Organisation
RISE brings together problem solvers and a unique array of resources. We are researchers and scientists, analysts and inspectors, technicians and other experts needed in the work to develop the innovations of tomorrow. Together we comprise a research institute with both feet firmly on the ground, an innovation partner that is able to contribute to everything from groundbreaking research to development and testing.
We work in collaboration with and on behalf of the private and public sectors and academia. Our focus is firmly on solutions that meet the needs of society, something that is reflected in our organisation. Our researchers and specialists work side-by-side in a variety of fields across common business and innovation areas. With over a hundred unique testbeds and development environments, we are able to future-proof new solutions on a daily basis; whether they be products, services, technologies or processes.
Organisational overview
RISE is organised in divisions, departments, units and support functions. In addition, we have business and innovation areas in place that span across the organisational sections.
Group management
RISE group managemen is lead by CEO, Malin Frenning, appointed by the RISE board of directors.
Go to more information about RISE group management.
Divisions
We organise our competences and expertise in five divisions.
Bioeconomy
The Bioeconomy division works on biorefinery value chains and products and processes for agriculture, food, packaging, battery development and materials and surfaces design.
Life Science
The Life Science division is active in drug development and bioeconomy, with expertise in synthesis, formulation, manufacturing, analytical chemistry, toxicology and bioanalysis. We work with sustainable solutions for small and large life science companies with a focus on drug development.
Built Environment
The Built Environment division brings together expertise in energy, infrastructure, construction and properties, innovation management and system transition for a sustainable society. We also provide certification operations that help companies approach the market.
Digital Systems
The Digital Systems division operates in electronics, information and communications technology, software development, mobility, system analysis and interaction design. We provide solutions for all sectors, especially in areas involving digitalisation.
Materials and Production
The Materials and Production division, specialises in corrosion, chemistry, biology, medical technology and mechanics. We operate in product, production and material development for textile, polymer, composite and metal.
Safety and Transport
The Safety and Transport division, specialises in reliability, risk and safety in relation to vehicles, the maritime industry, the electrification of transport system and fires. The division has expertise in measurement technology, calibration, inspection and verification.
Brussels office
RISE Brussels Office follows the European policy development within the field of research and innovation. Our mission is to connect our researchers expertise to policy makers and to illustrate the significance of applied R&I for a resilient and competitive Europe.
The Brussels arena offers a unique platform for connecting with European partners and identifying collaborations for reaching greater impact on societal challenges.
With our unique expertise and over 100 testbeds and demonstrations environments for future-proof technologies, we contribute to European policy development and consequently results on the European market.
Contact the manager of our Brussels office: Adam Andersson.
Our history
The roots of the Swedish institute sector stretch back to the turn of the previous century, when many research institutes concentrating on specific industrial segments first saw the light of day.
Starting in the 1960s and over the subsequent 20 years, the sector grew from a handful of research institutes to just over 30. Companies and organisations from various industrial and materials sectors owned their own institutes, with the majority managed in the form of foundations.
These relatively small institutes slowly diminished in power, as the priorities of research policy gradually shifted Government financing increasingly in the direction of academia. The institutes were weakened at a time when international competition for researchers was strengthening. From the mid 1980s onwards, it became a stated policy ambition to strengthen development across the entire sector, including by gathering State-ownership under a single umbrella. This issue was thoroughly examined during the second half of the 1990s.
In 1997, the Government, together with the Knowledge Foundation, established the holding company IRECO Holding AB to gather and manage the State’s ownership interests in industrial research institutes.
In 2002, the concept of the ‘four-leaf clover’ was launched; institutes in related sectors and/or with complementary technologies were to be gathered in four groups. This concept developed to become Innventia, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Swedish ICT and Swerea.
In 2006, a report by Professor Sverker Sörlin highlighting the need for a unified Swedish research institute sector was greeted with considerable interest, increasing the demands of owners for consolidation.
The State acquired full ownership of IRECO Holding in 2007 and, in 2009, its name was changed to RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Holding. In that same year, RISE acquired all of the shares in SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.
The State saw enormous potential in a unified institute and, in 2014, opened discussions with stakeholders in Swedish ICT, Innventia and Swerea to investigate the prerequisites for a merger into a single institutional group.
RISE became the sole owner of Innventia and the companies within Swedish ICT in 2016.
In 2018, RISE acquired two thirds of the shares in research group Swerea.
In 2019, RISE acquired 60% of the shares in MoRe Research.
In 2021, SSPA Sweden (originally Statens Skeppsprovningsanstalt) was acquired.
In 2022, the operations of seven subsidiaries were transferred to the parent company: Energy Technology Center AB, Innventia AB, KIMAB AB, IVF AB, Sicomp AB, SWECAST AB and Swerea AB.
2024, RISE acquired the remaining 40% of the shares of MoRe Research, hence became the sole owner.