The RIDE research center started in February 2004, with competitive funding secured through the VINNOVA Programme ‘Centers of Excellence for Innovation Systems, R&D and Growth’.

In the second phase of RIDE activities (2007-2009) we have focused especially on the links between transformation and scientific and engineering knowledge. In order to do so, we have addressed two Key Research Areas:

• Dynamics of Innovation Systems
  
  
• The Role of Actors: Firms and Universities

Both Key Research Areas address the effects of R&D and innovation on growth, renewal and structural transformation. A particular feature of RIDE, and a source of strength, has been that we have developed competence in empirically-based phenomena, including technologies, industries and processes. Our conceptual understanding of transformation processes has been enriched by a deep empirical knowledge, and this knowledge has enhanced our value to novel research and to decision-makers.

To achieve its goals, RIDE has followed the RIDE Plan of Activities, including the five lines of activities with its specific deliverables. Some results of these activities include:

1. Stimulating an infrastructure or creative environment for lively debate over the fundamental research issues, e.g. with the help of the RIDE Website, the RIDE Newsletter, Seminar and workshop series, Positioning papers, Visiting researchers, and the RIDE Advisory Board.
    
2. Raising the quality of research and developing means of diffusion, which for example includes publications, e.g. Scientific journals, Books and Book Chapters, Reports, Working papers series, Conference contributions, PhD dissertations and Licentiate dissertations.
    
3. Raising the quality of undergraduate and Masters teaching, as well as research training. This includes e.g. participation in teaching at all levels and at three universities, e.g. four Master’s Programmes, over 40 Master Theses (Chalmers) and several doctoral course.
4. Stimulate, directly support and indirectly add value to applications, research and interaction in order to stimulate new and on-going research. Among these are for example RIDE-seed financing (9 new projects) and Travel-grants (32 grants, 12 to master students, 10 to PhD students and 10 to senior researchers).
    
5. RIDE has tried to stimulate and support learning and networks for the societal impact of the research. Among its third mission activities are over 200 examples of interaction between RIDE researchers and society, including different kinds of decision- and policymakers.