Four Projects Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Under Net Zero Industry’s call for innovation advisory services for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, a total of four projects have been awarded funding. The projects will run from 1 June 2026 to 30 November 2027.
The initiative is aimed at organisations with a public mission, known as intermediaries, which will establish and develop advisory services for industrial companies. The objective is to contribute to a faster transition towards a competitive and resilient Swedish manufacturing industry with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Achieving Net Zero Industry’s mission requires strong and effective support for industrial stakeholders. Through this initiative, the programme aims to create a more structured and efficient support system for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which are eager to transition but often lack the time, resources, or conditions needed to do so. Through these projects, companies gain access to both individual advisory support and collaborative learning opportunities, with a focus on reducing climate impact and strengthening competitiveness.
Meet One of the Funded Projects: Five Quick Questions
We asked five quick questions to Christina Windmark, Senior Lecturer at Lund University and Project Manager within Industrial Development Centres (IUC). IUC is a network of regional development companies that strengthen the competitiveness of Sweden’s small and medium-sized industrial companies. The network is currently running the project “Collaboration for the Net-Zero Transition of Western, Eastern and Southern Sweden”.
What approach do you use when supporting companies?
– We combine individual coaching with collaborative learning in networks. Each company receives support based on its own challenges, such as climate data, material flows, or production processes. At the same time, we bring companies together in focus groups centred around themes such as life cycle assessment, resource efficiency, circularity, and supplier engagement. Much of the work takes place through workshops, seminars, and peer learning. This enables companies to receive both expert support and valuable insights from one another.
What do participating companies gain from being involved?
– They gain practical tools to measure and reduce their emissions, as well as tailored coaching linked directly to their own operations. An important aspect is improving decision-making through data, for example by calculating carbon emissions per product. This makes it easier to identify where actions can have the greatest impact. For companies, this can lead to reduced climate impact, less material waste, and improved competitiveness.
Where can the project deliver the greatest climate impact?
– In many manufacturing companies, the largest climate impact comes from material use. That is why material flows and waste reduction are central to our work. Production processes are another important area. By using energy, materials, and resources more efficiently, companies can gradually reduce emissions. We also examine the supply chain, Scope 3 emissions, where there is often significant impact but also considerable opportunity. By adopting a Scope 1-3 perspective, companies gain a more complete picture of their emissions.
Who are your project partners, and how do you collaborate?
– The project is carried out by several organisations within the IUC network: IUC South, IUC West, TEK Kompetens/IUC Halland, IDC West Sweden, and Södertälje Science Park. Academic partners include Lund University and RISE. Collaboration takes place through joint project management, company coaching, seminars, and focus groups. Our strength lies in combining practical industrial experience with research-based expertise.
How does the project contribute to the transition in Sweden and the EU more broadly?
– The project helps small and medium-sized industrial companies take concrete steps towards measurable emissions reductions. This is important because many companies want to transition but lack the time, structure, or support needed. By building knowledge and networks, these approaches can be scaled and shared more widely. In the long term, this strengthens both the transition capacity and competitiveness of Swedish and European industry.
Read more about the project: Collaboration for the Net-Zero Transition of Western, Eastern and Southern Sweden (SVAN).