Board and management
The Swedish Institute for Water and Air Pollution Research (SIVL) is the sole owner of IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute AB and, together with the business community and government authorities, is to establish co-operation on important issues in the field of the environment and sustainable development.
The Foundation co-finances research and development carried out by IVL, with a particular focus on applied environmental and sustainability issues with an interdisciplinary and system-oriented approach. The affairs of the Foundation are managed by a Board of Directors.
SIVL is responsible for the government funds made available for research and development co-financed by the government and industry. The Board steers the direction of the organisation through an annual business plan. Activities are divided into three thematic areas:
- Sustainable environment
- Sustainable transition
- Sustainable society
The business plan with descriptions of the focus of research is produced by IVL with the support of the thematic areas' business councils. SIVL is also responsible for external evaluation of the quality and societal benefit of research.
Through its ownership and involvement in IVL, SIVL has been involved in applied environmental research for more than 50 years. During this period, activities have been developed and adapted to the environmental problems and challenges that have arisen in the public debate, in industry and at government agencies.
Today, the activities and research cover a broad perspective of needs from business sectors and authorities. The content of the research has also broadened and follows societal trends with a greater focus on sustainability.
Solutions to today's environmental and sustainability challenges often require a close dialogue between research, business and government. Creating meeting places for this dialogue is a fundamental part of the structure and activities of IVL and SIVL.
Business advice
IVL's activities are divided into three thematic areas: Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Transition and Sustainable Society. All of the thematic areas have an Operations Council, which consists of members from government agencies, industry and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL).
The Council will help to develop IVL's research activities through analysis of the business environment and needs, as well as dialogue on current environmental and sustainability issues between companies, government agencies and research. It is an important forum for conducting research and developing solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges together with industry and government agencies. Through the dialogue conducted in the Business Council, problems and challenges can be analyzed and knowledge gaps identified. This creates a basis for developing relevant research projects that create societal benefits.
The work of the Council is a meeting place. In addition to four annual meetings, several thematic meetings are organized each year together with the Council, to which selected stakeholders are invited. The themes for these meetings should be of relevance to Swedish industry and authorities and can cover environmental and sustainability issues of both strategic and more applied nature. Themes can also be designed to focus on challenges for specific sectors or geographical areas.
The members of the operational councils are appointed by SIVL in consultation with IVL and are selected to represent recipients of research results as well as grant and contractors in industry and government agencies.
Members of the Council are appointed on a personal basis and come from the following organizations: Boliden, Borealis, Formas, Husqvarna, the City of Gothenburg, the Pharmaceutical Industry Association (chairman), the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Preem and Västtrafik.
SIVL finances IVL's co-funded research
Both private companies and trade associations can take part in co-funded research projects.