Naturvårdsverket, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency: Innovation Capability in a Government Agency — Key Drivers in a Systemic Innovation Platform

Naturvårdsverket, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, conducts assignments on behalf of the Swedish Government relating to the environment in Sweden, the European Union and internationally. Naturvårdsverket works with complex-system challenges that our society faces, and innovation is designated as a tool for achieving the environmental objectives. In 2016, Naturvårdsverket decided to implement an internal platform for innovation. In 2018, Naturvårdsverket participated in a 1-year knowledge-exchange programme aimed at supporting government authorities in developing systemic and systematic innovation capability. Insights from a Swedish benchmark study of innovation capabilities of 112 government authorities formed the programme’s base. The organisational platform for innovation, that comprises building blocks such as innovation strategy, organisation, value networks, innovation projects and results is described. The components capture the key elements of the “ISO 56002:2019 Innovation management — Innovation management system — Guidance.” One important outcome from the described design process of the innovation management system is a change in management culture towards innovation and innovative thinking. Both incremental and more transformative innovation work took place, resulting in updated routines, working practices and customer interaction and service.