SPARK is a KK environment. This is the most comprehensive among the research programs and competence development programs that the KK Foundation has.

The program aims to develop research profiled and co-producing universities. Co-production with the industry is an important cornerstone of the program, as it has proven to result in new knowledge and competence, new products, methods and processes, as well as more efficient operations.

The research carried out within a KK environment must have a certain focus - a research profile - and the goal is to create an internationally competitive research environment within this profile.

In addition to Jönköping University, the following four universities participates in the program: University of Skövde, Halmstad University, Mid Sweden University and University West.

KK-stiftelsen logo

The foundation for knowledge- and competence development

The Foundation for Knowledge and Competence Development is a funding agency for universities with the task of strengthening Sweden's competitiveness. They fund research and skills development at Sweden's new colleges and universities.

The purpose of the foundation is to help the higher education institutions to build internationally competitive research environments, to work on a long term basis with strategic profiling and to increase collaboration between the academy, industry and institutes. The Foundation's program is therefore characterized by a long-term perspective and has requirements for co-production with the industry.