Public Diplomacy Activities in House of Sweden

Innovation & Education 2012
This year, the Embassy will be highlighting two timely and connected themes: innovation and education. The program will run from March 1-December 9, 2012. A complete program will be available shortly. 

Education is the cornerstone of a societies' ability to prosper and create growth. Innovation enables the development of new technologies, products, and services that affect our daily life, and are crucial to the progress of forward-thinking, sustainable societies.

Sweden is also focused on developing its innovation capacity for sustainable growth, and several government authorities have been assigned to move the innovation agenda forward. At the core of the Swedish innovation strategy is to create competitive innovation systems that involve broad cross-sector participation from business, government, civil society and academia. The Swedish educational system has been reformed in several areas in order to meet the challenges and possibilities of the 21st century.

In addition, Sweden is currently ranked as the world’s leading country for innovations with many strong global trade marks and innovations ranging from the adjustable wrench to “Spotify”. Sweden has a strong political engagement for the concept of life long learning and encourages play and creativity as a foundation for education. A high priority is to maintain a high level of education in the “right” sectors and a new research bill will be put forward during 2012. The focus of the theme is to explore American and Swedish experiences in our efforts to stimulate the growth of inclusive, prosperous and sustainable societies. What are the approaches when we try to spark the creativity and imagination of our people? How do we nourish the next generation’s capacity to innovate? How does our education and research meet the demands of the 21st century marketplace?  

Taking into consideration that capacity to innovate is created in many different parts of the society, our approach will involve the business sector, culture, government, academia and civil society. We would also like to highlight the fact that challenge and competitiveness often is view as the heart of innovation by creating an arena for young people to become inspired to learn and create in new ways. 

The goal of the theme is to encourage dialogue about Swedish and American ideas and values, stimulate entrepreneurship and business interactions, deliver a rich cultural experience, and further deepen collaboration between our two countries.

Welcome!

Previous themes at House of Sweden during the period
October 2006 – December 2011:

> Architecture & Design
> Cars & Transportation
> Water & Environment
> Children First
> Innovation & Technology
> Discover Sweden
> Voices in a Changing World
> Living Green
> Sweden's EU Presidency
> Health & Care
> Infrastructure & Intelligent Mobility
> Lifestyle