New Research Agreement Strengthens UK-Sweden Collaboration

The agreement centres around I-X, Imperial College London’s flagship AI initiative, located at their White City Deep Tech Campus. This campus is a centre for innovation, bringing together academia, industry, and government organisations like NATO DIANA and the UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

Saab UK has had a long-standing collaboration with Imperial College and also manages its Innovation Network from Imperial College's campus in White City, London. This collaboration opens exciting new avenues for joint research and development.

Fostering Knowledge Sharing Across Borders

One of the standout aspects of this agreement is the opportunity it creates for cross-border collaboration. By supporting PhD students and engaging in academic exchanges, the partnership fosters a dynamic environment where researchers from Sweden and the UK can work together to push the boundaries of AI, data science, and digital technologies.

Malin Svahn, VP Director of Innovation Programmes at Saab UK, highlights the importance of this international collaboration: “This partnership strengthens our long-standing relationship with Imperial College London and opens up additional opportunities for collaboration with world-class professors and students in technology areas that are crucial for our future.”

Supporting Innovation in Defence and Beyond

University collaborations is crucial to Saab to stay in the forefront of technology and Saab UK’s involvement in this initiative is particularly important as it expands the company’s access to cutting-edge research in areas important to our expansion in the UK.  The projects expected to emerge from this partnership span various technological fields, including AI, autonomy, and sensor technologies such as next-generation radar systems. These developments are set to benefit both Saab UK and its customers, as they will have access to innovative technologies and some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Malin explains how this partnership will influence Saab UK’s technological development: “By sponsoring PhD students and working with professors who have world-class knowledge, we can develop technologies that are not only important for Saab UK but for the wider industry. This collaboration is crucial to our ongoing innovation efforts.”

Impact on Saab UK's Customers

For Saab UK’s customers, this collaboration presents a unique advantage. The partnership opens doors to the latest research, enabling Saab to deliver more advanced, innovative products and services. It also creates an opportunity for UK companies to engage with talented students from leading global universities, fostering a pool of expertise that can drive the defence and security sectors forward.

"The partnership involves the creation of innovative activities designed to foster knowledge-sharing across borders, which the UK will benefit from by having the opportunity to access world-class students from the most prominent universities globally," Malin adds.

A Foundation for Future Growth

WASP, Sweden’s largest research program, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is committed to advancing Sweden into a leading position in AI, autonomous systems, and software. This collaboration with Imperial College London aligns with the ambition to make Sweden a global leader in these fields, while simultaneously benefiting the UK.

Imperial College London’s I-X initiative is perfectly positioned to support this partnership, with a strong focus on AI, data science, and digital technologies. The synergies between WASP and Imperial College London are expected to yield significant advancements in AI and autonomous systems, benefiting both countries and creating a foundation for future growth.

As Malin concludes: “This partnership is a unique strategic opportunity that enhances UK-Sweden collaboration in research and technology development. It strengthens the position for Saab and our customers to be at the forefront of technology and develop next-generation innovations that will shape the future of defence and security.”