SP (The Swedish National Testing and Research Institute) is one of the biggest research institutes in Sweden. With a multi-disciplinary approach the aim is to contribute significantly to innovation and growth in industry and to a sustainable development in the society as a whole. SP is a national institute with a comprehensive competence in a number of profile areas such as: Building, Energy, Fire and fire protection, Materials, Transport, Electronics, Measurement techniques. We co-operate with all sectors, universities, institutes, industry, users and organisations of society and politics. This is essential to contribute efficiently to growth in the innovation system. In particular we co- operate with universities for synergy of aspects in performing research. We prioritize international co-operation, e.g. in EU-projects. This is important for exchange of knowledge, influence and creation of confidence and networks facilitating trade and increasing competitiveness. SP is a private company (like Chalmers) with all shares held by the Swedish state. The organisation is flat with a high degree of delegation, which enhances flexibility and multi-disciplinarity. The technical departments have overall responsibility for economy, personnel, equipment, research, marketing etc according to an annual plan and following the common strategies and policies. Many of the R&D activities at SP are co-financed and SP receives grants from around 20 of the Swedish research councils, funds and authorities in competition. This financing has increased considerably during the last decade, while the government grants for development of new knowledge through R&D have decreased slowly. The governmental grants were about 9 % of SP's total turnover in 2002. The staff comprises 550 persons (man years). Of these 97 have a Ph D (72) or a licentiate degree (25). A further 140 persons have a masters degree, and there are also a number with a B Sc. This means that the technical areas/environments at the departments in general have a sustainable research competence and capacity for tutoring of Ph D students. There are 35 Ph D students at SP, generally employees of SP with a project in co-operation with a technical university, for courses and formal exam requirements, and with supervision from SP's researchers. SP has co-operation in around 90 projects with a large number of departments at Swedish universities and university colleges, with a concentration to Chalmers, KTH and LTH. There is also co-operation with 15 of the Swedish research institutes and program boards (as Brandforsk, Elforsk and Värmeforsk). Internationally, SP co- operates with 90 institutes, mostly Nordic and European, and to a large extent in the 5th Framework program. In this program SP participated in 43 projects and as co-ordinator in 6. All in all SP has a wide co-operation in research and a strong international network. Not least should be mentioned organisations as Eurolab, Euromet, EGOLF (fire), ENBRI, RILEM, IABSE, CIB (building), Eurachem, ENCRESS (software), ADLNB (telecommunication), EMCIT/EMCEL (electronics), CEEES (environment), IEA (energy), ESIS (mechanics) and VAMAS (materials). In 2002 SP researchers published 233 reports, papers etc. A total of 169 of the publications were in external journals, conference proceedings, and theses. Of these 94 were published after peer review. The other 64 publications were handbooks, methods and final project reports and they were published in the SP report series. SP staff also made 270 presentations at conferences, workshops and seminars. SP arranged or co-arranged 150 courses, seminars or conferences in 2002. This includes international meetings regarding standardisation and other expert issues.