Visions for a healthier society

There are major challenges in the health sector driven by increased costs for medical advances, digitalisation and demographic changes. In addition, there are increased expectations from patients and citizens in matters of accessibility and influence. As part of tackling these challenges, Vinnova has invested in five innovation environments within the Visionsdriven healthprogram. Through bold and ambitious visions, the environments have worked for long-term system changes in the health sector between 2019-2024.

The five environments

• Antibiotic smart Sweden
• Information-driven care
• Zero vision Cancer
• Zero vision for malnutrition in the elderly
• Sweden leading in advanced therapies (ATMP 2030)

Evaluation of Vision-driven health

In the spring of 2025, Sweco conducted an evaluation of Visionsdriven health. Although it is early to measure profound system changes, it is possible to demonstrate early effects. Sweco notes that the innovation environments have laid a solid foundation for continued development. The visions have served as a unifying force in the work and have succeeded in breaking up old bottlenecks that favor cross-sectoral collaboration. Swedish solutions have also gained international exposure, through extensive collaborations and recurring dialogues, especially at the EU level.

The evaluation shows that Vinnova has functioned as an enabler in the role of financier but also by providing knowledge and method support. The evaluation shows that the environments have succeeded in building structures for cross-sectoral collaboration, developing practical tools for implementation and achieving several of their set objective.

Lessons to take with you for future initiatives

Sweco states in the report that forms of collaboration must be adapted to the maturity, driving forces and understanding of the problem picture of the individual ecosystems. A "one size fits all" does not work. Even well-designed forms of collaboration risk failing if the ecosystem is not ready or receptive to change. Early mapping and dialogue about the system's willingness and ability to accept change are therefore crucial.

Vision-driven health – Sweden's first mission initiative

The vision-driven approach is based on ideas from Professor Maria Mazzucato, that complex societal challenges require collaboration across sector boundaries and clear, timed bold transformation goals, missions. Vinnova's Vision-driven health programme has tested new methods to break lock-ins in the health system, strengthen opportunities to achieve long-term systemic changes in health ecosystems.