Industriforskargruppen, IFG
IFG gives young leaders in research, development and innovation the opportunity to develop their knowledge and leadership, as well as stimulating ideas that are strategically important for the future of Swedish industry.
Unique study visits in Sweden and abroad, new insights and a network I will enjoy for many years to come.
Anna-Maria Wiberg, Director Customer Focused R&D Vattenfall, participant 2018-2020
Nomination
Anyone can nominate a person – including themselves – for the programme. Admissions take particular account of the overall balance of participants. Participation is primarily offered to employees of companies or organisations that are members of IVA’s Business Executives Council.
The participants in the three-year programme are R&D/I employees under 45 years of age in a leadership position, who together form a strong cross-industry and cross-sectoral network, where each participant represents a subject area that is unique within the group.
The group consists of 15 carefully selected participants, with five new participants accepted each year as five others leave. This system of rolling admissions means that the participants gain valuable contacts and exchanges of experience with as many as 24 other participants by the end of the programme, but also that the network is renewed and revitalised every year without the programme losing any continuity.
Cross-industry networks, study visits and international trips
The programme activities focus on R&D/I and leadership issues and consist of study visits to the participants, a total of five per year, and an annual international study trip.
Sharing knowledge, experiences, challenges and methods with each other over three years stimulates new ideas on how to conduct research, development and innovation, and strengthens the networks within the research and innovation system.
During the first year, the focus is on participating in activities and getting to know the programme and the other participants. In the second year, each participant hosts a study visit to their own organisation. In the third year, the departing participants organise a public event, often related to experiences from their study trips.
Participants benefit from:
- Three years of knowledge and leadership development and peer exchange.
- A broad network of 24 people with management responsibilities in R&D/I.
- A total of 14 study visits (5 days/year) at other participants’ workplaces, with a focus on R&D/I and leadership.
- Three international study trips (5–7 days/year). The destinations are determined by the participants, and should be of particular interest from an R&D/I and leadership perspective.
- Joint event, organised with the other participants, towards the end of the programme – a public IVA seminar or similar activity.
- Access to the group's network of alumni
Participants:
- Are under 45 years old at the start of the programme
- Have a significant role in R&D/I
- Speaks Swedish at a professional level, as the program is conducted in Swedish
- Have an employer who is prepared to:
- host a study visit for all 15 participants during the employee’s second year on the programme
- free up the employee’s time to participate in the programme (two working weeks/year)
- bear the cost of the employee’s participation in the entire programme (travel expenses, including accommodation costs).
Cost
The fee for participation is currently SEK 65,000/year, and is paid by the participant’s employer. The fee is entirely at cost, i.e. provides no income to IVA, and is based on the programme’s budget in previous years. Any price increases will not affect participants already accepted – the annual fee for the employer remains fixed for the entire programme period (3 years).
