About us

Driving force for a fossil-free future

Sweden has a clear goal: to achieve net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045 at the latest. A significant part of the responsibility rests with industry, which currently accounts for about a third of the country's total fossil emissions. The chemical and process industry plays a decisive role here – it is the foundation for almost all goods we use and its products are key to enabling entire value chains to transition.

Western Sweden is the centre of Sweden's process industry. With its large refinery capacity, extensive chemical cluster, leading forest industries and the country's largest port, the region has a unique position. Here, the chemical and process industry is actively working to switch to climate-neutral energy, replace fossil raw materials with bio-based and recycled alternatives, and develop circular products.

From collaboration to action: The Climate-Leading Process Industry initiative

Since the 1990s, companies, academia and the public sector within the West Swedish Chemical and Materials Cluster have collaborated to drive this development forward. This collaboration gave rise to the Climate-Leading Process Industry initiative, which has been funded by Vinnova as a ten-year Vinnväxt initiative since 2018. Today, the West Swedish Chemical and Materials Cluster consists of over 50 member organisations that work together for a sustainable transition.

Our role and how we work

The Climate-Leading Process Industry is a West Swedish initiative that works for the transition of the chemical and process industry. We are funded by Vinnova, the Västra Götaland Region and the members of the West Swedish Chemical and Materials Cluster.

Through our network and project activities, we bring together academia, industry and the public sector with the goal of creating a fossil-independent and competitive industrial region. Our activities are based on five focus areas:

• Recycling: Development of processes to create circular flows.
• Renewables: Focus on renewable raw materials.
• Process Technology: Improvement and innovation in industrial processes.
• New Products and Services: Development of sustainable products and circular services.
• Competence: Ensuring the right expertise for the industry of the future.

We drive our work through two main pillars:

• The Project Portfolio: We finance feasibility studies and development projects within our five focus areas. Funds are allocated to institutes and universities, where companies and other organisations contribute with in-kind efforts. Decisions on the allocation of funds are made by the steering committee for the Climate-Leading Process Industry.
• The Network Arena: We bring together relevant stakeholders and promote knowledge exchange through seminars, workshops and meetings. The Network Arena is primarily aimed at members of the West Swedish Chemical and Materials Cluster, but some activities are open to a wider audience.

Funding: Membership fees, Vinnova and the Västra Götaland Region
Host organisation: Lindholmen Science Park
Coordination: Lindholmen Science Park and RISE

The steering group is responsible for the strategic direction of the Climate-Leading Process Industry as well as the project portfolio and consists of representatives from industry, academia and the public sector.

Become part of our future!

As a member of the West Swedish Chemical and Materials Cluster, you become part of a committed network of stakeholders from business, academia and the public sector. You get the opportunity to:

• Raise and drive key issues for the industry's development.
• Initiate and participate in projects that accelerate the transition towards a fossil-independent Western Sweden.
• Participate in network activities such as seminars, workshops, conferences and dialogue meetings.
• Get involved in working groups for specific industry issues.

Would you like to know more about membership or have other questions? Contact us!