UK-Sweden Defence Innovation Dialogue: Advancing strategic collaboration
On 9th April, Saab UK supported and hosted the UK-Sweden Defence Innovation Dialogue at the residence of H.E. Stefan Gullgren, Swedish Ambassador to the UK.
Bringing together senior leaders from government, academia and industry from both nations, the roundtable focused on how closer collaboration can accelerate defence innovation and capability development in support of the UK-Sweden Strategic Partnership.
We look far out to those technologies that can disrupt defence in the future.
Set against a rapidly evolving defence and security environment, the dialogue explored shared challenges and opportunities across operational needs, capability development, industrial capacity and emerging technologies such as AI, sensing and data. Participants also looked ahead to 2030, discussing what conditions and ecosystems need to be established now to enable long‑term, trusted cooperation between the UK and Sweden.
The Triple Helix: Turning collaboration into capability
Central to the discussion was the Triple Helix model, which brings together government, academia and industry as equal and interconnected partners in the innovation process.
Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director, Saab UK
Government provides strategic direction and the policy frameworks required for collaboration; academia contributes research excellence, experimentation and skills; and industry translates ideas into scalable, deployable capability. By aligning these three perspectives early, the Triple Helix accelerates delivery, reduces friction and ensures innovation remains focused on real operational needs.
Strengthening the UK-Sweden Strategic Partnership
I think we are going to see great success for the future in this cooperation.
The UK-Sweden Strategic Partnership provides a strong foundation for long-term defence collaboration, rooted in shared values, mutual trust and complementary strengths. By applying the Triple Helix approach, both nations are better positioned to move from ambition to action – shaping joint innovation, strengthening resilience and delivering effective defence capability for the future.
Saab UK remains committed to supporting this partnership and advancing collaboration across government, academia and industry to address shared security challenges.