Singapore and Sweden to expand cooperation in emerging tech, sustainable energy

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam received a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace on Oct 19, during his five-day state visit to Sweden.

ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Published Oct 19, 2026, 08:55 PM

Updated Oct 19, 2026, 08:55 PM

Singapore and Sweden will expand cooperation in quantum, AI, 6G and next-generation positioning.

Sustainable energy is another key focus, with agencies exploring low-carbon power, including direct ammonia combustion, which could be a world first if feasible.

The visit also highlighted ties in research, business and defence, with links through universities, ComfortDelGro, AstraZeneca and wider ASEAN-Europe engagement.

STOCKHOLM - Singapore and Sweden will expand cooperation in sustainable energy and emerging technologies, including in the field of quantum.

Research and academic institutions from both countries will also collaborate on next-generation positioning technologies that tap AI and 6G - the next generation of mobile networks, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Oct 19.

Next-generation positioning technologies look to go beyond the traditional global positioning system (GPS) to track and locate.

President Tharman, who is on a five-day state visit to the Scandinavian country, said Singapore and Sweden share a conviction that as the world becomes more divided and uncertain, “like-minded countries must join-up our capabilities and work closely to address shared challenges and grow opportunities together”.

Speaking to the press at Stockholm’s Royal Palace following a ceremonial welcome, President Tharman said the two countries share several common characteristics as small nations that prosper through constant innovation and connections to the wider world.

“We believe in investing in our people, building strong institutions, and working actively to develop domestic solidarity,” he said in a statement delivered alongside Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf.

“We are like-minded in upholding international law, and a rules-based multilateral order. This common outlook has provided a strong foundation for practical cooperation over many years.”

The two governments intend to release a joint declaration that will set out the areas for more cooperation, including in emerging technologies, said President Tharman.

Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology and networking and telecommunications firm Ericsson will be collaborating with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University on the next-generation positioning technologies, he added.

Sustainable energy is also a central priority in the expanding bilateral relationship, President Tharman said, with Singapore’s Energy Market Authority and Sweden’s Ministry of Climate and Enterprise exploring further opportunities for collaboration.

These include low-carbon power generation solutions like the direct combustion of ammonia – which would be a world first if found feasible, he noted.

During the state visit, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy will also advance partnerships with the Royal Institute of Technology and the Stockholm School of Economics, opening up more opportunities for research and academic exchanges.

President Tharman said Singapore welcomes Sweden’s engagement with South-east Asia and ASEAN, including its signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in July. Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and Romania were the latest to join the regional bloc’s peace pact that is a prerequisite for countries that want to establish formal partnerships with ASEAN.

With Singapore taking on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, President Tharman said there is more that the Republic can do to strengthen Sweden’s engagement with South-east Asia and more broadly, the links between ASEAN and Europe.

In his speech, King Carl XVI Gustaf said President Tharman’s state visit was an opportunity to reflect on the close partnership between Singapore and Sweden as they celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, and also to advance cooperation in areas that will shape their futures.

For example, he said Sweden can learn from Singapore’s experience with artificial intelligence and resilient infrastructure that require strong and secure systems.

There are also significant opportunities in sustainable development, the King said, with Sweden “inspired by Singapore’s success in combining sustainable urban planning with growth and innovation”.

“The transition to a sustainable economy requires efficient transport systems. Together, our expertise in holistic automotive innovation and maritime trade can drive sustainable mobility, and smart transport solutions,” he added.

On Oct 17, President Tharman visited the Kungsträdgården metro station in the middle of downtown Stockholm and observed the operations of Connecting Stockholm – transport operator ComfortDelGro’s joint venture with Go-Ahead Group.

Since November 2025, Connecting Stockholm has operated and maintained all of Stockholm Metro’s seven lines, including 100 stations and six depots.

The joint venture – ComfortDelGro’s largest rail passenger operation outside of Singapore – also handles fleet, station and depot facility maintenance, planning and delivery of rail services, as well customer service.

President Tharman cited ComfortDelGro’s operations as an example of Singapore companies with an active commercial presence in Sweden. They also include Temasek which is growing its engagement with Swedish partners, he noted.

Swedish companies also have had a longstanding presence in Singapore, the President said, having both benefited from and contributed to Singapore’s innovation journey.

For example, AstraZeneca broke ground in 2024 on a US$1.5 billion facility for the end-to-end manufacturing of antibody drug conjugates, which are treatments that deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through targeted antibodies. This was the first such facility for the global pharmaceutical sector, President Tharman noted.

Defence is another area of cooperation between the two countries. Swedish defence technology has played an important role in the development of Singapore’s navy and air force capabilities for over 40 years, he said, noting an agreement inked in 2024 that enhanced defence technology cooperation.

Recalling his state visit to Singapore in 2024, King Carl XVI Gustaf said the strong ties between both countries reinforced his conviction they share a firm commitment to global-based international order, science, innovation and sustainability.

“Mr President, the relationship between Singapore and Sweden has continued to make remarkable progress over the past six decades. It reflects long-standing partnership founded on mutual respect, shared interests and close cooperation,” he said.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

10月19日，尚达曼总统在对瑞典进行为期五天的国事访问期间，在瑞典皇宫受到了隆重的欢迎仪式。

圣路易斯照片：德斯蒙德·福

发布于 2026 年 10 月 19 日晚上 8:55

更新于2026年10月19日晚上8:55

新加坡和瑞典将扩大在量子技术、人工智能、6G和下一代定位领域的合作。

可持续能源是另一个重点，各机构正在探索低碳能源，包括直接氨燃烧，如果可行，这可能是世界首创。

此次访问还重点介绍了研究、商业和国防领域的联系，包括大学、康福德高集团、阿斯利康以及更广泛的东盟-欧洲合作。

斯德哥尔摩——新加坡和瑞典将扩大在可持续能源和新兴技术领域的合作，包括量子领域。

10月19日，尚达曼总统表示，两国的研究和学术机构还将合作开发利用人工智能和6G（下一代移动网络）的下一代定位技术。

下一代定位技术旨在超越传统的全球定位系统（GPS）进行跟踪和定位。

正在对瑞典进行为期五天国事访问的新加坡总统尚达曼表示，新加坡和瑞典都坚信，随着世界日益分裂和不确定，“志同道合的国家必须携手合作，共同应对挑战，共同把握机遇”。

在斯德哥尔摩皇宫举行的欢迎仪式后，尚达曼总统在接受媒体采访时表示，两国作为小国，通过不断创新和与更广阔的世界建立联系而繁荣发展，因此具有几个共同的特点。

“我们相信投资于我们的人民，建设强大的机构，并积极努力发展国内团结，”他在与瑞典国王卡尔十六世·古斯塔夫共同发表的声明中说。

“我们在维护国际法和以规则为基础的多边秩序方面志同道合。这种共同的理念为多年来的务实合作奠定了坚实的基础。”

尚达曼总统表示，两国政府计划发表联合声明，阐明未来需要加强合作的领域，包括新兴技术领域。

他还补充说，瑞典皇家理工学院和网络及电信公司爱立信将与新加坡南洋理工大学合作开发下一代定位技术。

尚达曼总统表示，可持续能源也是不断扩大的双边关系中的核心优先事项，新加坡能源市场管理局和瑞典气候与企业部正在探索进一步合作的机会。

他指出，这些方案包括低碳发电解决方案，例如直接燃烧氨气——如果可行，这将是世界首创。

在国事访问期间，李光耀公共政策学院还将推进与皇家理工学院和斯德哥尔摩经济学院的合作，为研究和学术交流开辟更多机会。

新加坡总统尚达曼表示，新加坡欢迎瑞典与东南亚和东盟的合作，包括瑞典于7月签署的《友好合作条约》。瑞典、立陶宛、波兰和罗马尼亚是最新加入东盟和平条约的国家，该条约是各国与东盟建立正式伙伴关系的先决条件。

鉴于新加坡将于 2027 年担任东盟轮值主席国，瑞典总统尚达曼表示，瑞典共和国可以做更多的事情来加强瑞典与东南亚的联系，以及更广泛地加强东盟与欧洲之间的联系。

瑞典国王卡尔十六世·古斯塔夫在讲话中表示，达曼总统的国事访问是新加坡和瑞典庆祝建交60周年之际，反思两国紧密伙伴关系的一次机会，也是推进两国在塑造未来的领域开展合作的一次机会。

例如，他表示，瑞典可以借鉴新加坡在人工智能和弹性基础设施方面的经验，这些都需要强大而安全的系统。

国王表示，可持续发展领域也蕴藏着巨大的机遇，瑞典“受到了新加坡将可持续城市规划与增长和创新相结合的成功经验的启发”。

他补充道：“向可持续经济转型需要高效的交通运输系统。我们双方在汽车整体创新和海运贸易方面的专业知识相结合，可以推动可持续交通和智能交通解决方案的发展。”

10 月 17 日，尚达曼总统参观了位于斯德哥尔摩市中心的 Kungsträdgården 地铁站，并考察了 Connecting Stockholm（康福德高集团与 Go-Ahead 集团的合资企业）的运营情况。

自 2025 年 11 月起，Connecting Stockholm 一直负责运营和维护斯德哥尔摩地铁的全部七条线路，包括 100 个车站和 6 个车辆段。

该合资企业是康福德高集团在新加坡以外最大的铁路客运业务，还负责车队、车站和车辆段设施的维护、铁路服务的规划和交付以及客户服务。

尚达曼总裁以康福德高为例，说明新加坡公司在瑞典拥有活跃的商业活动。他还指出，淡马锡也是其中之一，该公司正在加强与瑞典合作伙伴的合作。

总统表示，瑞典公司在新加坡也有着悠久的历史，它们既受益于新加坡的创新历程，也为新加坡的创新历程做出了贡献。

例如，阿斯利康于2024年破土动工，兴建一座价值15亿美元的设施，用于从头到尾生产抗体药物偶联物（ADC）。ADC是一种通过靶向抗体将高效抗癌药物直接输送到癌细胞的疗法。总裁尚达曼指出，这是全球制药行业首个此类设施。

国防是两国合作的另一个领域。他表示，瑞典国防技术在过去40多年里对新加坡海军和空军能力的提升发挥了重要作用，并指出双方于2024年签署了一项协议，旨在加强国防技术合作。

卡尔十六世·古斯塔夫国王在回顾他于 2024 年对新加坡进行的国事访问时表示，两国之间的牢固关系更加坚定了他对两国在维护以全球为基础的国际秩序、科学、创新和可持续发展方面所作出的坚定承诺的信念。

“总统先生，过去六十年来，新加坡和瑞典的关系持续取得显著进展。这体现了两国建立在相互尊重、共同利益和密切合作基础上的长期伙伴关系。”他说。

尚达曼