Innovation Leader of the Year

Nominations are now open

The Innovation Leader of the Year is an award initiated by Vinnova, RISE, and the professional association Innovationsledarna. The prize aims to inspire, recognize, and highlight innovation leaders who have built capability and created value within their organizations and for society.

Nominations for Innovation Leader of the Year 2026 are now open. Nominate your candidate HERE.

Nomination Criteria

The nominee has:

Contributed to building the capability to systematically lead and organize innovation activities within an organization or across multiple organizations working together. For example, the individual may have worked with facilitation, the development of innovation strategy, vision and mission, the establishment of innovation structures, processes, governance, and similar initiatives.

and

Contributed to realizing and scaling the value created through innovation. The individual has clearly helped transform intention into tangible value. Value creation may include new organizational innovations, as well as product, service, and business development, or value generated from a broader societal and systems perspective. Long-term value may also be created through advances in sustainability and contributions to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Who Is Eligible for the Award?

Employees or individuals working within organizations that lead and organize innovation activities, and who meet the criteria for “Innovation Leader of the Year.”
The award is presented in two categories: “Companies” and “Public Sector.”
An Honorary Award may be granted to individuals who have made a significant contribution at a systemic level, creating impact beyond individual organizations.

Jury

The jury consists of representatives from academia, the public sector, and the private sector.

Johan Frishammar

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Luleå University of Technology (LTU)
Board Member, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket)

Ingrid Kihlander

Researcher in Innovation Management, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Adjunct Professor, Swedish Defence University

Maja Påhlman

Innovation Director, Arla Foods Sweden
Chair, Innovationsledarna (The Swedish Association of Innovation Leaders)

Christian Appelt

Founder, Ambient Society
Former Head of Service Design, Polestar

Jessica Röök

Innovation Strategist, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR)

Årets innovationsledare 2024 - privat sektor

Årets innovationsledare 2024 - offentlig sektor

Previous Innovation Leaders of the Year

The winner of Innovation Leader of the Year 2023 was Magnus Sundström, Head of Research and Innovation at the Swedish Maritime Administration. At this link on YouTube, you can watch the award ceremony from the 2023 Quality Fair. The presentation is in Swedish.

If you're curious to learn more about previous winners, you can find information in Swedish at the following link: Innovation Management Conference 2022 and 2021.