ProViking
The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research has decided to support research in the area of product realization to the amount of SEK 150 million over 5 years.
The programme is called ProViking and supports research in product development, manufacturing, product support and maintenance in a life-cycle perspective.
Support to an equal amount from other sources, mainly participating industries and universities, is assumed. The main focus is on industries with manufacturing and/or development activities, operating in Sweden. The foundation also decided to fund a National Graduate Research School with a total of SEK 30 million during the five-year period 2003 - 2008.
New challenges
Sweden has a long tradition as a nation with a strong manufacturing industry that has the ability to develop advanced system products with challenging demands for product development, production and customer support. Holistic views and system thinking are the distinguishing features. Extensive global changes are now posing new challenges to the Swedish manufacturing industry and there is a need to strengthen it's positions and it's competitiveness.
More information at the ProViking web page.