Rapport

Summary
The aim of this study was to analyze the Swedish research and development
within the area of water and wastewater engineering and specifically the interaction
of Swedish Water and Wastewater Association (SWWA) with its water and
wastewater R&D (W&W R&D).
The extent of Swedish W&W R&D is modest when related to the values that
the water industry in Sweden is managing and especially is the water and wastewater
engineering R&D modest. There are a number of research groups in the
country that are working on water and wastewater issues – so many that several
of them become subcritical in size also leading to suffering of the quality of the
R&D.
The water and wastewater engineering research is dominated by university research
groups. To a lesser extent than in many countries, research is carried out in
independent research institutes. The university research is by nature more basic
than applied. This has resulted in the comprehension within the W&W industry
that Swedish W&W R&D is too theoretical and little applicable for the W&W
industry. This comprehension is, however, not necessarily true.
Swedish research groups within the W&W area are not very active in international
net-works, for instance in projects within EU’s framework programs
for research. Swedish W&W R&D is also to a lesser extent than in many other
countries, innovative with respect to development of new processes and products
for the W&W supply industry. It has been innovative, however, in researching
new systems and concepts that are a result of political and public guidances – for
instance research aiming at ”the recycle society”.
Swedish W&W R&D is more oriented towards W&W treatment technology
than towards W&W systems technology (i.e. pipework technology, net analysis,
storm water technology etc). This is also true for that part of the W&W R&D
that SWWA is financing, which is primarily falling into the category of development
work. This development work is, however, very important for keeping
the wheels rolling in Swedish W&W R&D at this time. But it is far too small
to cover the needs of W&W R&D and will, quite naturally, have a tendency to
become too user-controlled.
There seems to be too little communication between the development work
that is financed by SWWA and the research carried out in the university groups
and in the institutes, which is mainly financed through public and international
funding (Formas, MISTRA, EU etc.).
In order to create a boost in Swedish W&W R&D one has to find a new
model for organization and implementation of W&W R&D in Sweden. Such
a model will have to be based on cooperation between many stakeholders. This
study examines a number of organization- and implementation models that are
in use in other countries and that may give inspiration for creating a sustainable
model in Sweden. The conclusion is, however, that one cannot go for one of these
models, but rather that one has to combine features from several.
A cluster model is proposed. The cluster is named Swedish Water and Wastewater
Research (shortened SVAF in Swedish) and composed of regional centers
(SVAFnorth, SVAFsouth, SVAFeast and SVAFwest) based on the strongest research
groups today and coordinated by one central SVAF managing leadership.
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