Higher education, research and space

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders will hold bilateral meetings and participate in discussions with European business leaders on innovation and trade. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi will also hold joint press statements, together with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. HRH The Crown Princess will also participate in the programme.

Sweden should be an attractive destination for talent and international expertise. The Government has therefore approved a bill comprising proposals aimed at improving the conditions under migration law for researchers, doctoral candidates and students. The bill also aims to counter abuse of residence permits granted for studies.

Sweden aims to take a leading role in artificial intelligence. The Government is now presenting a new AI strategy with the aim of providing more effective government agencies, clearer rules for businesses and better conditions for research. The objective is for Sweden to be among the world’s top 10 countries in the field of AI.

This strategy has a ten-year perspective to enable various actors to work long term on issues that can help realise the vision: “A society in which access to treatment with antimicrobials is maintained through cross-sectoral and sector-specific initiatives to prevent infection and limit the development, spread and consequences of resistant microorganisms.”

Minister for Defence Pål Jonson has signed an extension of the existing framework agreement with the United States on cooperation in the research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The agreement, established to promote scientific and technological development, builds on the long-standing partnership between our countries on space issues.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed an enhanced and expanded Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. The Joint Declaration of Intent comprises new areas including foreign policy, capital market issues, migration and international development cooperation.

Joint Declaration of Intent on a Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 19 november 2025 in Berlin.

The Government has adopted a new 10-year strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The strategy will guide and reinforce Sweden’s work in this area and contribute to global goals of reducing mortality.

Strategic Partnership between Canada and Sweden. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on 18 November 2025.

Canada and Sweden have entered into a Strategic Partnership, which was launched on 18 November, during the State Visit to Canada by Their Majesties The King and Queen. It builds on Canada and Sweden’s common interests and values, and will further deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation.

Today, 20 October, Maria Nilsson, State Secretary to Minister for Upper Secondary School, Higher Education and Research Lotta Edholm, and Lord Vallance, UK Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research and innovation. The signing took place at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in London.

A new initiative is launched today during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Italy. The Rome Declaration for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine will support the reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine’s science and research ecosystem. Sweden is one of the founding members to the initiative.

Poland, which holds the EU presidency in the spring of 2025, has invited Minister for Education Johan Pehrson and his counterparts in other EU countries to an informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council (COMPET). The meeting will take place on March 10-11.

Minister for Education Johan Pehrson has now presented the Government’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) strategy. The strategy contains objectives to strengthen STEM education in Sweden. A new STEM delegation will also work to get more people studying in those fields.

Sweden’s national life sciences strategy serves as a long-range framework, and the strategy’s eight priority areas remain the starting point for this update of the previous strategy from 2019.

Sweden aims to be one of the world’s leading countries in research and innovation. In the research and innovation bill, the Government is investing SEK 6.5 billion on research and innovation of the highest quality. Investments include funding for excellent research, increased and competitive funding for higher education institutions, enhanced research infrastructure and investments in groundbreaking technologies to position Sweden at the forefront.

European research and innovation collaborations contribute to maintaining and strengthening European values for a free, open, and value-based market economy. In today’s geopolitically challenging situation, it is important that the EU’s long-term competitiveness and openness are at the core of an open strategic autonomy. European research and innovation collaboration is of great importance for Swedish universities, industry, institutes, public sector entities, and other stakeholders. The Swedish position paper aims to present key principles that Sweden believes need to be safeguarded or improved in the development of the next framework program for research and innovation to serve the development, competitiveness, and prosperity of all of Europe.

On April 16 Minister for Education Mats Persson signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles for exploration and conduct in space. During the ceremony NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivered the following video remarks.

To improve the conditions for cooperation between Swedish and American universities, research institutions and businesses on research, innovation and education, Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States of America.

Speech by Minister for Education Mats Persson at the signing of the Artemis Accords, 16 April 2024. Check against delivery.