Innovation will reduce congestion during the pandemic

The challenges posed by the pandemic also mean new opportunities to develop solutions that contribute to long-term sustainability. Vinnova is now investing an additional SEK 15 million in innovation to, among other things, create safe indoor environments without congestion, provide expert assistance at a distance to maintain productivity in industry and agriculture and to develop better immunity tests.

In the last round of the Innovations in the wake of the crisis initiative, 17 project funding a total of SEK 15 million. Since April, when the venture began, a total of 60 project received funding with a total of 55 million. The projects will contribute to the conversion of production or activities, where a first solution is ready within 6-12 months.

Example of project:

Crowd Mapper

The project will develop a system for positioning and, if possible, controlling people's movement patterns to reduce the spread of infection. The system is developed so that department stores, shopping centers or other buildings where many people normally live can be kept open in a more controlled form and thus avoid large financial losses without sacrificing security. The system is developed in close collaboration with companies that work with solutions for premises management for customers all over the world.

Coordinator: Tekniska Högskolan in Jönköping Aktiebolag

Facilitate the opening of visitor areas

The project develops a technical solution that, without collecting personal data, keeps track of how people move in real time and connects the digital information to enable direct action that ensures social distancing. The solution is suitable for municipalities, universities, means of transport, malls, sports halls and other areas where people gather and need to feel safe.

Coordinator: Nagoon AB

Acute support to the industry with augmented reality

Prohibition of travel and visits in most industries makes it difficult to offer on-site service to customers. Therefore, companies like Epiroc want help with adjusting and creating the opportunity to offer support with the help of augmented reality (AR), augmented reality. Med AR-tekniken is given the opportunity to offer support and guidance so that their customers can in turn maintain productivity, while missed trips contribute to reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

Coordinator: Mälardalen University

Distance advice to food producers with image recognition and AI

By combining advice via video calls with AI technology for image recognition, strong Swedish food production can be maintained. The development lays the foundation for a new national advisory support to Swedish agriculture during and after the pandemic. The the elderly entrepreneurial group who are farmers can take part in specialist expertise, advice and information in an effective way, with physical distance and effective protection from the spread of infection.

Coordinator: Hushållningssällskapens servicebolag AB

Virtual product demonstrations

Visitor restrictions on customers create a need to be able to demonstrate products at a distance instead of during outreach sales. The project aims to capture the power of the need for change linked to infection control to create an environmentally sustainable change in sales and spread the concept to other companies with similar challenges.

Coordinator: Veidec AB

Improved models for analysis of T cell immunity to covid-19

The current testing for immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is based primarily on the presence of neutralizing antibodies. Studies show that patients with mild or asymptomatic disease show so-called T-cell immunity to the new coronavirus, even if they do not have antibodies. The project will validate a model for evaluation of covid-19 immunity, with increased reliability and sensitivity for better diagnosis and efficacy assessment of new vaccines as results.

Coordinator: Redoxis AB

Camera-based measurement of heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature

Measuring so-called vital parameters (body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation in the blood) is the most important tool for finding serious infections. To reduce the risk of exposing patients and staff to infection, the project will evaluate a new revolutionary method to quickly, completely harmlessly and safely measure all vital parameters from a meter away without any physical contact. If the project is successful, it would mean a dramatic change in health care.

Coordinator: University of Gothenburg

See all the projects