On October 22, the British-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with our Patron Members, held a roundtable on defence and security as part of the Strategic Partnership Roundtable Series. The discussion brought together perspectives from industry, finance, law and government-related sectors to explore opportunities for closer UK-Sweden cooperation.
The discussion focused on how to accelerate defence production, strengthen industrial capacity and address bottlenecks across supply chains. Participants highlighted the need for clearer long-term demand forecasts, more predictable contracts and better risk-sharing arrangements to help companies invest and scale production.
Financing and investment were also key topics. The discussion explored the role of private capital, alternative financing models and opportunities to make better use of existing manufacturing facilities. Participants noted that the challenge is not only securing funding, but also ensuring that production capacity can expand quickly enough to meet growing demand.
Regulation, procurement and security requirements were another important theme. Participants discussed how procurement rules, export controls, certification and supply-chain requirements can create barriers for companies seeking to enter the defence sector, particularly smaller businesses and suppliers operating across borders.
The discussion also highlighted opportunities for greater collaboration between civilian and defence industries, particularly around dual-use technologies, testing environments and innovation. Experiences from sectors such as life science and nuclear energy demonstrated the importance of industrial resilience, reliable access to essential goods and preparedness for periods of crisis.
Stronger UK-Sweden industrial cooperation was identified as an important opportunity to support innovation, create jobs and build more resilient supply chains. The discussion emphasised the importance of turning shared ambitions into practical solutions through closer collaboration between industry, government and financial institutions.
Thank you to Christian Hedelin from Saab for moderating the discussion, to EY for hosting the roundtable, and to all participants for sharing their perspectives and contributing to the conversation.
