<<ALMEDALEN 2025 >> Host: Vinnova – Sweden’s Innovation Agency
Participants:
- Darja Isaksson, Director General, Vinnova
- Carl-Johan Edström, Chief of the Defense Staff, Swedish Armed Forces
- Per Lager, Advisor, Swedish Defence University
- Josefin van der Meer, Moderator, Program Manager for Civil-Military Innovation, Vinnova
- Jens Mattsson, Director General, FOI – Swedish Defence Research Agency
- Petronella Kjellberg Andersen, Head of the Collaboration Department, Swedish Defence University
Technological Change Demands New Ways of Working
Josefin van der Meer, moderator and program manager for civil-military innovation at Vinnova, opens:
“We live in a time where technological advances in AI, autonomy, biotechnology, energy tech, new materials, and quantum technology are reshaping the conditions for both security and defensem, at a pace we’ve never seen before. At the same time, systemic changes are progressing slowly. This calls for bold leadership, clear organization, and the ability to integrate new technology into practice.”
Technological sovereignty is not just about access to technology, it is about control over how it is developed and used.
It is about building robust companies: who you hire, what kind of IT infrastructure you choose, how you lead the company, and where the funding comes from. Sweden needs more companies that are prepared for the future, both in the civilian and military sectors.
Speed, Flexibility, and Long-Term Vision, All at Once
To maintain our innovation capacity over time, a strong industrial base is essential. We must dare to make long-term investments, even when they don’t provide immediate returns. At the same time, we must be able to respond quickly to emerging needs.
“Collaboration is therefore a cornerstone. Sweden is already a leading tech and innovation nation, thanks to strong partnerships between academia, government, and industry. By applying a pentahelix model, where civil society and citizens are also included, we can become even faster and more adaptable.”
Ukraine Shows the Way for Agile Defense Innovation
Per Lager, advisor at the Swedish Defence University, shares real-world examples from Ukraine, which he visited just days earlier:
“The war in Ukraine has become a learning lab. ‘Learning loops’ between the battlefield and developers enable solutions within 24–72 hours: from need, to development, to training. Startups in Ukraine work side by side with the military in so-called defense tech accelerators. Together, they solve the most urgent defense problems, often with several companies collaborating.”
Example: A company that used to make wakeboards has developed self-driving boats to transport drones deep into Russian territory, “a spiderweb on the water,” as one participant described it.
What is Needed in Sweden?
Per Lager emphasized that FMV and other government agencies must learn to collaborate with new types of expertise. There are many small companies in Sweden with relevant solutions—but they don’t know how to navigate the defense bureaucracy.
All cadets in Ukraine are trained as drone pilots, autonomous systems are a given.
“We need to start thinking in the same way here.”
What Can We Do, Right Now?
Petronella Kjellberg Andersen asked the key question:
“What concrete steps can we take, right now?”
Per summarized the needs:
“We agree on the problem. Now the art lies in taking action.”
He called for:
- A clearing house for Sweden’s defense needs, inspired by Ukraine’s model
- Increased collaboration between Swedish and Ukrainian startups
- Mentorship programs between officers and entrepreneurs
- A small academy for mutual learning
- Educating incubators in defense logic so they can guide startups in the right direction
Collaboration Requires Understanding, and Courage
The Swedish Armed Forces and FOI emphasized the importance of transparency. Many civilian actors have long been skeptical about cooperating with the military, but the war in Ukraine has “ripped off the bandage.” New forms of dialogue are now essential.
FOI wants to foster innovation during the development of solutions, not only as a final supplier of expertise. This requires stepping out of traditional roles and daring to work in parallel with problem formulation, testing, and scaling.
Closing Reflection
Darja Isaksson from Vinnova highlighted that several major technological shifts are underway, and that it is within these shifts that new companies, markets, and industries are born. But this requires:
- A demanding first customer
- A solid collaboration
And most importantly: access to domain expertise.
The match between experts and startups is critical, this is where incubators play a crucial role.
