History of IVA
Sweden's second youngest royal academy was established as recently as 1919, but at the same time the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA, is the world's oldest engineering academy.
The so-called peat bubble, Sweden's first major energy crisis between 1900 and 1925, was a wake-up call for politicians. As early as 1916, the Riksdag discussed a state research institute for power and fuel issues. When the Board of Trade's Bureau of Industry was commissioned to prepare the issue, the conclusion was that a state institute was not the most appropriate form. Instead, the activities should be broadened to include technical and scientific research and be conducted by an independent organisation.
The Riksdag agreed with the Board of Trade and in 1919 the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences was up and running in premises on Grev Turegatan in Stockholm. The operations were led by the managing director, Axel F. Enström, who had been head of the Board of Trade's industrial bureau. He stayed in the post for 21 years.
The King - the Academy's highest patron
From the outset, one of his duties was to give an annual review of the progress of research and science, as required by the Statutes. This is what his eight successors have done at the annual ceremony at the end of October, often in the presence of the King, the Academy's highest patron.
At its inception, the Academy consisted of seven divisions. These correspond to today's Divisions I-VII, although their names have changed over the years. Later, Divisions VII - XII were added to cover new social phenomena. Division XII, Information Technology, is an example of this.
Knowledge exchange between generations
Projects have been an important tool in IVA's activities from the very beginning. The energy issue dominated at the start and has been addressed from various angles throughout IVA's almost 100-year history. Other topical issues have included research and education, innovation and entrepreneurship, and infrastructure. What the projects have in common is that they have combined analysis with policy proposals.
IVA's links with industry were strong right from the start. When the Industrial Council was formed in 1950, then under the name of the Industrial Council of the Academy of Engineering Sciences, relations were further strengthened. Today, over 200 companies and public organisations are involved in IVA through the Industrial Council. The chairman of the Council is a member of the IVA Board.
In 2006, IVA's Student Council was formed with committed students from Sweden's universities and colleges of engineering, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the business schools in Stockholm and Gothenburg. The members contribute to an exchange of knowledge between the generations and raise important issues for debate.
IVA has initiated a number of activities, including
- Sweden's Technical Attachés, whose activities are now part of the government agency Growth Analysis, started when IVA began posting employees to embassies around the world in 1981. Their task was to monitor and report on technological developments in the country
- The Welding Commission, established in 1931, and the Surface Chemistry Institute, founded in 1963, are examples of IVA initiatives to stimulate collaboration between industry and research in a defined area. The mission of Power Circle, which was established in 2008, is to strengthen, support and promote Swedish electricity and electric power technology as an interest organisation.
- CONNECT Sweden was formed in 1998 after an IVA delegation visited California. Since 1986, the University of California has been running a programme there with the aim of connecting entrepreneurs with capital and expertise in order to contribute to business development.
- The Technical Museum was founded in 1924 with IVA as one of the founders. Until it moved to newly built premises at Gärdet in 1936, the museum was housed in IVA's building at Grev Turegatan 14. The Sjögren Library is a collection of over 10,000 books donated by Hjalmar Sjögren's widow Anna Nobel in accordance with her husband's wishes. The collection was his private library that he had accumulated over the years