POLICY ASSESSMENT SWEDEN
Policy Entry 1
Country:
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
National Strategy for Gender Equality
Policy Type:Â
National
Year of Adoption:Â
2016
Responsible Authority:Â
Ministry of Employment
Policy Scope:Â
Gender equality, labor market, education
Key Objectives:
Ensure equal economic conditions
Promote gender-equal education and participation
Increase women’s participation in leadership and innovation
Prevent gender-based violence
Mainstream gender equality across all sectors
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Encourages equal participation in all sectors, including green tech and STEM, by removing systemic barriers and promoting inclusion across education and employment.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – It is the central purpose of the policy.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
Yes – Includes gender-disaggregated data, quotas in some sectors, and measurable targets in public employment.
Stakeholder Engagement:
 Yes – Developed through multi-sectoral consultations including civil society.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Regular national gender equality reports using Statistics Sweden data.
Monitoring Indicators:Â
Employment rates, income gaps, sector participation by gender, leadership positions.
Funding Available:Â
Yes – National budget allocations for gender equality initiatives.
Impact Description:
Led to gender mainstreaming in multiple sectors and policies; measurable progress in women’s participation in higher education, including in STEM.
Link to Source Document:
https://www.government.se/government-policy/gender-equality/
Policy Entry 2
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
Gender and Innovation Programme
Policy Type:Â
National
Year of Adoption:Â
2013
Responsible Authority:Â
Vinnova – Sweden’s Innovation Agency
Policy Scope:Â
Innovation, research, entrepreneurship
Key Objectives:
Support gender-sensitive innovation
Promote women-led tech initiatives
Mainstream gender analysis in R&D
Ensure equal access to funding
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Supports innovations in green tech and STEM by providing funding and mentoring to gender-diverse teams.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – Gender is a core criterion for funding and program design.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
Yes – Targets for female participation in funded projects; mandatory gender plans.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Involves academia, industry, and civil society.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Applicant tracking, project audits, and periodic evaluations.
Monitoring Indicators:Â
% of women-led projects funded, impact of gender integration on innovation outcomes.
Funding Available:
Yes – Over SEK 100 million allocated.
Impact Description:Â
Increased visibility and support for women in tech; rise in gender-aware projects in cleantech and AI.
Link to Source Document:
Policy Entry 3
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:
Climate Act and Climate Policy Framework
Policy Type:Â
National
Year of Adoption:Â
2017
Responsible Authority:Â
Ministry of Environment and Energy
Policy Scope:Â
Climate change, green economy, energy
Key Objectives:
Reach net-zero emissions by 2045
Integrate climate policy across sectors
Promote just transitions and inclusiveness
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Drives investment in green sectors, opening career paths in green engineering, renewables, and climate tech.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – Policy guidance includes gender equality as a dimension of just transition.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
No – Equality promoted conceptually, not through quotas.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Public consultations and industry roundtables.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Annual climate policy reports and sector reviews.
Monitoring Indicators:Â
Emissions reductions, green jobs created, transition progress.
Funding Available:
 Yes – National climate budget and EU Green Deal support.
Impact Description:Â
Enabled Sweden to lead in green technology adoption; increased funding and employment in the green economy sectors, indirectly supporting women’s entry.
Link to Source Document: https://www.government.se/articles/2017/06/the-climate-policy-framework/
Policy Entry 4
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
Gender Equality Strategy in Research
Policy Type:Â
National
Year of Adoption:Â
2017
Responsible Authority:Â
Swedish Research Council
Policy Scope:Â
Academic research, innovation
Key Objectives:
Ensure equal funding access
Reduce structural bias in peer review
Promote gender-balanced leadership in research
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Ensures women in STEM fields have equitable research opportunities and visibility.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – Explicitly designed to advance gender equality in research.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
Yes – Includes panel composition quotas and balanced funding goals.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Input from universities and researchers’ unions.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Gender-disaggregated data collection and annual reporting.
Monitoring Indicators:Â
Grant distribution by gender, peer review panel composition.
Funding Available:
 Yes – Public R&D grants via annual budget.
Impact Description:Â
Enhanced female representation in research funding; improved conditions for women researchers in STEM.
Link to Source Document: https://www.government.se/articles/2017/06/the-climate-policy-framework/
Policy Entry 5
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
Smart Specialisation Strategy
Policy Type:Â
National
Year of Adoption:Â
2015
Responsible Authority:Â
Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
Policy Scope:Â
Innovation, smart tech, sustainability
Key Objectives:
Promote regional innovation clusters
Strengthen competitiveness in green and digital sectors
Ensure inclusive innovation
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Focuses on advanced tech and sustainability; supports sectors with high green/STEM content like AI, energy, biotech.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – Strategy includes inclusive growth goals.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
No – Inclusion is encouraged, not mandated.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Participatory planning with industry and academia.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Regional tracking via innovation metrics and project reports.
Monitoring Indicators:
Innovation uptake, SME participation, regional tech jobs.
Funding Available:Â
Yes – EU Structural Funds and national co-financing.
Impact Description:Â
Enabled growth of regional innovation hubs with greater gender diversity in entrepreneurship, especially in sustainability-related tech.
Link to Source Document: https://www.vr.se/english/about-us/organisation/policy-documents/strategy-for-gender-equality.html
Policy Entry 6
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
Green Tech Incubator (Innovation Skåne)
Policy Type:Â
Regional
Year of Adoption:Â
2018
Responsible Authority:Â
Region Skåne
Policy Scope:Â
Entrepreneurship, green tech
Key Objectives:
Support early-stage startups in green tech
Provide access to mentoring and capital
Encourage diversity in entrepreneurship
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Provides business support for clean tech, circular economy, and energy efficiency sectors.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – Offers tailored support for women-led startups.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
Yes – Tracks % of female entrepreneurs and applies a diversity lens in selection.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Partnered with universities, municipalities, private investors.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Regular performance and diversity reporting by incubator staff.
Monitoring Indicators:
Startup success rates, founder demographics, investment levels.
Funding Available:Â
Yes – Regional development funds and innovation grants.
Impact Description:Â
Increased female participation in green entrepreneurship in Skåne; several women-led startups scaled through the incubator.
Link to Source Document:Â
Policy Entry 7
Country:Â
Sweden
Policy Title:Â
Girls into STEM Programme
Policy Type:Â
Sectoral
Year of Adoption:Â
2015
Responsible Authority:Â
Teknikföretagen (Engineering Industries Association)
Policy Scope:Â
Education, youth outreach
Key Objectives:
Raise awareness of STEM careers
Engage girls through school-industry partnerships
Offer internships and mentorships
Relation to Green/Deep/STEM:Â
Strengthens STEM pipeline for green and tech sectors by targeting girls early.
Gender Equality Focus:Â
Yes – The entire programme focused on increasing girls’ participation.
Inclusion of Gender Targets:Â
Yes – Specific targets for girl participation rates in each activity.
Stakeholder Engagement:Â
Yes – Collaboration with schools, municipalities, and private companies.
Data Collection Mechanisms:Â
Annual programme evaluations and participant tracking.
Monitoring Indicators:Â
Student participation rates, follow-up on career choices.
Funding Available:Â
Yes – Industry-sponsored and co-funded by national programmes.
Impact Description:Â
Thousands of girls reached across Sweden; significant increase in girls entering STEM education in regions with strong implementation.
Link to Source Document:Â
