Sweden is considered one of the most innovative countries in the world, with its R&D intensity, per capita number of published papers and patent registrations leading the world. Germany is a world leader in 10 major research fields such as medical technology, synthetic materials, electronics and food processing. Their main practices are:
1, the construction of a perfect innovation system. In the 1990s, Sweden began to build a national, regional and sectoral innovation system at three levels. The main features of the national innovation system are the close connection between the economy and the international market, the great influence of large enterprises on the country's R&D activities, and the close cooperation between universities and enterprises. National Innovation System Agency is on behalf of the Swedish government to build the specific implementation of the innovation system, holds 5% of Sweden's R&D funding the right to use, and plays a bridge role between the government and enterprises. Sweden has established an innovation system for regional development plan, from 2003 onwards to determine the three projects, the project is located in the region will be in 10 years to get 11 million euros in funding support, the region is also no less than the same amount of funds to match, for the construction of innovation system. Sweden also focuses on supporting the construction of sectoral innovation systems in industries such as information and communication, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing technology and materials technology, transportation and office equipment technology, etc., in accordance with the policy of doing something and doing nothing. Germany has already formed a fairly complete national innovation system, including research institutions, universities and enterprises, a three-legged research and development system, a legal mechanism to encourage innovation, a combination of institutional funding and project funding for innovation funding, the whole tracking of scientific research quality assurance system, as well as a streamlined and efficient project management model, and so on.
2. Strengthening various types of innovation investment. Over the years, Sweden's funding for R&D has remained at more than 3% of GDP, and in recent years has even exceeded 4%. In R&D funding, the government and public **** foundation accounted for about 20%. 2004 since the Swedish government formulated the "Innovation Sweden" strategy to further increase investment in R & D, plans to 2005-2008, the new government R & D investment of 2.3 billion Swedish kronor. Another 80% of the funding comes from corporate inputs. Sweden's large enterprises have a high R & D investment intensity, such as Ericsson R & D expenditures reached 15% to 16% of sales. In recent years, Germany's R & amp; D funding accounted for the proportion of GDP to remain at about 2.5%, higher than the average level of about 1.9% of EU countries. Compared with Sweden, the German government's R&D investment share is a little higher, about 30% or more.
3. Developing effective innovation policies. Sweden and Germany have formed a set of policies to support innovative activities and protect innovative achievements. First, the implementation of various innovation programs. Such as the Swedish National Innovation System Agency's "new generation of excellence in the center of the plan", plans to *** construction of biotechnology, information and communication technology, new materials and other strategic areas of 25 new "center of excellence", with a total investment of about 160 million euros, and at the same time require the business community, universities and relevant institutions to invest a lot of money. In 2005, Germany launched the "Top Research Funding Program", which plans to invest 1.9 billion euros between 2006 and 2011 to build a number of first-class universities and research institutions. Second, government subsidies and government guarantees for innovative products. For example, from April 1, 2007 to December 2009, Sweden on the new purchase of environmentally friendly cars to give 10,000 kronor subsidies, environmentally friendly cars into the city free of congestion charges, so as to stimulate environmental protection vehicles and related areas of innovation. Germany has developed a special "Hermes" guarantee to support the export of high-tech products. Third, tax policy. For example, in the 2007 spring budget, the Swedish government canceled the capital tax on venture capital projects to encourage venture capital investment in innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.
4. Provide high-quality innovation services. Sweden and Germany have a relatively complete innovation service system to meet the transformation of innovation results and innovative small business cultivation and other intermediary needs, including a government background of public **** agencies, non-profit organizations, but also completely according to the commercial operation of the pure profit-making intermediary structure. The services mainly involve three main categories: first, results promotion services. For example, German universities and research institutes have technology transfer offices dedicated to the dissemination of research results to industry. Second, financing services. For example, ALMI, a Swedish state-owned enterprise, gives about 20,000 to 40,000 kronor in free subsidies for the cost of preliminary research on projects of new enterprises, and enterprises can obtain loans from ALMI according to project plans (which require only a small amount of collateral or no collateral). Third, innovative entrepreneurial services. Almost all universities in Sweden have established their own industrial incubation bases, the most famous of which are those at Chalmers Institute of Technology as well as Karolinska Institutet Medical School.
5. Cultivate large-scale innovative talents. Sweden and Germany have always attached great importance to the cultivation of innovative talents, and its scientific and technological talent pool has always occupied a leading position in the world. Sweden has a number of world's leading institutions of learning, every year there are four universities to enter the world's top 100 university rankings, a good talent cultivation environment so that Sweden's innovative power source. Sweden attaches special importance to the cultivation of skilled personnel, the state encourages and supports vocational education, and enterprises also attach importance to the staff's knowledge updating and professional skills training, so that enterprises not only in technological innovation, but also in the updating of equipment, automated production and so on have a better intellectual foundation. Germany will be the construction of human resources as an important part of innovation, and actively adjust the dual system of vocational education and higher education content, and increase the attractiveness of domestic and foreign top scientific and technological talent, young researchers.
6, create a good innovation culture. An important factor in the success of Swedish innovation is its unique cultural atmosphere. Swedes were educated from childhood to emphasize harmony, equality, teamwork, and try not to highlight individual heroism, all by nature and instinct. This culture fosters a relaxed mindset, so that innovative people do not have a utilitarian mindset, do not rush to success, can be more free to scientific exploration and technological invention. Sweden has a unique "engineering culture", which strives for the perfect combination of invention and production practice, and where innovative technical skills go hand in hand with commercialization. The German nation has always had a rigorous thinking, conscientiousness, discipline, respect for individuality, science, dare to innovate the traditional cultural spirit. The Germans have not only been inspired by the "nation of thinkers", but also firmly believe that the traditional culture of innovation is a fundamental force for Germany to get rid of the disadvantage of poor natural resources and continue to be rich and strong, which has become the core of Germany's innovation culture.