Academy for Smart Specialisation

Karlstad University and Region Värmland collaborates through the Academy for Smart Specialisation to renew the Värmland industry, public sector, and research at Karlstad University. The agreement of intention applies to the years 2022-2028.

Since 2010, Karlstad University and Region Värmland have worked in a formal partnership on research and innovation activities linked to regional development. In 2015, this partnership led to the creation of the Academy for Smart Specialisation. The different actors within the Academy collaborate to achieve the shared goal of strengthening Värmland's private and public sectors, while also supporting research, innovation and education at Karlstad University.

During 2021 and early 2022, work continued on further developing the regional strategy according to the smart specialisation model defined by the EU. Region Värmland led this process, with strong involvement from Värmland’s private and public sector organisations and from Karlstad University. Region Värmland published the strategy document, Värmland's Research and Innovation Strategy for Sustainable Smart Specialisation 2022–2028, on 8 March 2022.

Based on this strategy, Karlstad University and Region Värmland have further developed the Letter of Intent which governs their cooperation (The Academy for Smart Specialisation 2022–2028).

Areas of international competitiveness

The concept of ‘Smart Specialisation’ is concerned with defining and developing areas in which a region is already strong and where there is an opportunity to become internationally competitive. The specialisations and perspectives that apply to collaborations within the framework of Värmland’s Letter of Intent are as follows:

Specialisations

  • Forest-based bioeconomy
  • Digital health innovation
  • Advanced manufacturing and complex systems
  • Attraction of tourism through sustainable site development
  • Solar-centred sustainable system solutions
  • Food sustainability
  • Computer games and ‘gameification’

Perspectives

  • Sustainable development (as an overall perspective)
  • Circular economy
  • Digitalisation
  • Gender equality and inclusion
  • Social security
  • Social innovation
  • Value-creating services

In addition to the research initiatives linked to the various specialisations and perspectives, the collaboration is supported by a strategic working group which aims to develop both individual collaborations and the Academy as a whole.