Sweden

In a highly developed industrial nation like Sweden, high priority is accorded to research, development and innovation as investments in the future. Sweden is one of Europe's frontrunners both in terms of investment in research and development (R&D) relative to the gross domestic product (GDP), and with regard to other indicators for innovation and competitiveness. The Baltic Sea region represents an important geographical framework and a major source of potential for German-Swedish cooperation.

Political framework for scientific and technological cooperation

Sweden has a long history of intensive funding of research and development (R&D) in both the private and public sectors and through close cooperation between these two areas. It is a world leader when it comes to R&D investment. Sweden invested more than 3,50% a year of its GDP in R&D since 2003 (according to Eurostat data, 2,30% in 2009) and is therefore - together with Denmark and Finland - one of the three EU-countries that exceed the "Lisbon objective" of 3%. Most of this investment comes from businesses. The public sector still accounts for less than 1%. The Swedish government is therefore planning to increase investment by 20% by 2012 compared with the figure for 2008. In October 2008, the Swedish government introduced its new Research and Innovation Bill, which forms the basis for a gradual increase in public funding for R&D.

In Swedish society, education is regarded as a crucial factor for successful, sustainable research, development and innovation activities. According to the "Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010", Sweden was ranked as one of the top three countries for university education and vocational training, alongside its Nordic neighbours Denmark and Finland. Altogether, Sweden was ranked on the second position after Switzerland in the first position, according to the "Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011" and the "Innovation Union Scoreboard 2010".

Sweden held the EU Council Presidency in the 2nd half of 2009. Key areas of focus in the R&D sector were governance of the European Research Area, development of a European innovation plan and cooperation in the fields of general and vocational training. The Swedish presidency highlighted the issue of interaction between research, education and innovation at a conference in Gothenburg.

Key areas of cooperation

There is no bilateral cooperation agreement at government level for science and research between Germany and Sweden.
Bilateral cooperation takes place primarily within a multilateral framework and is geared to active structuring of the European Research Area. Joint projects within the 7th Framework Program for Research and Technological Development focus on information and communication technologies and on health.
With one exception, all projects with Swedish participation within the BMBF specialised programs are multilaterally oriented. The key areas of focus within current projects are information and communication technologies, marine and polar research and environmental research and technology.

Funding the cooperation with Sweden

The BMBF published an announcement governing the funding of an ideas competition for the establishment and development of innovative R&D networks with partners in the Baltic Sea region in spring 2010. The aim of this funding measure is to tap into innovation potential through international cooperation and to boost the international competitive edge of German companies and research institutions in the Baltic Sea region. The announcement is geared to helping German institutions network with excellent institutions in the Baltic Sea region in order to develop joint cooperation strategies and work successfully on R&D projects, thereby further promoting the internationalisation of existing national competence networks. The announcement also helps to intensify cooperation with Swedish partners. In the beginning of 2011, Swedish institutions have been participating in eleven projects.

Publikationen

Länderbericht Band 8
Schweden

Documents

Contact Persons

  • Dr. Hans-Peter Niller

    • Senior scientific officer: BeNeLux, Nordic Countries, Slovakia, Czech Republic
    • Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
    • 53227 Bonn
    • Telefonnummer: +49 228 3821-1468
    • Faxnummer: +49 228 3821-1444
    • E-Mail-Adresse: hans-peter.niller@dlr.de