The Competence Centre program was launched by Vinnova´s and the Swedish Energy Agency’s predecessor NUTEK in 1993. 28 Centre consortia were selected from more than 300 applications to receive 10 years of funding, starting from 1995. When Vinnova was founded, it overtook the responsibility for 23 Competence Centres and the 10 year commitment for funding. When the Swedish Energy Agency was founded, it overtook the responsibility for 5 Competence Centres and their funding, which still continues.
A first impact study of the Competence Centre program as a whole was done 2004.
This second impact study has specifically focused on the long term industrial impacts of the Competence Centre program. More than fifteen years after the Competence Centres were established and more than six years after Vinnovas funding ceased, this study was initiated to, based on interviews, identify and document direct and indirect effects in the companies participating in the Competence Centres. The study was also expected to provide recommendations regarding Competence Centres in future policy.
For a brief version see "Summary - Long Term Industrial Impacts of the Swedish Competence Centres" (Vinnova Report/Analysis VA 2013:11).
For a brief version in Swedish see "När företag och universitet forskar tillsammans" (Vinnnova Information VI 2013:13).