Sustainable blue economy growing here

“One of the strengths of our consultancy assignments is that we possess such extensive expertise in-house. You don’t just get the research, but also all relevant perspectives into the bargain.”

Kristina Jonsson, Sales Director, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

In a technical project, if questions arise about regulations, for example, or about incentives and customer behaviour, then we can call on our own experts during the course of the project. We don’t have to carry out searches or waste time looking up answers. We have the skills we need in-house.”

Kristina Jonsson:

“In addition, our consultant are experts in their respective areas. We’re not sending in a generalist who needs a couple of weeks to familiarise him or herself with an area. We’re effective from the very first hour.”

John Munthe:

“We often have the same experts in our research projects as in our consultancy assignments. They possess sound knowledge of the area in question. This is frequently where co-funding projects occur. We conduct a consultancy assignment and investigate a question together, and then new questions and ideas emerge that may be worth looking into in greater depth. Here at IVL, we build long-term relationships with our customers. We get to know each other, which makes it easier to be successful with our initiatives.”

How do customers view the fact that IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is not a company that is attempting to maximise profits? Kristina Jonsson:

“When customers first begin to realise that this is really the case – it sometimes takes a while for the penny to drop – a type of pride emerges. Enlisting the help of IVL will not only be effective and beneficial. It will also strengthen their brand, and I think the fact that we reinvest our profits plays a role here.”

So what should companies do if they have a question they need help with, either within a consultancy assignment or as part of a co-funding project, but they have not previously had any contact with IVL? Kristina Jonsson again:

“They should call or e-mail us. Or get in touch through social media. There are no formal requirements. Just an honest ambition and a desire to collaborate. They don’t even need to have a fully formulated question. It can be enough for them to be curious about working with IVL to develop their climate work, and then we can sit down and talk.” The first thing we have to do is identify research requirements and societal benefits. Then we decide together which type of funding is most appropriate.”

CO-FUNDED RESEARCH IN BRIEF

• Provides a unique opportunity for Swedish companies and industries to carry out research projects at IVL Swedish

Environmental Research Institute, with funding from both the state and business.

• A co-funded project is based on an environmental problem or an environment-related development opportunity.

The project should be relevant to an industry or to society.

• Both private companies and trade associations can be involved.

• The research is 50 percent financed through government funds that are distributed via Formas and the Swedish

Environmental Protection Agency. State funds are also used to match research grants from the EU. • The results of co-funded projects are always publicly available through publication in IVL’s report series or other open channels.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS THINK

“Things are looking good for many of our companies. The goal of freedom from fossil fuels will be achieved sooner than 2030. We had no idea about this before we started this work.”

Patrizia Finessi, expert on environmental issues at Public Housing Sweden, who ran the co-funding project The Climate Initiative together with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

“We are the only public transport company in Sweden that does this, which makes us proud. We are also proud of having been able to help advance the research a little. We use the results in our procurements.”

Hanna Björk, environmental strategist at Västtrafik, Västra Götaland’s public transport company, which has been measuring emissions along with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute as part of a co-funding project.

“The results show that the conditions are good for producing renewable aviation fuel in Östersund, at a competitive price compared to other renewable aviation fuels. This is because we can integrate the production process with our existing combined heat and power plant.”

Ulf Lindqvist, Head of Department at Värme Jämtkraft, who has been running a co-funding project with IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.