Country Overviews
Introduction
Since 2001, the new form of organisation for funding research in Sweden is organised in four research councils: the Swedish Research Council (VR); the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA); the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas); and the Swedish Council for Working life and Social Research (FAS).
Applied transport research is funded by the national Road and Rail Administrations. The total budget per year in the Swedish transport research system amounts to approximately Û80-90 million with four big financiers: VINNOVA, the Swedish Road Administration, the Swedish National Rail Administration and the Energy Agency. More than 25 people are involved in the coordination and management of all programmes, with approximately 1000 researchers contributing.
VR, the Swedish Research Council, bears national responsibility for developing the country's basic research towards attainment of a strong international position. The Council has three main tasks: research funding, science communication and research policy.
VINNOVA integrates research and development in technology, transport and working life. Its mission is to promote sustainable growth by financing R&D and developing effective innovation systems. It has a total budget around SEK 1.1 billion (approximately Û117 million). In the transport sector there are about 400 ongoing projects and VINNOVA funds Û20-22 million in projects in the transport field with a focus on new technology.
Formas is a governmental research funding agency related to several ministries, which encourages and supports scientifically significant research related to sustainable development. Although it has no specific activity in the area of transport research, it has some projects in the area of spatial planning and the environment, which has transport implications.
The Swedish National Rail Administration initiates, plans and supports applied socially-motivated research within the railway sector, and the Swedish Road Administration (SRA) conducts and commissions research, development and demonstration activities within the road transport system. R&D activities initiated and financed by the SRA are amongst the most important means of attaining transport policy goals in Sweden, therefore the SRA intends to allocate Û22 million annually in the years to come on R&D activities.
The Swedish Energy Agency supports research and development of new knowledge associated with the supply, conversion, distribution and use of energy. The Swedish Rescue Services Agency has a mission to prevent incidents and accidents, and undertakes research into incidents, assessments, damage and injuries. The Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, MISTRA, supports strategic research with a long-term perspective, aiming to solve major environmental problems. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency conducts environmental research, which includes issues like sustainable transport. Other organisations with R&D activities in the transport area are the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration and the Swedish Maritime Administration.
National Government Departments and Agencies
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications (Ministry of Transport) / Näringsdepartementet
Ministry of Education and Research / Utbildningsdepartementet
Links to all ministries: www.regeringen.se
(Swedish) / www.sweden.gov.se (English)
The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning / Forskningsradet för miljö, areella näringar och samhällsbyggande - FORMAS
The Swedish National Rail Administration / Banverket
The Swedish Road Administration / Vägverket
Vinnova, the Swedish Agency for Innovation System / Vinnova,Verket för innovationssystem
Swedish Energy Agency / Energimyndigheten
The Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research / MISTRA, Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning
FORMAS - The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning / Forskningsradet för miljö, areella näringar och samhällsbyggande - FORMAS
Two categories covered: environment and social planning.
www.formas.se
The Swedish National Rail Administration R&D Programme / Banverkets FoU-program
Separate programmes for the periods 2000-2005 and 2006-2011.
www.banverket.se
R&D Programme of the Swedish Road Administration (2000-2009) / Vägverkets Inriktningsprogram fšr FoU för aren 2000-2009
Four transport themes: traffic safety, environment, accessibility, efficiency.
www.vv.se
Swedish Road Administration - The Way Ahead Towards a Greener, Safer and Smarter Road Transport System: Research and Innovation Strategy (2008-2011) / Vägverket - Den effektiva vägen framat mot en grönare, säkrare och smartare vägtransportsystem - Forsknings- och innovationsstrategi
10 main research investment areas for the 2008-2010 period.
www.vv.se/om-vagverket/forskning-innovation
Vinnova - Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems / Vinnova - Verket för innovationssystem
Five transport themes: the use of energy in the transport sector, general programmes in the field of transport, public transport, logistics and freight transport, maritime safety.
www.vinnova.se
Swedish Energy Agency / Energimyndigheten
Three transport themes: alternative motor-fuels, ethanol from forest raw materials, road vehicle energy systems.
www.energimyndigheten.se
The Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research / MISTRA - Stiftelsen för miljöstrategisk forskning
Research focus: environment, social planning.
www.mistra.org
Research for a Safer Society / Foskning för ett säkrare samhället
Four transport themes: incidents/accidents; assessments and methods; incident/accident and injury/damage prevention; injury/damage limitation. Led by the Swedish Rescue services agency.
www.srv.se
