Background information

The programme Robot Lift [Robotlyftet] is a part of the new industrialisation strategy in Sweden called Smart Industry. The programme is ongoing from 2018 and has the main purpose of supporting automatisation in SMEs. It does so by contributing to increased competence in using investment in automation solutions. A part of the measure included direct funding for SMEs in the form of automation checks.

Content of measure

The programme was divided into five offers:

• knowledge transfer meetings about automation

• prerequisite study

• support when applying for automation checks

• automation checks

• education in ordering automation solutions

The automation checks could be used by SMEs to financial services that would enable their business to move forward with investments in automation solutions. Automation checks should lead to increasing a company's competitiveness through increased competence in using and investing in automation solutions and developing innovative concepts to succeed. Automation checks should allow a company the opportunity to bring in external expertise, which can be used to:

• Prepare an investment in automation

• Improve customer competence of future-proof automation solutions

• Reduce the technical and financial risks of investing in modern automation technology

• Increase awareness of how automation and robotisation can help to strengthen the company's development

• Further training personnel for conversion to automation

The automation checks must not be used for direct investments in robots or software but should reduce the technical and/or financial risk to facilitate future investments. The overall goal is to increase automation maturity and create new value in the company. The company must have a long-term idea of how to develop its operations and how automation and robotics can contribute to this.

Overall budget used during 2018-2021 was SEK 68 million.

Use of measure

The programme has reached around 2,400 companies in the target group through activities (inspirational meetings, seminars and fairs), conducted interviews with 1,300 companies about their needs and capabilities in automation, and direct interventions in individual companies in the form of 512 feasibility studies and 214 automation vouchers.

An automation check maximum value amounts to SEK 150,000 (€13,607.21 as of 26 March 2020). The grant can cover up to 50% of the automation check. If the company has between 2 and 49 workers, it can cover up to 75%.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

• 31 January 2022: Tillväxtverket (2022), Uppdrag inom Smart industri
• 29 March 2022: Final report of Robotlyftet (Slutrapport robotlyftet) (tillvaxtverket.se)
• 11 August 2022: Robot Lift - Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (tillvaxtverket.se)