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IVA's President: some thoughts on Infrastructure Investments

One year from now, voters will go to the polls in Sweden. I look forward to the election campaign, and as a representative of the world's first academy of engineering sciences, I have a message for the political parties: think big! Think beyond a single term of office. What we need now are big ideas to build Sweden for the future.

Words from the President
Published: 09 September 2025Last Updated: 09 September 2025
crossing roads from above

IVA's President: Some thoughts on Uncertainty

The World Uncertainty Index (WUI) has remained steady at an average of 30,000 over the past 17 years, with a temporary peak of 50,000 during the pandemic years. The latest index from October shows the remarkable figure of 122,000. The responsibility to take ownership of our own future is particularly important in times of great uncertainty.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 18 November 2025Last Updated: 18 November 2025
globe

IVA's President: some thoughts on international perspectives

In the mid-1940s, Edy Velander, IVA’s legendary President, initiated global monitoring of technical  developments. Velander appointed a “liaison officer” in New York tasked with spotting trends and reporting back on technological progress and innovation. The world’s first “technology attaché” had been introduced. 

Words from the President
Published: 17 June 2025Last Updated: 19 June 2025
world map

IVA's President: some thoughts on the new, long-term EU budget

IVA’s President Sylvia Schwaag Serger reflects on the European Commission’s EUR 2 trillion budget proposal for 2028-2034 and its priorities in security, competitiveness, and innovation, as well as Sweden’s strength in rapid technology adoption.

Words from the President
Published: 12 August 2025Last Updated: 12 August 2025
pile of euro bills

IVA's President: some thoughts on China

While Europe is fully preoccupied with President Trump’s various initiatives, a very deliberate movement is under way in another corner of the world—namely, China’s scientific and technological advancement.

Words from the President
Published: 22 April 2025Last Updated: 25 June 2025
Chinese flag

IVA's President: some thoughts on AI

When the 2025 edition of the Global AI Index is released after the summer, I hope Sweden will have made a significant climb from last year’s ranking of 25th. The United States topped the list in 2024 (no surprise there), followed by China.

Words from the President
Published: 20 May 2025Last Updated: 23 June 2025
circuit board with letters AI

IVA's President: some thoughts on dual use

Europe is ramping up its defense investments. This is, of course, a response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the radically altered geopolitical stance of the White House. Europe can no longer rely on the United States to guarantee its security.

Words from the President
Published: 03 June 2025Last Updated: 23 June 2025
flying drone

IVA's President: Some thoughts on Lifelong Learning

The need for continuous upskilling and reskilling of professionals – not least engineers – is growing rapidly, driven by technological transformation as well as major societal challenges such as climate change and a deteriorating security environment.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 16 December 2025Last Updated: 15 December 2025
library aisle with books

IVA's President: some thoughts on Sweden's Innovation Status

Two rankings recently confirmed Sweden’s distinction as an innovative country. Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published its Global Innovation Index 2025. In this ranking, Sweden stood fast in second place, maintaining the position it has held in recent years.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 23 September 2025Last Updated: 23 September 2025
Swedish flag

IVA's President: some thoughts on Greenhushing

At this time last year, the U.S. election campaign was in full swing. Joe Biden had stepped aside to make way for Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Donald Trump had survived an assassination attempt and was now dominating the agenda. Trump was—and is—a force the whole world must reckon with.

Words from the President
Published: 26 August 2025Last Updated: 26 August 2025
icebergs

IVA's President: Some thoughts on the times we’re in

It is never easy to analyze the present or to put events into context and perspective. But New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman recently proffered the idea that we are now living in the “Polycene” era – a time in which the world can no longer be understood in binary terms, but is shaped by many closely interlinked forces.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 07 January 2026Last Updated: 08 January 2026
wind turbines and palm trees

IVAs vd - om Europas konkurrenskraft

De senaste veckorna har jag haft anledning att reflektera över den europeiska självbilden – särskilt när det kommer till teknikutveckling och konkurrenskraft. Många europeiska ledare ser just nu med avund på de stora amerikanska teknikföretagen.

Words from the President
Published: 25 March 2025Last Updated: 26 May 2025
EU-flaggor framför fasad

IVAs vd - om att attrahera toppforskare

En konsekvens av Trump-regeringens agerande är att många toppforskare nu ser sina möjligheter inskränkas till följd av nedskärningar i forskningsfinansiering och begränsningar av den akademiska friheten och söker sig bort från USA.

Words from the President
Published: 08 April 2025Last Updated: 26 May 2025
studenter runt bord sett uppifrån

IVAs vd - om USAs techsektor

Hastighet. Beräkningskraft. Finansiering. Efter att ha tillbringat en vecka på amerikanska västkusten och mött företrädare från techsektorn är det dessa tre ord jag bär med mig hem till Europa och Sverige.

Words from the President
Published: 11 March 2025Last Updated: 26 May 2025
flygfoto över Silicon Valley

IVAs vd - om ansvarsfull internationalisering

Sveriges öppenhet mot omvärlden och internationella samarbeten ligger till grund för vår starka position som teknik- och innovationsland. Därom råder ingen tvekan.

Words from the President
Published: 11 February 2025Last Updated: 26 May 2025
jordglob

IVA's President: some thoughts on European defence

Today, Denmark took over the EU presidency. Denmark is the second member of the trio leading the Council of the European Union across three consecutive terms, between Poland and Cyprus. When the Trio Presidency set its shared priorities in late autumn 2024, the global situation looked quite different.

Words from the President
Published: 01 July 2025Last Updated: 03 July 2025
fighter planes in the sky

IVA's President: Some thoughts on Drivers of Economic Growth

Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2025 was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their research on how new technology drives sustained economic growth. This is exciting research. I see the interaction between technological development and economic growth as a key issue for IVA. 

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 21 October 2025Last Updated: 21 October 2025
glitter

IVA's President: Some thoughts on a Swedish Minister for Technology

Arguably, a country’s administrative model need not have a large impact on outcomes, but in this critical time of global tech competition, perhaps a designated Committee or Minister for Technology could be of advantage for Sweden.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 02 December 2025Last Updated: 02 December 2025
parliament building by water

IVA's President: Some thoughts on Government Agencies

As a Swedish citizen with a diverse background from Germany, the US, and China, I would like to highlight a feature of Sweden I admire: our efficient (and at times rather dry) government agencies. Having experienced bureaucracies in several countries, I can say that Swedish public administration stand out.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 04 November 2025Last Updated: 05 November 2025
closeup red tie and suit

IVA's President: Some thoughts on Academic Freedom

It is the time of year when our sister academy, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, announces the Nobel Prize winners, and as always, it is both inspiring and gratifying to see how the world turns its focus to science during Nobel Week. In an era when facts and science are being questioned at the highest levels, it feels perhaps more urgent than ever to celebrate science and the advances it brings to humanity.

Swedish Futures
Words from the President
Published: 07 October 2025Last Updated: 08 October 2025
people holding signs praising science