Sweden Water Research

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.

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

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

• Water research services
• Wastewater treatment research
• Stormwater management
• Drinking water quality
• Circular water solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Lund

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Lund UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Long-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.
• NSVAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne 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.
• SydvattencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner 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 SYDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner 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 TechnologysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationLiving 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-SkagerraksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean 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 SeasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean 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 ProgrammesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean 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 InfraMaintsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch 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 InnovationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sweden-water-research
• Xx.com/swrab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sweden Water Research