Sweden Water Research
Sweden Water Research is a private R&D company jointly owned by three Swedish municipal water utilities (NSVA, Sydvatten, VA SYD), conducting applied research in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and digital water services for municipalities in Skåne and EU partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLund, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sweden Water Research does
Sweden Water Research AB is a private, for-profit research, development and innovation company jointly owned by three Swedish municipal water utilities — NSVA, Sydvatten and VA SYD — and rooted in 20 municipalities across the Skåne region. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Lund, the company operates as a collaborative R&D platform conducting nationally applied research in drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, circular economy and digital water services. Its core technology portfolio spans specialized testbeds and living labs (Bolmen Research Station, Källby Water Workshop, RecoLab, REWAISE testbeds, Testbed Ellinge) and a pipeline of externally funded research projects, including industrial PhD programs with Lund University and Luleå University of Technology.
The company's offerings are not commercial products but applied research outputs: peer-reviewed publications, doctoral and licentiate theses, project reports, pilot validations, and AI/ML prototypes such as flow-cytometry-based rapid water quality analysis (Urban Swimming, From Plate to Pixel), AI-driven stormwater siting and nowcasting (Opti-SITE), and machine learning on household water consumption data (DISCO). Technical differentiation is anchored in access to live utility infrastructure through the owner companies, enabling real-world pilots that are difficult for independent R&D vendors to replicate.
Sweden Water Research's revenue model is non-commercial. A three-year funding framework set by the three owners forms the core budget — approximately SEK 19 million for 2026 — adjusted annually by the Swedish Labour Cost Index. This is supplemented by external research grants from Vinnova, Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency, Mistra InfraMaint, and EU/Interreg programs. Distribution is through direct research collaboration with the owner utilities, academic publications, and sector events including the annual Sweden Water Research Day.
Sweden Water Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sweden Water Research
- Legal name
- Sweden Water Research AB
- Website
- https://swedenwaterresearch.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sweden Water Research is a private R&D company jointly owned by three Swedish municipal water utilities (NSVA, Sydvatten, VA SYD), conducting applied research in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and digital water services for municipalities in Skåne and EU partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sweden Water Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water and Wastewater Research and Development
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD), Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)
Keywords
Where Sweden Water Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lund
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sweden Water Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Annual Owner Funding: Sweden Water Research receives annual funding framework fixed for three years, decided by owners NSVA, Sydvatten, and VA SYD. For 2026, the budget is approximately SEK 19 million. The framework and its allocation are reviewed every three years, with annual budget adjustments according to wage developments based on the Labour Cost Index (AKI). Owner funding covers core functions and co-financing of research projects.
- External Research Funding: In addition to owner contributions, Sweden Water Research actively seeks external research funding and other financing opportunities from sources such as Vinnova, Interreg, Formas, EU funding programs, and other research funding bodies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sweden Water Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sweden Water Research is a joint research, development and innovation company that conducts nationally applied research on water and wastewater for the benefit of its three owner utilities. It operates a portfolio of testbeds, living labs, and collaborative research projects covering drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, circular economy, and digital water solutions, primarily serving municipal water utilities and research partners in Sweden.
Product overview
Sweden Water Research is a joint research, development and innovation company owned by NSVA, Sydvatten, and VA SYD, conducting nationally applied water research. The organization operates as a collaborative research platform rather than a product company. Their portfolio consists of testbeds and living labs (including Bolmen Research Station, Källby Water Workshop, RecoLab, REWAISE, and Testbed Ellinge), multiple research projects (ISWIM, DISCO, Opti-SITE, From Plate to Pixel, ReCirkWater, Urban Swimming), and an industrial PhD program. They produce publications and reports as knowledge products. Key research areas include water quality monitoring using rapid detection technologies (flow cytometry, ColiMinder, BactoSense), AI/machine learning applications for water quality prediction and stormwater optimization, circular water solutions, and climate adaptation of urban drainage systems. Funding comes from owner companies (approximately SEK 19 million annually for 2026), external research grants, and EU/interreg programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Testbäddar och Living Labs (Testbeds and Living Labs)
Quantifiable outcome
- Research station serves approximately 25% of Scania's population drinking water supply through Lake Vomb
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sweden Water Research
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sweden Water Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature3 records
Sweden Water Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Lund UniversitycoreLong-standing academic partner for industrial PhD programs and collaborative research projects. Lund University provides supervision for PhD students and hosts joint research initiatives in water treatment, microbiology, and environmental engineering. Multiple doctoral students are jointly employed through this partnership.
- NSVAcoreOne of three owner companies, providing annual funding and participating in research projects. NSVA operates water services in multiple municipalities and contributes expertise in stormwater management and infrastructure. Industrial PhD students Sara Roth and Ashley Hall are associated through NSVA.
- SydvattencoreOwner company distributing drinking water to Malmö and surrounding areas (approximately 25% of Scania's population). Provides access to Lake Vomb research site and water supply infrastructure. Industrial PhD student Emma Enström is associated through Sydvatten.
- VA SYDcoreOwner company operating water and wastewater services. Hosts test facilities including RecoLab for greywater treatment research and contributes to multiple projects. Industrial PhD student Ronja Nybom is associated through VA SYD.
- Luleå University of TechnologysecondaryAcademic partner for industrial PhD program. Ronja Nybom is affiliated through this university for research on stormwater treatment and organic micropollutants. Supervisors from the university support the research.
- RecoLab (Helsingborg)secondaryLiving lab facility in Helsingborg used for greywater treatment research. Ashley Hall conducts pilot-scale treatment studies at this facility for source-separated greywater processing.
- Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-SkagerraksecondaryEuropean regional development fund supporting cross-border collaboration projects. Funds the Opti-SITE project for AI-based stormwater solution identification in collaboration with Danish partners including Aalborg University and HOFOR.
- Interreg North SeasecondaryEuropean funding program supporting the DISCO project on digital solutions for climate adaptation. Eleven partners across five countries collaborate, led by Zwolle municipality in the Netherlands with Malmö City as Swedish partner.
- Interreg South Baltic ProgrammesecondaryEuropean regional development fund supporting the ReCircWater project on stormwater treatment and reuse in the Baltic Sea region. Partners include Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania.
- Mistra InfraMaintsecondaryResearch program on infrastructure maintenance providing better decision-making support for municipalities and water utilities. Sara Roth's PhD project on climate adaptation is part of this larger program.
- Water Wise Societies / Impact InnovationsecondaryFunding initiative financed by Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), Vinnova, and Formas. Supports the 'From Plate to Pixel' project on rapid water quality monitoring using AI and new analytical technologies.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sweden Water Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state-owned research institute with water, environment, and bioeconomy divisions. Comparable in operating testbeds and applied research for municipalities, but operates across many sectors beyond water.
- DHI A/S: Global water and environment consultancy working with utilities on water quality modeling, hydraulics, and digital water solutions. Comparable on water quality modeling and digital utility tools, but operates commercially versus Sweden Water Research's research model.
- SINTEF: Large Scandinavian applied research organization with a substantial water and environment division. Comparable on the water R&D thesis but broader in scope (energy, materials, oceans) and much larger.
Direct peers
- Water Research Australia: Australia's water utility–funded research body, performing collaborative applied research for water utilities. Comparable structure: utility-funded, project-based research with member-funded and government co-financed programs.
- KWR Water Research Institute: Dutch water research institute founded and funded by Dutch drinking water utilities. Closest direct comparable to Sweden Water Research: utility-owned, applied research model with shared testbed infrastructure and similar academic/government co-financing.
- Water Research Foundation (WaterRF): US-based research foundation funded by water utilities and subscribers that commissions applied research projects. Comparable in its utility-funded collaborative R&D model, though project portfolio is more sector-wide than infrastructure-focused.
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research): Nordic applied water research institute delivering science-based research and monitoring for utilities, regulators, and industry. Comparable in mission, geographic/regulatory context, and use of testbed-style research stations.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Swedish non-profit applied environmental research institute working across water, climate, and circular economy. Comparable in being a Sweden-based applied research partner for utilities and public bodies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sweden Water Research social profiles
Digital presenceSweden Water Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sweden Water Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Sweden Water Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sweden Water Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sweden Water Research
What does Sweden Water Research do?
Sweden Water Research is a joint research, development and innovation company that conducts nationally applied research on water and wastewater for the benefit of its three owner utilities. It operates a portfolio of testbeds, living labs, and collaborative research projects covering drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, circular economy, and digital water solutions, primarily serving municipal water utilities and research partners in Sweden.
Is Sweden Water Research a public or private company?
Sweden Water Research is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Sweden Water Research founded?
Sweden Water Research was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sweden Water Research based?
Sweden Water Research is headquartered in Lund, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Sweden Water Research make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Annual Owner Funding is the primary driver. The others are external Research Funding.
Who are Sweden Water Research's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, DHI A/S and SINTEF. Direct peers are Water Research Australia, KWR Water Research Institute, Water Research Foundation (WaterRF), NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research) and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
Does Sweden Water Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sweden Water Research.
What industry is Sweden Water Research in?
Sweden Water Research's product category is Water and Wastewater Research and Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAKAF, Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient), with a secondary code of BPAHAIAD, Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 8731.