About Ifous

Ifous is an independent research institute that advances education across Sweden. Founded by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, Almega Education (Almega Utbildning), and the National Association of Independent and Non-Profit Schools (Idéburna Skolors Riksförbund), Ifous provides a neutral arena where municipalities, independent school providers, and universities collaborate to strengthen education through research and development.

Acting as a national hub for educational R&D, Ifous supports long-term partnerships between practice and research. Its programmes enable schools and preschools to develop teaching and leadership practices grounded in scientific evidence and proven experience, always with the aim of improving learning for children and young people.

Members – primarily local education authorities and school providers – participate in joint R&D programmes together with researchers. Through this collaboration, they explore solutions to real challenges in classrooms and leadership, while contributing to the national knowledge base on effective teaching and learning.

Ifous also operates Ifous Edtest, Sweden’s national testbed for digital learning. The initiative connects teachers and edtech companies to co-design, test, and evaluate digital learning resources, strengthening teachers’ digital competence and promoting responsible use of technology in education.

Beyond its national programmes, Ifous contributes to European collaboration through its participation in EmpowerED, a Horizon Europe project that brings together education stakeholders from across Europe to explore how EdTech can support inclusion, trust, and innovation in schools. Through EmpowerED, Ifous helps ensure that Swedish perspectives and research are part of the broader European dialogue on the future of education.