RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB

Their core work

RISE is Sweden's national research institute, operating as a large-scale applied research and testing organization across nearly every industrial sector. They bridge the gap between academic science and industrial application by developing prototypes, running pilot tests, and validating technologies for companies — from printed electronics and advanced materials to food processing and energy systems. With deep testing and certification infrastructure, they serve as an independent technical partner that companies and public bodies rely on for de-risking innovation before market entry.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2017), RISE focused heavily on advanced materials, nanotechnology, photonics, and innovation management support for SMEs — reflecting their role as a broad-spectrum materials and testing institute. By the later period (2018–2021), their portfolio shifted decisively toward digital transformation themes: interoperability, cybersecurity, AI, big data, and printed electronics, alongside circular economy and electric vehicles. This evolution mirrors Sweden's industrial digitalization push and the EU's Green Deal priorities, with RISE repositioning from a materials-centric lab toward a digitally-enabled sustainability partner.

RISE is converging on the intersection of digital technologies (AI, IoT, cybersecurity) with sustainability applications (circular economy, electric vehicles, bioenergy) — expect future projects to combine both dimensions.

How they like to work

RISE overwhelmingly operates as a consortium partner rather than a coordinator, leading only 18 of 171 projects (10.5%), which is typical for large national research institutes that provide testing infrastructure and technical validation to projects led by others. With 2,433 unique consortium partners across 63 countries, they function as a major hub in the European research network — rarely repeating the same partners and instead connecting into diverse consortia. This makes them an accessible and well-connected partner: easy to approach, experienced in large multi-country projects, and unlikely to have competing loyalties.

RISE has collaborated with 2,433 distinct partners across 63 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected research organizations in H2020. Their network spans all of Europe with strong ties to Nordic, Western European, and Mediterranean partners, plus significant reach into associated countries.

What sets them apart

Unlike university labs that focus on fundamental science, or consultancies that advise without building, RISE combines massive testing infrastructure with applied R&D capacity across dozens of sectors simultaneously. Their breadth is their differentiator: few organizations in Europe can contribute meaningfully to a food safety project one week and a cybersecurity project the next, backed by accredited labs and 2,800+ researchers. For consortium builders, RISE offers a low-risk, high-credibility Swedish partner with proven EU project experience and the infrastructure to actually prototype and validate results.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Trash-2-Cash
  Coordinated by RISE with EUR 1.14M funding — a flagship circular economy project turning zero-value waste textiles into high-value products, showcasing their materials and sustainability expertise.
• IMPROVER
  Coordinated by RISE with EUR 882K — focused on critical infrastructure resilience and risk evaluation, demonstrating their growing security and safety capabilities.
• MOBILE FLIP
  EUR 876K for mobile biomass processing — represents RISE's practical, industry-ready approach to bioenergy and bioeconomy challenges.