Impact Innovation builds Sweden's new innovation power

Published: 18 March 2026

Sweden's major innovation initiative Impact Innovation is the first to show how the entire society can be mobilized to create and receive groundbreaking solutions for a sustainable transition. Since 2024, 406 initiatives have been started and nearly 1.7 billion SEK has been invested in Sweden's innovative power, in strengthening Sweden here and now and in the long term.

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Early results from Impact Innovations's five programme – Net Zero Industry, ShiftSweden, SustainGov, Swedish Metals and Minerals and Water Wise Societies – show how they, together with industry, the public sector, academia and civil society, are building capacity and capabilities to manage the transition here and now, and in the long term.

– New technologies and working methods need to be able to land in a society that is ready to receive them. It is therefore reassuring that the programs show that they strengthen such capabilities through broad mobilization, anchoring of working methods and new collaborations. This makes Sweden stronger, says Darja Isaksson, director general at Vinnova.

Impact Innovation is about creating the conditions for innovations to be scaled up, shared and used by everyone. The initiative strengthens Sweden's international connectivity and competitiveness and makes Sweden a pioneer country for sustainable transition in the EU and globally.

– Impact Innovation unleashes the power of innovation in the entire society! When actors gather around real challenges, solutions are created that change entire systems, make everyday life better for people and give Sweden courage and momentum forward. This is how we build the Sweden of the future together, says Jenny Engström, team leader Impact Innovation Accelerator, Vinnova.

Results for Impact Innovations programme 2024 – 2025

Sweden's collective innovation power is set in motion

Impact Innovation has started 406 initiatives across the country and activated SEK 1.678 billion in the transformation of Sweden (of which SEK 1.049 billion is funding).

Broad mobilization and collaboration throughout society

The programs engage actors from industry, the public sector, academia, and civil society, and have created strong networks and consensus on the direction towards their missions.

Development of arenas, forums and contexts for learning and dialogue

With meeting places such as labs, workshops, advisory groups and research schools, the programs have created dialogue, knowledge exchange and strengthened capacity, and deepened understanding of needs, obstacles, opportunities and objective.

Emergence of scalable solutions and new ways of working

The program's efforts are the start of the emergence of innovations that can be scaled up and spread, method and work development in technical, social and organizational areas that together enable transformation throughout society.

Strengthened strategic conditions for transformation

The programs show how they contribute to developing norms, policy, governance, legislation and culture, and how they create structures that provide legitimacy, pace here and now, and long-term perspective in the transition work.

International connectivity and strengthened position for Sweden

Through strategic collaborations and international networks, the programs act as a unifier for their sectors, they create room for action for innovation and strengthen Sweden's influence and position in the EU and globally.

Program reports

In their first Impact Innovation Reports, the programs summarize the period 2024-2025 – how is the work progressing towards the mission, what has the program focused on and what is happening going forward?

About Impact Innovation

Impact Innovation is Sweden's major innovation initiative that tackles the challenges of our time and the future with groundbreaking innovations - and shows the way to a continued sustainable and competitive Sweden, rich to live in for all.

Impact Innovation is a joint effort between the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova. The initiative is based on Agenda 2030, the EU's mission and social policy objective.

Together we are reshaping Sweden for the 2030s – and beyond on Impact Innovation's website