On May 4th, the innovation and collaboration hub LRIX – Lund Rapid Innovation and eXploitation – was inaugurated at Ideon Science Park in Lund. The initiative is a pilot project in which the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), together with academia and industry, will develop faster approaches to innovation and development within the field of command and control systems.
The goal is to create a meeting place where small and large companies can work more closely with the Swedish Armed Forces and FMV to more rapidly identify needs, test solutions, and transform new technologies into operational capabilities. In this effort, FMV plays a central role by contributing expertise in materiel, systems development, and procurement, while also developing new methods for faster innovation and implementation of new capabilities.
New Ways of Working for Faster Development
During the inauguration, several speakers emphasized that rapid technological development and lessons learned from today’s conflicts are creating new demands on how Sweden develops military command and control systems.
Major General Mattias Hanson, Head of the Defence Staff Cyber Division, highlighted the need for the Swedish Armed Forces and FMV to operate at the same pace as technological advances and changes on the battlefield. He described LRIX as part of a broader cultural shift in which the defence sector must move from traditional processes to more innovation-driven ways of working, with closer collaboration between government agencies, companies, and end users.
Brigade Commander Annelie Olausson of the South Skåne Regiment P7 also stressed the importance of modern and flexible command and control systems that function effectively in today’s operational environment and enable rapid command of military units. She further emphasized that innovation must grow both from the strategic level and from operational activities close to the units themselves.
An important part of the initiative is its connection to P7 in Revingehed. Through this collaboration, LRIX gains access to real military needs and the opportunity to test solutions in an operational environment.
The pilot project will be evaluated at the end of 2026, with the ambition that LRIX will contribute to new methods for rapid, needs-driven development within the defence sector.
“This initiative is a way to transform structures and working methods in order to better harness the innovative power of industry and academia. We believe in the concept and hope this will be the first of several hubs,” says Rebecca Ihrfors, Head of the Command and Control Systems Division at FMV.
Rebecca Ihrfors, Head of the Command and Control Systems Division at FMV
The initiative is led by FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces Cyber Division, the Army Staff, and the South Scanian Regiment P7, with support from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), the Swedish Defence University (FHS), and Vinnova. Ideon Science Park and Amyna serve as the operator and collaboration platform for the activities in Lund.
The collaboration is based on connecting the defence sector with companies, startups, and academia through the networks and innovation environments available in Lund, Skåne, and the Greater Copenhagen region.
This is a translation of FMV’s news article
What Is Command and Control Systems Materiel?
Command and control systems materiel refers to the technical equipment that enables the Swedish Armed Forces to lead and coordinate military operations. This includes, for example, radios, computers, telecommunications networks, and sensors used for communication, data transmission, and intelligence gathering.
FMV’s Command and Control Systems Division is responsible for developing, procuring, and further advancing both equipment and services within this field. The Swedish Armed Forces then use these systems to command their units and achieve their operational objectives.
Read more at fmv.se
