Government newsletter: Contribute to the Government's innovation strategy
11 april 2012

Contribute to the Government's innovation strategy

Innovation is about new ways of creating value for individuals, enterprises and society as a whole. Value is created when ideas are transformed into solutions for the needs, demands and challenges that exist in our everyday lives and the world around us.

An innovation can be anything, from a new product or service to a new way of organising work, business activities or relationships with external actors. The goal is for the Government to decide on an innovation strategy in early autumn 2012, expressed in a policy document aimed at 2020 to promote the climate for innovation long term.

Sweden among world-leading countries of innovation

Sweden enjoys a sound position in international comparisons of national innovation climate and competitiveness. The Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011 ranks Sweden as the leader among the 27 EU Member States. Sweden is ranked second in INSEAD's Global Innovation Index 2011 and third in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012.

What is an innovation strategy good for?

We can not rest on our laurels just because Sweden is in many respects a leading innovation country today. Innovation happens and is needed in all parts of society: business, public administration and civil society. Based on the OECD and EU innovation strategies, work on the national strategy is framed by three clear motives for enhancing Sweden's innovation capacity, namely

  • meet global social challenges, including climate, environmental and security issues, which also offer business opportunities;
  • continue to strengthen the competitiveness of Sweden-based companies in international markets and ensure the international attractiveness of Swedish environments for future skills supply, exports and employment; and
  • provide good quality welfare and social services since fewer must be able to provide for increasingly more as the population on an average is growing older.

An open and engaging dialogue

The work on the innovation strategy is based on dialogue and an open process. Therefore, the task of framing the strategy involves a broad dialogue with actors from the public sector, the business community and civil society.

The internet and social media are important tools in the process, where we regularly report on what progress has been made. You are welcome to get involved via meetings, the website, blog comment fields or social media.

A woman performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation while a second rescuer calls for help using his cell phone. One example of innovation is SMSlivräddare, a new service that enables members of the public with a knowledge of CPR to help save lives. Photo: Jessica Nieminen

A broad outlook on innovation

Successful innovation processes often take place when people combine different types of knowledge, skills and experiences. Innovation starts with the individual. Broadening our outlook on innovation can be challenging, since the term innovation is often used exclusively to refer to research, new technology or the manufacturing industries. While these areas of innovation are central, we also want to include other critical new solutions.

Steps towards strengthening the innovation climate

The Government takes regular decisions and initiatives in line with the ambition of the innovation strategy to strengthen the climate for innovation in Sweden in the long term.

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