KTH Innovation among Europe's best

KTH Innovation is taking part in the ranking for the first time and is ranked second in Europe for hubs with a strong focus on sustainability, and 21st overall among the 150 organisations included in the ranking.

It is based on feedback from programme participants, ratings and recommendations from investors and former entrepreneurs.

"KTH's high ranking is very gratifying and an acknowledgement of how our innovation work provides a good foundation for the creation of viable startups. Not least in sustainability, which is fully in line with KTH's vision and ambition to lead sustainable societal development,’ says Anders Söderholm ", President of KTH.

Every year, KTH Innovation, which provides support for students, researchers and employees at KTH, receives some 400 ideas. These are then processed through its innovation ecosystem, to help the owner of the idea develop it for the right market.

Inclusive culture

KTH Innovation's director and founder, Lisa Ericsson , is delighted with the Financial Times ranking. Innovation is part of KTH's DNA, she says.

She believes there are several reasons for its success. One is how KTH Innovation provides support from a very early stage in the process of turning a deeptech idea ready for the market.

"We bring together people from all over the world with different experiences and a strong drive to solve big problems. We work hard to create an open, creative and inclusive culture where people have the opportunity to make a real difference."

Among the more high-profile companies recently is Blykalla, which has developed the idea of small modular reactors, identified as the nuclear power plant of the future.

Successful companies

"We are proud that 85 per cent of the teams we support have the ambition to contribute to one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals. KTH also has a leading position in AI, and we increasingly see it becoming a technology that accelerates development in all areas, especially deep tech."

University start-up hubs play a crucial role in transforming research and new ideas into successful companies, Ericsson says.

"We provide support such as coaching, access to international networks, industry contacts and experts, access to funding, and a creative community of founders who can help each other. A large proportion of Sweden's most promising start-ups are launched at KTH every year, and it feels incredibly good that this is being recognised."

Text: Christer Gummeson

Some companies that have received support from KTH Innovation

• - Blykalla - small, modular, lead-cooled nuclear power plants
• - Reselo - a fossil-free rubber material made from birch bark.
• - Flox - autonomous, AI-based system that removes wild animals from places they should not be
• - Capitainer - enables blood testing at home
• - IPercept - a fitness tracker for industrial machines

KTH Innovation in figures

Since 2007, KTH Innovation  has supported 5,000 new ideas that have led to 475 spin-off companies,. Annually, it supports 400 teams with new ideas and forms 30 new companies. About 30 per cent of the teams are in deep tech, 85 per cent have the ambition to contribute to the global sustainability goals.