Innovation

NATO has appointed the, in Östergötland based, incubator LEAD as an accelerator site in the DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) network. This means that Sweden will have its own accelerator site in NATO’s efforts to accelerate the development of new technologies that can be used for both civil and military needs.

The Government’s overarching objective for intellectual property (IP) is to strengthen Sweden’s innovative capacity and competitiveness and to promote and secure a rich cultural offering, both nationally and globally. Strategic management and protection of IP assets using IP law is particularly important at a time when the global race for strategic technology gains is playing out against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence.

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders held bilateral meetings and participated in discussions with European business leaders on innovation, climate and trade. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also participated in the programme.

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.

Germany is Sweden’s most important trading partner, and the world’s fourth-largest economy. On Wednesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Stockholm for a meeting on regional security policy, total defence and cooperation between Sweden and Germany.

On Wednesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is to receive Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a bilateral meeting in Stockholm.

On 17 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard signed the Pax Silica Declaration in connection with her visit to Houston, Texas. The initiative brings together leading technology nations and aims to strengthen cooperation to secure supply chains for emerging technologies. Pax Silica will also help promote innovation, secure digital infrastructure and protect sensitive technologies.

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.

On 18–20 February, Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch will be in New Delhi to take part in the AI Impact Summit. The Summit gathers leaders from more than 30 countries and aims to promote international cooperation in the area of AI.

The Government is tasking the Defence Materiel Administration to enhance protection of critical and emerging technologies from a national security perspective. This assignment aims to reinforce Sweden’s economic security in line with the National Security Strategy.

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.

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.

Letter of Intent between Sweden and Ukraine concerning Defence Innovation Partnership. Signed by Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Ukraine’s Minister for Defence Denys Shmyhal in Stockholm on 6 November 2025.

On 4 November, Sweden and Ukraine signed a letter of intent on enhanced innovation cooperation at the WINWIN Summit in Kyiv. Despite the extraordinary challenges Ukraine faces, the country has demonstrated in a powerful way how innovation can develop under pressure. Sweden is deeply committed to supporting Ukraine and the countries share mutual objectives to achieve peace and contribute to development in Europe.

On 30–31 October, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch visited Singapore. During the visit, Ms Busch met with Singapore’s Minister of Energy and Swedish companies operating in the country. In conjunction with the visit, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed between companies and academia from Sweden and Singapore on green ammonia and quantum technology, respectively.

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.

Sweden is already one of the world’s most digitalised countries, and Swedish government agencies have now started using AI to improve both the efficiency and quality of their work.

Opinion piece by Minister for Migration Johan Forssell in Dagens Industri, 26 June 2025.