All in all, the reorganisation involves some 15 organisations and will reduce their number to six. The new structure is to enable more focused public efforts in areas of strategic importance, greater efficiency, and a better adaptation to the needs of target groups. The regional growth agreements are to be the principal tool for the implementation of the new regional industrial policy. The point of departure for this policy is the potential that exists for accelerating economic growth in Sweden by making better use of the resources available in all regions. The first regional growth agreements were launched on 15 March 2000, when the first generation of such agreements were signed between 21 regions and the Swedish Government.
Measures pertaining to innovation policy are major components in the regions' growth strategies.
These regional growth strategies are in general geared towards the specific industrial specializations in the regions. Swedish research policy for the period 2000-2003 was presented in mid September in the government bill on research policy.