How Sweden will invest in the right technologies for the future

Last spring, the government commissioned Vinnova, together with other stakeholders, to identify and propose technologies that are strategically important for Sweden. The aim is to create a knowledge base that can guide future investments in technology and innovation. The work is based on the technology areas identified by the European Commission as critical for the EU's economic security.

RISE has contributed by investigating, together with Teknikföretagen, which areas can be considered strategically important for Sweden. In addition, RISE received funding from Vinnova to investigate how foresight methodology and future visions can contribute to the development of national priorities and strategies. As part of the project, RISE also developed a current situation for the ten technology areas identified by the EU.

"We can conclude that all the technology areas identified by the EU are relevant for Sweden. The report is the result of complex work based on the rapid technological development we are experiencing today. Many of the emerging technologies, individually or together, have the potential to transform society in ways that are difficult to imagine today. Countries that are able to manage this change will have a major competitive advantage," says Malin Frenning, CEO of RISE.

New ways of working needed

The report lists four insights into what is needed at national level to manage the transformative change brought about by technological development. These are the need to be able to manage and sustainably use Sweden's unique environment, to increase our knowledge of the future in order to be proactive, to create better decision support that provides guidance for the future, and to find new ways of working for coordination, cooperation and knowledge sharing.

The report also states that Sweden could benefit from establishing a specific function to develop and manage national strategic work related to technology. This work must be based on a continuous analysis of the world around us and create an understanding of how policy work and technology development affect each other and society as a whole. The aim is for the results of research and innovation to benefit society in a rapid and responsible way.

"The coming, potentially extreme, changes cannot be managed with the traditional processes and methods used so far - entirely new ways of working are required. For long-term investments in technology to remain relevant, Sweden needs focused strategic work, including analysis of the business environment, categorisation of technology areas and prioritisation of actions. With our interdisciplinary expertise, RISE can be both a knowledge carrier and a coordinating actor in the strategic work required."