Funding
Early verification of ideas plays a key role in future Swedish growth
Sweden is strong in academic research, but too many knowledge-intensive ideas never reach the market. They get stuck in the critical gap between academia and commercialization, a stage where the risks are high and the path forward is often unclear. Vinnova has now been tasked by the government to reduce this gap and strengthen the conditions in the early stages.
The mission is to build a stronger capability in the innovation system and make early verification and validation a strategic cornerstone, so that more ideas and research results reach the market at the right time.
Early verification and validation of ideas can be crucial to whether they reach the market or stay on the drawing board. It's about testing market potential, business logic and international viability. For researchers, entrepreneurs and investors, it can mean the difference between scaling an idea, adjusting its focus or closing on time.
– When commercialization potential and risks are clarified early, better conditions are created for investors and industrial actors to take ideas further in later stages towards scaling. Verification and validation thus become a key function in a more accurate and competitive innovation system, says Anna Bergstrand, programme manager at Vinnova and responsible for the government assignment.
In 2025, Vinnova granted SEK 90 million to 14 innovation offices at Swedish universities within the framework of the “Verification for growth” initiative, part of the broader government mandate. The funds will strengthen the innovation offices' ability to test market potential and make ideas more investment-ready.
Identify gaps and deficiencies
– The next step in the effort is to strengthen the middle layers in the innovation ecosystem, actors such as innovation clusters, science parks and testbeds. They play an important role by helping idea carriers and startups to test solutions in real environments, find industry partners and gain access to business development support. Now they will have the opportunity to apply for funds to identify gaps and shortcomings that prevent ideas from being commercialized and to suggest how the work in the early stages can be improved and become more structured, says Stina Lundgren Högbom, programme manager at Vinnova and responsible for the call for proposals.
By strengthening innovation offices and the intermediate layers that connect research, business and funding, as well as through more coordinated work throughout the innovation ecosystem, the risks for both idea carriers and investors are reduced.
Overall, the government mandate involves a shift from a focus on individual ideas to a more cohesive innovation system. It is crucial for Sweden's ability to scale more ideas globally, strengthen competitiveness and create long-term growth
Questions?
Anna Bergstrand
Strategic Area Leader Emerging Technologies and Businesses
Last updated 28 May 2026