This is the first impact analysis that exclusively deals with R&D funding taking place after the foundation of Vinnova. Since the long-term effects of R&D projects are visible only years after the ending of the projects the analysis deals with impacts expected to be found in a shorter time span. The focus of the present impact analysis is to identify and analyze the presence and strength of behavioural additionality at small and medium-sized companies that received support from the Vinnova programmes Forska&Väx (2006 – 2008) and Vinn nu(2002 – 2008). Behavioural additionality is defined as changes in enterprise behaviour related to government R&D funding.
By use of quantitative methods a representative sample of enterprises were selected from the programmes. Information from the selected enterprises was subsequently collected by semi structured face-to-face interviews. In order to nuance the results the authors introduce the concept of weak versus strong additionality, which makes it possible to qualitatively separate between additionalities of different magnitude.
The empirical analysis shows, for example, that the grant from Vinnova has been vital in order for several R&D projects to even start. For a large number of companies the support of Vinnova has contributed to increase the size of the R&D projects. Furthermore, from a number of interviews it was also found that the support contributed to accelerate the projects, i.e. the R&D projects either started earlier or was carried out faster than would have been possible without the support. The interviews also revealed that the funding serves as a quality marker to third parties, which in a number of cases has been important for attracting additional funding both nationally and internationally as well as for attracting venture capital.
For brief version in Swedish see "Sammanfattning - Effekter av Vinnova-program hos Små och Medelstora Företag" (Vinnova Rapport/Analys VA 2010:10).