Transition for future competitiveness

Climate change, pandemics, a changed security situation, rapid technological development – the world is in the midst of a comprehensive process of change that affects societies, business, the public sector and all of us as individuals. We need to find new ways to meet the challenges we face, or as Albert Einstein put it: "Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them. It takes a whole new way of thinking to solve the problems we've created with the old way of thinking."

At RISE, there is expertise in future analysis that allows us to help individual organizations, industries or society as a whole to take advantage of the opportunities that the future brings and actively drive development towards a desired future - whether it is about unlocking potential in technology and innovation, making visible a desirable movement and position for an organization or something completely different. Future analysis produces decision support that makes plans and strategies more resilient by actively managing uncertainties, which gives organizations an increased ability to navigate an uncertain world and increases the ability to meet the complex challenges that the future entails.

Based on our independence and with the help of scientific methods, RISE works with future analysis in a number of different ways. We take on the role of analyst and process leader to drive foresight projects and futures studies.

We can carry out external and system analyses to map trends and shifts that are already evident today, and trend analyses that show coming development.

With future scenarios, we paint several pictures of how the world may develop and explore alternative futures with the help of workshops and role play.

We help organisations to implement and drive strategic foresight as a way to complement investments in new technologies and innovation and analyse their role in broader transitions and changes in the economy and society.

A clear vision for the future is important for all organisations – from individual companies to entire industries. But with the goal set, questions arise; How do we get there? How do we realise our vision and achieve our goals? What obstacles will we encounter along the way? What do we need to do first? A strategic roadmap can help provide answers to these questions, make it easier for organisations to plan in uncertain conditions, and navigate the more complex matters. A roadmap can also serve as a tool for gathering a company, an industry or an entire community around a common direction with clear choices mapped out.

The result of an implemented roadmap is visible in the individual organisation in the form of fulfilled goals regarding, for example, sustainability, strengthened competitiveness and competence, new collaborations and a strengthened brand. The roadmap also brings with it positive effects at the societal level, often in the form of reduced environmental impact, strengthened international competitiveness and attractiveness for Sweden.

Sometimes the biggest gain can also lie in the process of arriving at the roadmap itself, that actors meet around a common goal.

RISE works with strategic roadmaps in different ways. We can support organisations, industries, municipalities or other constellations of actors in developing the roadmap – from current situation analysis to planning.

We can analyse an existing roadmap and help to stress-test and create an understanding of the consequences of the directions and choices made in the roadmap, but also be involved in adapting or updating the roadmap based on changed conditions, such as technical challenges, regulatory issues, business models, safety issues, environmental issues or social sustainability.

Finally, we have the capacity and expertise to help implement roadmaps through, for example, project and process management, research, development and innovation.

Common to all RISE initiatives linked to roadmaps is that we work on a scientific basis with a focus on sustainable transition and increased competitiveness.

The transition to a sustainable society depends on the rapid development of technology. But the technology itself is not enough. In order for it to reach its full potential and accelerate the sustainable transition, regulations and policies need to be developed at the same pace. In some cases, even policy development can take precedence over and enforce new technological solutions.

Traditionally, technology development and policy as well as regulatory development have been separate. But in order for us to be able to take a holistic approach to regulatory issues, silo thinking needs to be removed and replaced with working methods where experts in technology development collaborate with lawyers, economists, behavioural scientists, environmental scientists and systems scientists to jointly find the way forward for both technology and regulations.

RISE can act as a neutral, coordinating party in the work with policy development. With methods that, for example, are based on design thinking, we can link knowledge and skills based on needs, both in law and in the area or areas to which the issue relates – all in order to develop better policies and regulations where participation and adaptation to users' needs are key factors. RISE's foundation in science, access to research expertise, independence and habit of collaborating with both industry, the public sector, academia and authorities means that the work with policy development goes faster and smoother.