Articles and blogposts om innovation management

As competition intensifies and the differences between offerings become blurred, the question of how new ideas are handled becomes crucial to long-term competitiveness. For Toyota Material Handling Europe, it has become increasingly clear that innovation needs to be managed more systematically than before.

Innovation doesn’t happen by itself. To go all the way from idea to business opportunity and success requires leadership and organization. Now, companies and organizations have the opportunity to set a new standard and lead the way for future innovation efforts with ISO 56001 through RISE. The question is, who will be first – the public sector or private enterprise?

How do you lead innovation in an organization undergoing a historic transformation? For LKAB, it’s not just about new technology – it’s also about developing an organization that can systematically identify opportunities, make wise decisions, and turn them into action. – We often say that everything starts in the mine, says Markus Odevall, Innovation Strategist at LKAB.

In a complex world with major challenges, the importance of a powerful research institute becomes apparent. In 2024, RISE will achieve a strong result that will enable continued investments in cutting-edge expertise and technology infrastructure that are important for Sweden's and Europe's competitiveness.

The companies that can meet the demands of the future are those that dare to look beyond the obvious and manage multiple possible scenarios. With the right tools, you can navigate uncertainty and take control of your future – with innovation at its heart.

Rapid change requires long-term and sustainable strategies. By combining foresight with strong innovation leadership, Sweden can meet future challenges and strengthen its global competitiveness.

Around 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from our cities. At the same time, 85 percent of Europe's population is expected to live in cities by 2050, and 93 percent in Sweden. These figures make it clear why drastically reducing emissions is a must. In Malmö, system innovation is being used to meet the challenge.

The government has commissioned Vinnova to identify strategically important technologies that can strengthen Sweden's competitiveness. RISE has contributed to this work by exploring how the foresight methodology can be used to develop national priorities and strategies. The results are now summarised in the report Strategic Technology Areas for Sweden, which highlights both the current situation and future prospects in the light of rapidly emerging technological developments.

Every year, thousands of organizations – both Swedish and foreign – turn to RISE for help in taking their product, process or entire business to the next level and meeting new demands and expectations from customers and citizens.

Ireland's official standards body learned that there was a specialized team in Sweden certifying innovation managers – and decided to use that expertise to take the next step in its own use of innovation management. Here is the first Irishman to pass through the eye of the needle.

Have you ever wondered why some instructions lead to concrete actions while others merely create confusion and leave people feeling uncertain?

The demands for sustainability and digitalisation from the surrounding world motivate and pressure businesses and societal actors to innovate and develop. However, despite all the good ideas and projects, many organisations struggle to fully realize the impact and value of their efforts. It is simply a challenging task, but by working systematically with their innovation efforts, the likelihood of success increases. 

As a research institute, RISE has a key role in linking together academia and industry. RISE's CEO describes a year of new initiatives and continued development of the business.

What role do Swedish innovation companies play in global change? An important one, according to several studies. RISE's Henrik Bagewitz and Leif Lyckebäck, who have met hundreds of innovative small companies, explain the key factors that increase the chances of success.

As discussions surrounding the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) unfold in Brussels, a chorus of voices from diverse networks is resoundingly advocating for a larger FP10 budget. Despite representing a spectrum of RD&I interests and priorities, these networks converge on one central message: a larger RD&I budget is indispensable for the EU's long-term competitiveness. 

In my professional life, I am constantly faced with the challenge of not only understanding what creates value for myself, but also how I can contribute value internally to the company as well as for those we strive to help. From the strategic salary conversation such as during that everyday cup of coffee.

Can we see into the future? Perhaps not in the literal sense. But we can actually plan and prepare for tomorrow on a scientific basis. 

They are based in what is currently one of the most expansive regions in Sweden. However, despite this, innovation is not something that simply happens. Accordingly, Piteå Science Park has engaged RISE to certify five innovation leaders. “In exploratory processes, it’s extremely important to know where you’re headed, and certification provides a quality seal confirming that we know how to get there,” says Greta Wimander, campus strategist at Piteå Science Park.  

I reread a quote the other day: "in the past, work was about muscles, now it's about the brain, but in the future, it will be about the heart"

At RISE, around 3,000 problem-solvers are tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges. Some of the practical work takes place in RISE’s innovation workshop in Uppsala, where Tomas Reilander and his two colleagues produce 40-50 new innovations a year – everything from small tools to autonomous vehicles.

The global pandemic showed just how important it is for a society to be well prepared for rapid change in the event of a crisis. This was particularly evident within healthcare and social care, which continue to face major challenges. Parallel to this, the industrial sector is working on its ability to transition. So, what can they learn from each other?

The new technological, demographic, social and political changes in society can present both major problems and fantastic opportunities. Are you seeing all the opportunities, risks and consequences that come in the wake of the changes and new requirements? Are you aware of what new decisions, plans and policies will be needed in your particular line of business? “Instead of groping in the dark, you can gain a lot of time by turning to us,” says Andreas Johansson, research and business area manager at RISE.

Policy Lab is used to test, develop, and evaluate new technologies in combination with rules and policies that can act both as enablers and obstacles. The Lab is in high demand, and a series of projects are underway here, many of which involve autonomous vehicles.

Politicians have hammered out the targets and goals, but which policy instruments work best to achieve them? A complicated municipal case reveals several conflicting objectives; how can they be comparably evaluated? A company faces its biggest ever investment decision, but does the data truly address different scenarios? RISE can contribute research-based data for decision-making that takes into account many interrelated parameters.

What does the society of the future look like? And how is it going to work? Here we rarely find the answers in today's social models and organizations, which have difficulty both in picturing and transitioning to new societies and systems. By working proactively with governance and changing how operations are organized, the conditions are created for implementing the necessary changes in both society and business.