Annual Patrons' Dinner
On 20 November, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Patron Members to the Annual Patrons’ Dinner, in the presence of H.E. Samantha Job CMG MVO, British Ambassador to Sweden, hosted by Vinge.
This year’s theme, “The future of connectivity, mobility, space and security” featured keynotes from Mikael Bäck, Senior Vice President at Ericsson and Linda Lyckman, Senior Vice President and Head of US Growth at the Swedish Space Corporation.
Mikael reflected on the evolution of mobile networks into the digital backbone of society. He highlighted how secure, high-performance connectivity now underpins critical functions in healthcare, manufacturing, transport and public safety, and emphasised that in an AI-driven world, trusted connectivity is essential for real-world impact. Bäck also underlined the importance of European scale, risk appetite and strong UK–Sweden collaboration to remain globally competitive.
Linda explored how space has become a critical layer of modern infrastructure, enabling navigation, climate monitoring, crisis response and secure communications. She outlined the rapid commercialisation of the space sector, the strategic value of assets such as Esrange, and Europe’s ambition for independent access to space.
Lastly, Samantha Job, then offered closing reflections on the strength of UK-Sweden partnership in science, innovation and security. Our Chair, Magdalena Gerger, rounded off the dinner before guests continued the evening with a lively mingle.
The evening also featured a raffle where two lucky winners were driven home in a Polestar car.
We extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our speakers for generously sharing their insights and expertise, to Polestar for graciously ensuring two of our guests got home safely, and to Vinge, Eva Fredrikson and team for their warm hospitality and generosity in hosting this memorable event.
Last but certainly not least, we would also like to extend a sincere thank you to our Patron members. Your wealth of knowledge and unwavering support serves as the cornerstone of our network, enriching the collaborative spirit that defines our community.
