President Anders Söderholm's blog -

Strengthening total defence through knowledge and research

Anders Söderholm

, 2026-09-03

As is well known, building up total defence is a task in which all sectors of society are involved. In recent years, this work has intensified, with significant resources also being allocated to it. Universities, too, must adapt to the new societal challenges arising from the increased need for resilience, as well as the development of civil and military capabilities in order to cope with a more turbulent world.

Some time ago, the KTH Centre for total defence was established with the aim of increasing our visibility and capacity in matters relating to total defence. The Centre was also set up to gather and disseminate knowledge regarding relevant research and education. KTH is also responsible for Cybercampus Sweden, a national initiative that promotes research, education and innovation in the field of cyber security.

The Svenskt Krut centre was inaugurated this week at KTH, in collaboration with the FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration), the FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency), and Swedish industry. The centre’s aim is to secure the national supply chain for the raw materials used in the production of nitrocellulose-based ammunition. The basic research required, which has a range of other applications, is well suited to a university environment given KTH’s expertise and research excellence built up over many years.

There are further examples of areas in which universities must take a more proactive approach to total defence needs today. They must also define what is and isn’t appropriate for them to work on. This is also important for the education sector, where the need for skills development and provision is becoming increasingly apparent as a result of the current international situation and geopolitical tensions.

Swedish research plays a long-term role in strengthening Sweden’s total defence and self-sufficiency. Svensk Krut is another piece of the jigsaw in this regard, where we, as a university, bring together the societal challenges we face with the successful research and education environments available at KTH.

A warm welcome to KTH!

Anders Söderholm

, 2026-08-19

The induction of new students is in full swing on campus. Senior students are welcoming this year’s freshers to the campus, their chosen degree program, and the student community. This is a clear sign that the new term is about to begin.

The introduction program at KTH is an important part of the fine traditions that define student life here. Starting higher education is, of course, challenging. For many international Master’s students, it also means adapting to a new country and culture. A warm welcome helps students to lay the foundations for academic success and build a rich social network that will support them throughout their studies.

The time spent studying is a defining period in life, during which personality and knowledge develop together. Therefore, it is important that studies are not only about mastering a subject area, but are also characterised by inclusive, equal and democratic values. I firmly believe that our approach also conveys this important added value.

The number of eligible applicants to KTH has risen by 4.4 per cent this year compared with last year, whereas the national increase is just 1.3 per cent. However, we are admitting slightly fewer students this year, meaning that competition for a place at KTH has increased. The merit points required for admission have also increased for most of our degree programs. We are encouraged by the fact that we are an attractive and popular choice for many students, both from Sweden and from other countries.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you who have joined us, and thank you for choosing KTH! Finally, I would like to thank all the students and staff involved in organising the welcome event.

AI races ahead while campus estate management stalls

Anders Söderholm

, 2026-06-24

Surely everyone has noticed that an AI revolution is currently underway. This technological shift will bring about major changes, even if we currently find it difficult to grasp the full extent of what is happening.

This is often the case with major technological shifts. When the steam engine, electricity or the telephone first appeared, it was also hard to predict the societal changes that would follow.

AI, on the other hand, is not new. Research has been ongoing for decades, but it is only in recent years that its applications have had a widespread impact. Today, we recognise that research methods will also undergo fundamental change. With the help of AI, increasingly complex research problems can be formulated and solved more quickly than ever before. Large volumes of data can be processed rapidly, and scientific breakthroughs that would otherwise have taken years can now be achieved much more quickly thanks to access to advanced computing power.

AI is already transforming research methods, as well as the conditions for business and the public sector. Complex problems can be analysed more quickly, large volumes of data can be handled more efficiently, and new products and services are emerging at a rapid pace.

Universities have a special role to play in this development. On the one hand, the new knowledge on which AI is based is generated through successful research. On the other hand, AI is transforming the content of education and research itself. We must remain at the forefront of knowledge development while also finding time to study and address the ethical, environmental, and social consequences of this technological shift.

Universities suddenly find themselves at the centre of a technological arms race in a geopolitically turbulent world where science, diplomacy and international conflicts are intertwined in ways that politics, academia and the business sector are not accustomed to dealing with. This therefore requires rigorous yet agile and adaptable analysis, along with clear priorities, so that Sweden and Europe can take responsibility, foster independence, and reduce vulnerability.

If I had written about this topic a year ago, or were to write about it a year from now, the text would be completely different, simply because developments are moving so rapidly. This is in stark contrast to another topic I often write about: akademiska hus and the provision of university premises. In that area, developments are so slow that every piece of writing on the subject seems just as relevant year after year. Imagine if it were the other way around 🙂

Developments hardly ever take a summer break, but I hope that many of you will have the chance to do so. Summer greetings from Almedalen!

KTH ready for Almedalsveckan

Anders Söderholm

, 2026-06-10

Almedalen Week is almost here. From 22–26 June, almost 3,000 events covering every conceivable policy and political issue will be held. As it is an election year, there will probably be more focus on policy announcements and positioning by the parties ahead of the election campaign.

KTH is, of course, on site. Researchers from KTH are participating in a variety of seminars, panel discussions and roundtable talks linked to the KTH Center for total defense, Cybercampus Sweden and many other initiatives. I am personally involved in several programme items with Chalmers and Lund University, as well as with Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University through the University Alliance Stockholm Trio and the Stockholm Science City Foundation. I am also participating in quite a few other events organised by various other organisations.

As usual, it’s a week filled with public debates, discussions and meetings involving thousands of people and organisations. As mentioned, we can expect the political parties to try to gain an advantage ahead of the election this year. Hopefully, issues such as the supply of talent in STEM, Sweden’s role in cutting-edge technologies, the AI revolution, and Sweden’s competitiveness, capacity for innovation, and resilience in a changing world and within the framework of European Union policy will be raised — all of which are of great interest to KTH.

Find out more about KTH’s participation in Almedalen and view all the events in the official programme (in Swedish).

Stockholm universities squeezed by high rents

Anders Söderholm

, 2026-05-27

Fortunately, the government has decided to propose an additional allocation of three million kronor to the Royal Institute of Art in the Spring Amending Budget.

This is being done to mitigate the impact of high rental costs. That’s good. But it’s not enough.

Between 2021 and 2024, KTH has seen rent increases of nearly 20 per cent for leased premises, and our average rent is now around 1,300 SEK per square metre higher than the national average. This equates to premises costs that are approximately 280 million SEK higher than the national average. And that’s every year!

The higher operating costs of running a university in the capital compared to other parts of the country are impossible to ignore. Furthermore, KTH is in many ways an elite university with high applicant numbers and a large proportion of internationally leading research. It is time to draw a line around Stockholm and protect the capital’s higher education institutions from the depletion caused by the current model for providing facilities.

There are many ways to achieve this. However, providing direct financial support, as was done for the Royal Institute of Art, would be a targeted and effective approach.

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Strengthening total defence through knowledge and research

A warm welcome to KTH!

AI races ahead while campus estate management stalls

KTH ready for Almedalsveckan

Stockholm universities squeezed by high rents