Acreo

Acreo
Name	Acreo
Type	Research institute
Established	1995
Location	Stockholm, Sweden
Key people	Lars Bergström, Anders Österlund, Ann-Cathrine Elm
Fields	Photonics, Microelectronics, Wireless Communications, Sensors

Acreo is a Swedish research institute specializing in applied information and communication technology, with emphases on photonics, microelectronics, wireless communication, and sensor systems. Founded in the mid-1990s, the institute has worked at the interface between academic research and industrial development, supporting technology transfer to ABB, Ericsson, Saab, Volvo, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Acreo’s activities have intersected with national research programs and European initiatives such as the European Commission research frameworks and collaborations with institutes like RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

History

Acreo emerged during a period of restructuring in Swedish applied research, following the reorganization of state-funded laboratories and the rise of industry-academia partnerships in the 1990s. The institute was shaped by actors from the Swedish research landscape including VINNOVA, the Swedish Government, and regional development agencies based in Stockholm County. Over time Acreo participated in European projects under framework programmes such as FP6, FP7, and Horizon 2020, and engaged with pan-European research networks including the European Technology Platform Photonics21 and consortia involving Fraunhofer Society and CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission). Its history intertwines with developments in Swedish high-tech clusters centered on Kista Science City and the Öresund region.

Organization and Structure

Acreo has been organized into specialized divisions focusing on electronics, photonics, sensors, and system integration, with management practices influenced by Swedish research governance models exemplified by institutions such as RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Chalmers University of Technology. Governance typically involved a board drawn from academia, industry, and public stakeholders including representatives from VINNOVA and regional authorities. Research groups collaborated with doctoral programmes at universities including KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, Linköping University, and Lund University. Administrative functions linked to finance and technology transfer mirrored structures used by research organizations like Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Max Planck Society for industry liaison.

Research Areas and Projects

Acreo’s portfolio covered photonics research into silicon photonics, optical interconnects, and light-emitting technologies with projects related to companies such as Ericsson and Intel. Microelectronics work included thin-film electronics, printed electronics projects with partners like IAR Systems and device fabrication for sensor nodes used by ABB and ABB Robotics. Wireless communications research spanned radio-frequency front ends, antenna design, and Internet of Things platforms connected to initiatives run by ERICSSON Research and European telecom consortia. Sensor systems projects encompassed biochemical sensors, environmental monitoring nodes used by municipal partners in Stockholm, and health-related devices intersecting with clinical collaborators at Karolinska Institutet and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Acreo participated in cross-disciplinary EU projects alongside institutions such as Technical University of Denmark, TU Delft, and University of Cambridge.

Facilities and Technology Transfer

The institute operated cleanroom facilities, optical laboratories, and RF anechoic chambers that supported prototype fabrication and characterization, akin to infrastructure at Chalmers Nanofabrication Laboratory and KTH Microtechnology and Nanoscience Laboratory. Acreo’s fabrication capabilities included CMOS-compatible processing, thin-film deposition, and printed electronics pilot lines enabling spin-offs and licensing to Swedish firms and international partners. Technology transfer mechanisms included joint development agreements, licensing deals with multinational corporations like Ericsson and Saab AB, and incubation support for startups connected to incubators such as SIC (Stockholm Innovation & Growth) and regional innovation hubs. Demonstrator projects were showcased at trade fairs and forums including Mobile World Congress and Stockholm-based innovation events.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Acreo cultivated partnerships with universities, research institutes, and industry. Academic collaborators included KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, Uppsala University, and Linköping University. Research institute partners encompassed RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Fraunhofer Society, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Industry engagement involved companies such as Ericsson, ABB, SAAB, Volvo Group, and technology SMEs. International consortia included participants from Germany, France, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland, with joint projects funded by the European Commission and national agencies like VINNOVA and the Swedish Research Council.

Awards and Recognition

Work affiliated with Acreo received recognition through industry awards, academic citations, and contributions to standardization activities. Project results were highlighted in technology competitions and innovation awards supported by bodies such as VINNOVA and regional chambers of commerce. Researchers associated with the institute published in journals and conferences organized by entities like IEEE, Optica (formerly OSA), and SPIE, and contributed to standards and roadmaps under platforms such as Photonics21 and telecom standardization fora.

Category:Research institutes in Sweden