changed user behavior in order for the solution to be introduced or disseminated. The offer has initially been directed to project active in sustainable mobility, of which five project have finally been granted a total of SEK 3.5 million.

For system innovation to be possible, these five dimensions need to be addressed:

1. Technology, products and processes
2. Business models and procurement
3. Infrastructure
4. Policy and regulations
5. Behavior, culture and values

- The response has been very positive. The interest of the respondents is great and the applications show exciting potential that can have an effect in the near future. Of course, we will wait for project results and follow-up, but we see clear indications that support in all perspectives of innovation is in demand, says Filip Kjellgren.

- In the aim to improve access to mobility in rural areas, we have previously explored how public transport and car-pooling can be integrated. Based on these insights, we now have the opportunity to co-create with others to both solve legal obstacles and to see if there are incentives that increase the probability that people in rural areas can actually use this integrated public transport, says Åsa Hult at IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet, who leads one of the projects within the initiative.

Another couple of project with the technology-heavy results has granted support to reach further by using more perspective on innovation. Among those projects is one that has created a structure around using mobile network data for transport analyzes and one that implements a new radar solution for self-driving vehicles.

Filip Kjellgren adds that a welcome side effect of the investment is also that more people gain knowledge and understanding of the importance of a system perspective in order for potential innovations to have as good conditions as possible to solve complex challenges.

At Vinnova, you see a continuation of the investment. There is already an opportunity for project to apply for the next round, which closes in mid-February. Even then, the focus is on sustainable mobility. The intention is then to work further with how system innovation can be integrated more broadly into Vinnova's existing investments.