With a turnover of more than SEK 750 million, and a staff of about 1100, SP is one of Sweden's largest research institutes. Our activities cover all the scientific areas expected of such an institute.
We develop knowledge through research in cooperation with universities and institutes of technology, other research institutes and international partners. Our research covers both fundamental and applied work.
We apply knowledge by carrying out contract work and providing consultancy services for about 9000 customers each year, in the form of everything from design and development to production, application and recycling. The work requested can cover calculations, testing, evaluation, calibration, quality assurance and certification, often as a package solution.
We transfer knowledge through publications, seminars, training and various network activities. Much of this relates to the dissemination of technology to small and medium-sized companies. We are also involved in the work of producing new technical regulations and standards, e.g. within the EU.
Wide technical range
Our activities cover a wide technical range, with about 30 technology areas organised in nine interworking technical departments. The size of these technology areas is such that they represent the leading edge of national expertise, and can serve, for example, as a basis for EU projects and national centres of expertise.
SP is an out-and-out knowledge-based organisation, based on its highly skilled personnel. More than half of our staff are graduate engineers or scientists, and 90 are trained research scientists.
The organisation, which has only two levels, is project-orientated and objective-managed. This provides excellent conditions for multidisciplinary work on technically extensive problem areas. Examples of such multidisciplinary areas include electronics and IT, engineering and transport technology, environmental and energy technology.
Our cooperation with universities and institutes of technology, not only in connection with projects and training, but also through teaching and facilities cooperation, has been deepened, so that it now covers more than 70 institutions, of which about a dozen are in other countries.
Through our ability to integrate activities all the way from R&D to final application, SP constitutes an important link between industry and universities. Results can be quickly disseminated to industry, finding applications in the form of more efficient solutions for improved competitiveness.
Participation in EU research programmes is very important for Sweden, not only does it provide us with a means of influencing EU legislation and standards through prenormative projects, but it also provides a path for the acquisition and exchange of knowledge. We participate continuously in about 30 EU projects, in cooperation with partners from our extensive international network.
SP is accredited for calibration, testing, inspection and certification of products and management systems in several sectors. In addition, we are a notified body for about 25 different EU directives.