Innovation for competitiveness

In an era characterised by rapid technological development, geopolitical tensions and climate change, the world is more unpredictable than ever. However, Sweden has everything it needs to take the lead in several strategic technology areas and thereby secure the foundations of Sweden’s competitiveness in Europe and the world. The need for applied research has never been greater, and rapid transformation and adaptability to changing circumstances are essential. Here, RISE has a role to play alongside industry, public authorities and other stakeholders. Our position is based on a deep understanding of industrial value chains and challenges, as well as the transformation facing the public sector.

As we look back on the year, we can see that 2025 was a year shaped by the times we live in. In addition to our ongoing research, we have clearly focused on solutions for the adaptability of industry and the public sector, contingency planning and dual-use applications.
An example of this is Prepare Sweden, a national collaboration to improve society’s preparedness by enhancing industry’s capacity to pivot production, whilst enabling procuring authorities to gain a better understanding of industry’s operating conditions. Here, RISE, as an independent research institute, can bring together stakeholders who would otherwise rarely meet. The total defence sector is becoming increasingly important, and during the year RISE has initiated new collaborations with, among others, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (formerly MSB) and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). At the same time, our partnerships with municipalities and regions remain vital for both preparedness and the transition to climate neutrality.

RISE’s clients in the private and public sectors face complex challenges. With our breadth of cutting-edge expertise and technical infrastructure, we can pool our resources in technical fields that require an interdisciplinary approach. Biotechnology, energy supply and electrification, total defence, and digitalisation and AI are examples of such areas, where we are now further strengthening our capabilities.
The field of AI is broad, and RISE’s activities during the year have ranged from supporting learning in municipalities and regions to development within the manufacturing industry and the space sector. One initiative currently under development is the European AI factory MIMER, for which RISE is responsible together with Linköping University. It will make Sweden a hub for AI excellence and combines a state-of-the-art AI-optimised supercomputer with support for education, research and innovation. Through our mission, RISE will act as a gateway for small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from the infrastructure and the expertise surrounding it. 

New requirements and regulations present challenges but also opportunities for Swedish companies to strengthen their competitiveness. During the year, RISE has developed several new services to support the business community and the public sector. For example, we are the first in the world to certify in accordance with the EU’s new standard for inclusive design. Furthermore, our certification services were expanded in 2025 to cover the entire security market. Furthermore, RISE was appointed as a Technical Service Provider for vehicle cybersecurity, accredited to verify sustainability declarations, and was granted an extended mandate as a European Reference Laboratory (EURL) for in vitro diagnostics.
Technology infrastructure plays a key role in Sweden’s competitiveness. In 2025, our Bioeconomy Arena facility came into operation, enabling, amongst other things, the development of alternative foods through biotechnology and products made from renewable raw materials. New business opportunities are also opening up with our odourless lignin facility, which was inaugurated in October. It is attracting companies keen to develop new products from one of the forestry industry’s major waste streams. During the autumn, the ground-breaking ceremony was also held for a new chamber at our EMC facility to meet the industry’s need to secure vehicles against cyber threats.

Society’s extensive electrification for climate transition makes energy supply and energy storage more important than ever. Our capabilities in the battery sector have been significantly strengthened in recent years, not least through the establishment of the Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory (SEEL) and our battery safety lab. In 2025, we launched a new conference to bridge the knowledge gap in battery safety. The Battery Safety Conference brings together experts, researchers and companies from around the world to discuss the latest innovations, safety aspects and future challenges.

RISE is driving the transition for the future of industry and the renewal of society. The importance of our mission became clear when RISE was named Sweden’s most attractive employer in 2025 in Randstad’s survey. We are also proud that both the Customer Satisfaction Index and brand awareness have increased in 2025. RISE has a natural place in the Swedish innovation system and is a globally recognised and sought-after partner. Proof of the latter is the number of agreements signed with South Korean organisations during the year. RISE is also part of the new quantum collaboration between Sweden and Singapore.
 

In this era of transformation, we need broad collaboration between industry and society, interdisciplinary expertise and technical capability. This drives us to constantly refine our offering so that we always remain relevant. At the same time, we continue our work towards operational excellence and financial stability, which enables us to run a flexible business and have the capacity to make investments that strengthen our relevance.

With 2025 in the rear-view mirror, we can be proud of the steps we have taken together towards sustainable growth. I would therefore like to extend my sincere thanks to all our customers, partners and employees for their excellent cooperation!

Malin Frenning, CEO