THE VIEW: Benefits overestimated in megaprojects
There are lessons to be learned from research on large spectacular megaprojects such as Northwolt, Stegra and Bottniabanan. This is according to Associate Professor Ossi Pesämaa, Luleå University of Technology, who in this Opinion gives examples of these lessons.
HELLO THERE! Samielle Drake advises small businesses on how to navigate public procurement
There are many reasons why small businesses often struggle to win public tenders: lack of resources, complex specifications, oversized contracts – these are just a few examples. Recently graduated economist Samielle Drake, from Umeå University, gives her best advice to small businesses that want to increase their chances in public procurement.
NEW RESEARCH | Culture clash hinders innovation in government projects
Public authorities want to innovate to meet climate targets, but find themselves in cultural clashes with forward-thinking consultants. But is it resistance that is the problem?
NEW RESEARCH | Here are the crimes that increase most among small businesses
We know about companies as victims of crime, but we know less about companies as tools of crime. Researchers at Södertörn University want to change that.
NEW RESEARCH | Here are the mistakes suppliers make in product development – 3 tips for success
Many small and medium-sized suppliers believe that success in partnerships is about understanding the customer. But the biggest challenge is often at home.
BOOK TIP: Innovation is the solution to everything – or is it?
Why did innovation become such a central ideal, and what happens when the hallelujahs surrounding the concept fade? In his book Every American an Innovator, cultural historian Matthew Wisnioski explores how innovation culture emerged long before the tech boom.
NEW RESEARCH | How to make the metals industry more sustainable – and competitive
In many factories, cutting tools are discarded as soon as they become dull, even though they can often be reused. It’s expensive, bad for the environment and makes industry dependent on imported metals from troubled parts of the world. But there is a solution.
NEW RESEARCH | Fur industry in Tranås a heroic tale of small business – but many voices are missing
When the Tranås Fur Museum tells the story of the town’s former pride – the fur industry – it is a heroic tale of enterprising entrepreneurs that is highlighted. But far from all voices are heard.
NEW RESEARCH | How small businesses can demonstrate the benefits of nature-based interventions
For small businesses offering nature-based interventions (NBI), legitimacy is a challenge. But a tool like Social Return on Investment (SROI) is useful for demonstrating the benefits of interventions, recent research shows.
BOOK TIP: New directions for innovation policy (open access)
What does it take to make new ideas actually work? And how can policy support innovation in a wise, inclusive and sustainable way? The book Innovations in Innovation Policy brings together experts in science, technology, innovation and policy to explore the future of innovation policy.