Innovation in European healthcare – what can Sweden learn? - LIF

Issues in Sweden: infrastructure for innovation
Sweden has established an infrastructure for innovation
similar to that of other European countries – and the
stakeholders are cautiously optimistic
• “There is a large number of agencies and departments for innovation being set up. It’s still
early days, why it’s not clear what all this will lead to, but I am satisfied with the efforts so
far”, CEO small biotech company
• ”Everybody is working on innovation in healthcare today, the government, the regions and
counties etc. My only concern is that it may develop into something overly complex.”, CEO
medium-sized medtech company
• ”An area where we really do need support are the EU applications. We are not big enough
to be able to apply for EU grants, since these are complex and exhaustive. We need to rely
on the institutions that we collaborate with in order to submit an application.”, CEO large
Swedish medtech company
• ”There is absolutely nothing wrong with what can be found in the Government Bill on
research and innovation. It’s what cannot be found that’s the problem: commercialisation of
research on how the medical industry can be supported”, CEO pharmaceutical company
• ”Life science and healthcare is pointed out by the government as focus areas, but in reality
very little is happening. The way that the hospitals are managed, there is little room to test
new technologies. The innovation infrastructure should also contain a long-term strategy for
investments in innovation and new technologies. The political attention and interest in longterm
strategies appear to be low, since the effects can only be observed long after this
political term”, Regional innovation officer, Sweden
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