65 candidates for world-leading cluster of excellence

Clusters of Excellence for Breakthrough Technology is a ten-year, large-scale effort by Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council. The goal is to finance around ten clusters that are based on strong collaborations across sectors, often between academia, business and innovation actors. They will lead to new breakthroughs, advanced Swedish positions and fast-growing companies in breakthrough technology.

Strong mobilizing power in the innovation and research system

On June 10, the first the call for proposals to establish clusterclosed. The result? 65 applications to start a world-leading cluster for research and innovation at the international forefront.

The largest number of applications, 14, comes from KTH. Karolinska Institutet has submitted nine applications, Linköping University seven and Chalmers, Lund University and Uppsala University six applications each. Applications have also been received from SLU, Gothenburg, Luleå, Stockholm and Umeå universities. Applications have also come from other organisations: IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, Lindholmen Science Park, RISE, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute and Skandion Clinic. Co-applicants in the applications come from many more higher education institutions and organisations and cover the Swedish research, business and innovation community very well.

– In the little over a year that the initiative has been active, universities, companies, innovation actors and others have formed 65 candidates for future clusters of excellence. This shows a strong mobilization around the ambition to build world-leading environments for groundbreaking technology. The ambitions are high in the Swedish research and innovation system. We should be proud of that, says Fredrik Weisner, responsible for clusters of excellence at Vinnova

Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council have a clear objective vision with the focus on clusters of excellence: that by 2035 Sweden should have a handful of clusters of excellence whose capabilities and results rank among the top five in the world in their respective fields.

– Global competition for groundbreaking technology is intensifying. Clusters of excellence are an important part of securing our international competitiveness and building a resilient society. We want the clusters to contribute to how we fundamentally change and solve problems, and break new ground in the search for future research and innovation breakthroughs, says Darja Isaksson, director general at Vinnova.

A gathering of forces across borders

Clusters of excellence unite the country's leading researchers with entrepreneurs and industry's most forward-thinking leaders to take Sweden towards international leadership. It is a gathering of forces across geographical and organizational boundaries to drive real change and create new ways of collaborating that strengthen Sweden's position in the global technology competition.

– Behind every proposal there is hard work and extensive cooperation between research, business and innovation actors – which has also been carried out in a short time. We look forward to taking part in the applications received, and towards late autumn, granting a few strong clusters with great potential to promote Swedish technology leadership, says Fredrik Weisner.

Read the news on the Swedish Research Council's website:

65 applications to establish clusters of excellence for groundbreaking technology - Swedish Research Council

What happens next?

At Vinnova and the Swedish Science Year seminar in Almedalen, Is Sweden ready for groundbreaking technology? actors from several sectors will discuss how Sweden should prepare for the excellence clusters' results. A first overall analysis of the applications received will also be presented on stage.

Welcome to Framtidens trädgård in Almedalen or follow along online!