2024 in brief

New centre for biorefinery

In October, RISE inaugurated its new pilot hall in Örnsköldsvik in conjunction with the Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference and in the presence of representatives from industry, the region and the municipality. The pilot hall is the centrepiece of a major investment by RISE in new technology infrastructure at several sites, helping to make Sweden a world leader in new bio-based solutions.

The pilot hall is an arena where actors in research and industry can realise ideas about how biomass can be used in new applications. Here, multinational corporations and growing tech companies can meet and create new opportunities.

At a time when biomass is increasingly scarce, biorefineries play an important role thanks to the utilisation of residual streams. By driving and enabling testing, RISE can ensure that the utilisation leads to the greatest possible benefit and resource efficiency, both in the short and long term.

Collaboration with companies, including start-ups, small businesses and large corporations, is RISE's strength in the green transition within the bioeconomy. Research and development work is conducted in close collaboration with industry and contributes to new products and solutions reaching the market.

Notified body for medical devices

The Medical Products Agency appointed RISE's subsidiary RISE Medical Notified Body AB as a notified body for medical devices under the EU regulation. This means that the company may issue certificates for CE marking of medical devices.

RISE to certify radio equipment under the EU RED Directive

RISE has been designated as a Notified Body for the cybersecurity requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). This means that Swedish and international companies can test and certify products such as connected industrial electronics, wireless passage and alarm systems and remote-controlled products at RISE.

Pioneering collaboration on neuro-architecture and neurodesign

RISE and University College London have signed a collaboration agreement focusing on exploring the interdisciplinary fields of neuroarchitecture and neurodesign, i.e. how the human brain interacts with built environments. This understanding can contribute to sustainable environments that improve health and well-being.

European AI factory to Linköping University and RISE

Sweden has been selected to host one of seven European AI factories that will strengthen EU competitiveness in the field. Linköping University, NAISS (National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing) and RISE will be responsible for the Swedish AI factory, MIMER, which combines a state-of-the-art AI-optimised supercomputer with support for education, research and innovation.

TISAX-certified technology infrastructure

Since 2024, the Battery Safety Lab, together with the AstaZero test facility, is TISAX-certified (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange). The certification covers RISE's management system, of which information security is a part, and ensures that RISE can handle sensitive information and prototypes with high security.

Both facilities are developed in close co-operation with RISE customers to meet the specific needs of the automotive industry including prototype protection and secure information management.

RISE became a full owner of MoRe Research

MoRe Research Örnsköldsvik AB was previously 60 per cent owned by RISE and 40 per cent by Eurocon, the Kempe Foundations, Metsä Board Sweden and Domsjö Fabriker. The acquisition along with RISE's investment in new technology infrastructure have further strengthened Örnsköldsvik as Sweden's hub for research and development in the bioeconomy.

Rocket on list of attractive employers

Randstad Employer Brand Research is one of the world's largest employer branding surveys. This year, over 6,400 Swedes responded to what they thought of Sweden's 150 largest companies and government agencies. As a newcomer to the list, RISE went straight up to fourth place, directly after IKEA, Spotify and Volvo Group.