Sweden • VINNOVA

VINNOVA is the Swedish government agency managing and executing programmes for public funding of needs-driven research and technology development (excluding programmes in the energy and environment areas). The focus lies on innovation systems within technology, transport, communications and working life. Almost all of the programs of VINNOVA are both owned and managed by VINNOVA.

VINNOVA is participating in EraSME with the AIS programme, of which it is both owner and manager. The AIS programme is one of several programmes with a similar networking approach. There is an increasingly felt need for integrating or coupling these programmes to the international scene, especially as regards SMEs.

One important step for the future development is an evaluation of the current programme, and VINNOVA can see advantages of doing this together with other countries, e.g. to build more international co-operation opportunities either in the on-going networks and/or in new ones.