Rachel Pettersson at Sweden Innovationx: “The pace is new – and it’s ramped up”

During the seminar Making Impact Innovation in Volatile Times, now available to watch online via Sweden Innovationx, representatives from business, government and national innovation programmes gathered to discuss how Sweden can remain globally competitive in a rapidly shifting world. Representing the Swedish Metals & Minerals programme, Rachel Pettersson, Adjunct Professor and Research Manager at Jernkontoret, contributed key perspectives from the materials and mining sector.

In her remarks, Rachel highlighted the essential role of metals and minerals in the green and digital transitions – and stressed the need for the innovation system to match a completely new pace of change.

A new pace calls for new ways of working

“The pace is new – and it’s ramped up.”

Rachel used this phrase to describe the historical shift currently underway in industrial processes, such as the transition from traditional blast furnaces to fossil-free, hydrogen-based steel production – happening not over centuries, but in just a few years. To meet this speed, the innovation system must deliver faster, smarter, and more coordinated efforts.

– We’re working hard to strengthen collaboration between academia, research institutes and industry – and across the full value chain, from mine to metal, said Rachel during the discussion.

Resilience, digitalisation and global collaboration

Rachel also addressed several key aspects of how the Swedish Metals & Minerals programme is navigating complexity and building long-term capacity:

• Resilience through alternatives: The programme focuses on keeping options open – in supply chains, material choices and production routes – always planning for plan B, C and D.

• Digitalisation as an enabler: Digital tools are transforming everything from materials design to circularity and production processes.

• Collaboration as a Swedish strength: Sweden’s long-standing culture of trust-based collaboration between industry and research is a major asset in turbulent times.

• Global exchange is essential: With many companies already operating internationally, Rachel emphasised the importance of cross-border R&D partnerships – especially in areas like rare earth elements and advanced metallurgy.

Watch the full seminar:
https://lnkd.in/dr8GV3bn

Speakers included:

• Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade

• Joakim Appelquist, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences

• Michail Pagounis, Business Sweden

• Kristina Lindahl von Sydow, Change Leader

• Sofia Wieselfors, Net Zero Industry – Impact Innovation

• Rachel Pettersson, Swedish Metals & Minerals

• John Hultén, ShiftSweden

• Gina Aspelin Hedbring, Water Wise Societies

• Mariell Juhlin, SustainGov