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Sweden and Canada deepen cooperation – new opportunities for Swedish innovation
Sweden and Canada's research and innovation relations are entering a new phase. With a strategic partnership in place and growing networks in everything from mining and forestry to advanced technology, more and new doors are opening for Swedish innovation players.
The cooperation between the countries has been strengthened for several years through the Sweden Canada Innovation Initiative (SCII), Sweden Canada Innovation Days and a growing demand from both Swedish and Canadian actors to jointly tackle global societal challenges. In November 2025, Sweden and Canada also launched a new strategic partnership between the two states that further deepens the relationship in research, innovation, climate, energy, security and trade.
Similarities create conditions for real collaboration
When Fredrik Göthe, responsible for Vinnovas Kanadaarbete, sums up Sweden Canada Innovation Days 2025, he highlights how smoothly the cooperation between the countries works and why.
– We are very similar to each other and have common values. There is a curiosity and a desire to truly collaborate. We share strong innovation system, have similar structures in the mining and forestry industries and complementary competencies in areas such as advanced manufacturing, digitalisation and sustainable raw material supply
A strategic partnership opens new doors
The new political partnership between Sweden and Canada means that cooperation will grow further in several strategic areas. The partnership includes, among others, defense and resilience, Arctic cooperation, digital transformation with a focus on research and innovation, climate and environmental issues, and energy issues.
Canada is also now an associated partner of Horisont Europa, which means an easy path for Canadian actors to participate in European research and innovation programs.
Great opportunities for Swedish innovation players
Fredrik Göthe believes that it is precisely the combination of similar values, strategic needs and political will that makes the collaboration so promising.
– The biggest opportunities lie in the new strategic agreement and in Canada's role within Horisont Europa. They need European partners, and here Swedish actors are very sought after. Sweden and Canada also have established networks in the mining and forestry industries that are important to continue to maintain.
Do you want to know more?
Contact Fredrik Göthe if you have any questions about the collaboration. Also follow Vinnova's international calls for proposals and initiatives at vinnova.se and keep an eye out for upcoming activities related to the Sverige-Kanada collaboration.
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Last updated 11 February 2026