As part of contributing to the global climate transition and promoting Swedish exports, the Green Transition Initiative is now launched. A new organisation on-site in the US will promote the introduction of Swedish innovations and accelerate cooperation in research and innovation.

The initiative is backed by Business Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and the Swedish Embassy in Washington. The Green Transition Initiative (GTI) will act as a hub for Swedish and American companies, authorities, and partner organisations by pooling resources under a common umbrella with its own budget. The aim is to increase the impact of the participating organisations' existing activities, drive new initiatives, and take a unified approach to the Swedish offer in green technology.

– With this initiative, we want to give Swedish companies better opportunities to grow in the US and strengthen Sweden's position as a leader in green, sustainable and innovative solutions, says Jan Larsson, CEO of Business Sweden.  
 
The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of green technologies in the US in transport, energy and industry, cities and buildings, and to increase bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in research and innovation for green transformation.

– Sweden's most significant contribution to the urgent climate transition is sustainable, innovative solutions. This initiative strengthens Sweden's ability to make a difference by intensifying collaborations in academia, industry, startups and the public sector with one of the world's strongest innovation countries, says Darja Isaksson, Director General at Vinnova.

President Biden's ambitious climate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 makes the US a key player as the world shifts to more sustainable and technologically advanced solutions. Partnerships with innovative countries at the forefront of sustainability will be essential for the US to achieve these goals. 

Sweden is well-positioned to contribute to the green transition in the US. Swedish companies have a high level of expertise in sustainability and innovative solutions for transport, energy and industry, and the cooperation between academia, business and the public sector on green transformation is strong.

– Sweden is one of the most advanced and innovative countries in green technology, energy efficiency and fossil-free industry, and we have a lot to contribute to the global energy transition. With the cooperation in the Green Transition Initiative, we are supporting the Swedish innovation sector at home, says Robert Andrén, Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.

The initiative will initially fill four positions, three based in Washington DC and one in Silicon Valley. Business Sweden, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency have allocated a budget of SEK 9 million annually for the project's duration.

The GTI will be launched on 31 March in the US at an event broadcasted virtually by the Atlantic Council, an American think tank.