»The Academy’s mission is to promote the engineering and economic sciences and the development of industry for the benefit of society« IVA’s statutes, § 1 1919 1919 1920 1922 1923 The Academy gets The electrical heating involved in the elec- institute – the first in a long tric vehicle issue and list of industry institutes – is publishes a report on launched and moves into the topic. Based on offices in the Academy’s experiences in the back building. During its first USA, experts claim that decade the institute carries electric lorries could be out close to 500 studies. a commercial success. IVA IS FOUNDED FIRST ANNUAL MEETING In June His Majesty the King establishes On 17 April the first Annual Meeting is the Academy’s statutes, in August 40 held in the Banquet Hall in the building individuals are inducted as members, on Grev Turegatan. The following year in September additional members are the Annual Meeting is moved to 24 Octo- elected and on 24 October Axel F. ber, the date the Academy was founded. Enström is appointed as President. The King attends for the first time. 1926 1927 1924 A study is carried out to The Academy compare wood stoves, gas receives a special stoves and electric stoves government grant to and the results are presented start an aeronautics in three reports. An association committee, but called Fera is created to more investment is promote the use of electricity needed in the area. and Edy Velander is its director. IVA starts working on establishing a “testing institute” which later becomes the Aeronautical Research Institute of Sweden (FFA). A MUSEUM IN THE LOFT Tekniska museet (National Museum of Science and Technology) is formed in 1923 and opens a temporary exhibition in the loft of the building. A prototype of Baltzar von Platen’s and Carl Munter’s refrigerator is one of the items on display. 1928 1930 1929 The Annual Meeting venue is A charcoal laboratory is established with support moved from the Banquet Hall from Jernkontoret in the building to the signifi- (Swedish Steel Producers cantly larger Vinterträdgården Association) among (Winter Garden) at Grand Hotel others. It produces in Stockholm. It returns to Grev numerous products, not Ture gatan and the Banquet Hall only made from wood; in 1939, the first autumn of WWII. wood, peat and tar are hydrogenated and liquid engine fuel is produced. FIRST EDITION 10,000 NATURAL SCIENCES VOLUMES The IVA magazine is launched to Anna Sjögren donates the library of her share the results from the growing husband, Professor Hjalmar Sjögren, consisting number of institutes with a wider of 10,000 volumes of natural sciences literature. public. A first attempt is made to take The books are placed in the newly created stock of all industrial R&D in Sweden. library in a room in the IVA building. Surveys and reply postcards are sent out with the magazine. 1932 1935 1931 The steam heating The corrosion institute is established commission is in cooperation with formed to gather the electric heating knowledge in the institute. Two thirds of area and publishes the institute’s activities a handbook on are in the form of using anti-rust paint. commissioned research Large-scale field trips for industry and the are also arranged to private sector – a study rust protection. HEAD OF ASEA IS pioneer initiative. THE NEW CHAIRMAN During the years 1935–1936 the number of international members NOT A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS almost doubles – 21 members The IVA stove that cuts wood consumption in half is are inducted. The internationally launched in an advertising campaign aimed at Swedish oriented head of Asea, Sigfrid housewives. Although the stove is licensed to around Edström, becomes Chairman of IVA. ten manufacturers, it is not a commercial success. 1939 1938 1936 Axel F. Enström is A new building to house WOOD GAS elected Chairman the Swedish National When the war breaks out the Government of the Academy. Museum of Science and establishes a wood gas committee Edy Velander takes Technology is officially chaired by Axel F. Enström. A fast over from him as opened in the presence of transition to wood gas to fuel the fleet President. In the Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of vehicles is planned and put in place. beginning Velander and Prime Minister Per only serves as de- Albin Hansson. A donation puty and Enström of SEK 2 million from the continues to hold Knut and Alice Wallenberg the address at the Foundation provides Annual Meeting. funding for it. After pressure from IVA, a measurement tech- nology institute is established and arranges conferences, exhibitions and lectures on the technology. An X-ray control section subse- quently becomes Tekniska Röntgencentralen. 1942 1944 1940 1941 1943 IVA’s statutes are The dynamic Edy A division for amended. The Velander also biotechnology Executive Committee formally takes over (X) is established. gets two vice chairs, as President when The possibility of the number of working Axel F. Enström developing and members is increased resigns as Chairman. synthetically producing to 120 and two new Velander becomes vitamins, enzymes and departments are a member of a high- hormones increases. established: Forest level government The first government Microbiology also Technology (VIII) and committee on how research council is impacts the food Economics (IX). research is organised. created. Tekniska industry. forskningsrådet, TFR, (engineering research RESEARCH STATION AT KTH council) takes over In connection with the Academy’s significant parts of IVA’s 25th anniversary celebration IVA’s role as the main actor in Research Station is built adjacent engineering research. to the Royal Institute of Technology President Edy Velander (KTH). This is an initiative to is a member of the provide smaller research teams council and stays on with resources similar to those of until 1960. universities and large corporations. 5 1944 6 Tuula Teeri – President of IVA Focusing on the Future An intensive jubilee year has come to an end. We celebrated Annual Report we provide examples of the hard work of mem- our first 100 years by anticipating the future while also remem- bers of our extensive network in a number of areas: the climate bering our history in an exciting and beautiful book. challenge, circular economy, energy, sustainable water supply, In preparation of the jubilee year we challenged our twelve di- digitisation of society, entrepreneurship and collaboration be- visions and our regional sections in the north, west and south to tween the research community and the private sector. We have a organise a top-class jubilee seminar, this with full support from long-term plan to promote the development of Swedish schools the Academy staff to celebrate our 100 years! and important research – both of which are essential for sus- And what a success it was! Full house everywhere; enthusi- tainable development and Sweden’s strong competitiveness. astic reactions on interesting themes and excellent speakers – We’re also working to increase interest in sciences and engineer- most of them IVA's international or Swedish members. This is an ing while also helping university graduates who have moved to example of IVA at its best – our fellows generously sharing their Sweden to enter the job market and contribute their profes- expertise, identifying future challenges and discussing how sci- sional capacity here. ence and new technology can help us find solutions. As part of the jubilee celebrations IVA, together with 30 inter- IVA runs many specific projects with funding in the short term, national Academies of Engineering, arranged a large conference but also needs support for larger initiatives over a long-term per- in Stockholm in June. The theme was Engineering a Better World spective. In 2019 we made excellent progress. We received gen- – the next 100 years. erous donations from companies, foundations and individuals, Many technological advances and promising plans for the resulting in close to SEK 300 million for future initiatives over a future were presented, but the most important message was ten-year period. These resources will be spent on initiatives to that sustainable technology development needs to benefit more develop Swedish school education and support and encourage people and impact all of the countries of the world. If we fail this entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. mission it is possible that fear of and resistance to technology IVA celebrates its birthday on the last Friday in October. In will take over and we will miss out on opportunities to find solu- 2019 we did so with finesse and elegance at our Annual Meet- tions to the great challenges we face. Through facts and insight- ing in Aula Medica in Solna and at a banquet at Stockholm City ful policies we must therefore show that new technology can Hall. More than 1,000 guests from near and far joined the King, help us – regardless of where in the world we live. IVA’s Patron, to celebrate the Academy. This is the third time that I’ve had the privilege of introducing Throughout its history IVA has been a force to induce positive the Annual Report as President. On the following pages you will change in the society. The Academy was born at a time of transi- find many examples of how our fellows, representatives of com- tion from the old to the modern Sweden. The energy supply was panies in the Business Executives Council, the Student Council one of the main issues of that day. How to raise the status of the and the Academy staff are helping to maintain IVAs relevance. I engineer – the profession of the future – by establishing engineer- want to thank you all for your efforts in 2019 and I look forward ing sciences research programmes was also a key topic.