I have recently returned from an almost two-week-long trip to East Asia, visiting China, South Korea and Japan. During the trip, we visited eleven universities and one research institute, and met with representatives from the Swedish embassies in each country.

All three countries are experiencing significant growth in large-scale, strategic and targeted investments in technical and scientific research. The various analyses showing how universities in Asia, particularly in China, are climbing the rankings and significantly increasing their scientific impact appear to be accurate.

The new, if one may call it that, global world order in which the United States is becoming less and less available for scientific cooperation across the Atlantic and Pacific, the links between Europe and Asia are becoming increasingly important. It is conceivable that, over time, global mobility will change, with an increased flow of students and researchers between Europe and Asia compared to the current situation. The opportunities for scientific cooperation between Asia and Europe will increase given that South Korea, and hopefully Japan soon, will become partners in Horizon Europe.

During parts of the trip, we travelled with representatives from other universities, and I believe I can say that we share the same fundamental analysis of why it is necessary to strengthen ties between our part of the world and our colleagues at Asian universities. Our trip coincided with the visit of the Swedish Foreign Minister to China and South Korea, and the government has also expressed a desire to find ways to collaborate and cooperate.

Of course, I am well aware of the security policy challenges surrounding international cooperation, meaning that every university must approach internationalisation in a responsible way. This is an issue that has become more pressing in recent years, but I would argue that we now have the necessary tools, understanding and culture to address the challenges posed by the new geopolitical situation.

Almost two years ago, the University Board decided that KTH would have three campuses instead of five. The relocation of the operations is now complete, and our campuses in Flemingsberg and near Valhallavägen are busier than ever.

There are just over 2,000 more students at KTH Campus and a little over 200 more employees. The campus environments are becoming denser, a little more intense, and I think many people notice that there are more people moving around in the area. In many ways, this is positive, and our campuses are becoming even more vibrant. Of course, it has also been a challenge to create space for all activities, not least classrooms, while we have a record number of students this autumn. In the coming semesters, the number of students will decrease because of the government’s general cuts in education at universities.

We need to review the number of study places for our students and see how we can best utilise both open spaces and seminar rooms, and how we can create and facilitate so-called maker environments. At the same time, investments are being made on our campuses to build attractive environments for students and staff. We hope that in the future, we will find better ways to share our premises with the nearby universities. As before, cooperation with both the universities and the dominant property owner Akademiska Hus is very important.

Collaboration with our strategic partners in both Södertälje and Kista is developing and remains central to both research and skills provision throughout our region. KTH has also initiated an investment in local learning centres in Norrtälje, Nynäshamn and Södertälje. It looks like this will be a really good initiative, with high demand from students for qualifying education.

Even for the educational programmes that have been relocated, the number of applicants has developed positively or even very positively. The relocation has also provided a basis for a more strategic discussion about KTH’s overall educational portfolio, which has led to some programmes being renewed and changed because of the relocation.

It has been a tight schedule with many adjustments and discussions along the way before the moving boxes were packed and the actual move could be carried out. This would not have been possible without the cooperation of all the good forces involved. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at the institutions, departments and university administration divisions who contributed to the completion of the relocation project.

KTH is now taking the next step for the future of education, research and collaboration.

On 22 September, the government’s budget proposal will be presented to Parliament, and as usual, there is a series of announcements in the weeks leading up to its publication. Such news was announced today regarding investments in AI and data for welfare and competitiveness.

An investment that will impact the relationship between universities and their local communities is the AI factory to be built in Linköping, funded by the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova. Investments in an AI workshop for the public sector and a so-called ‘AI sandbox’, where companies and municipalities can test their AI solutions in a safe environment before implementation, are areas where collaboration with universities would be highly beneficial.

The previously presented research and innovation policy bill also involves several major AI-related initiatives, through strategic research areas and investments in clusters of excellence. AI is also likely to play an important role in the upcoming tenth EU framework programme.

Some of the proposals put forward by the AI Commission appear to be realised through the various initiatives that the government has taken or plans to present. This is positive. However, from my perspective, it is important not to forget the need to equip a wide range of professions with the fundamental skill of AI. It is also crucial to facilitate long-term investment in knowledge development and AI research.

AI is undoubtedly part of engineering science in terms of new products and technical solutions, but it is also a means of evolving the most advanced science. The fact that AI is everywhere, of course, presents a challenge when the government wants to make targeted investments, but, as mentioned, the universities must be involved! This benefits everyone.

Time for a new semester and a new academic year! Walking up the hill on Drottning Kristinas väg at KTH Campus makes you feel happy and proud. The reception of new students is in full swing and the atmosphere is good. The number of applications has been high, many of our programmes are popular, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new students.

As usual, the holidays flew by, but a few important highlights from the summer of 2025 will remain.

KTH and Chalmers, which together educate more than half of Sweden’s engineers, organized two exciting seminars on AI in Almedalen: Ansvarsfull AI – en svensk konkurrensfördel? and quantum technology Svensk kvantteknologi: Från strategi till global framgång (In Swedish). We will further deepen our collaboration with Chalmers, not least in the highly relevant research to strengthen Swedish competitiveness.

Just before midsummer, the QS ranking was published, in which KTH performed well, coming in at 78th place among the world’s universities in terms of sustainability, social impact and international research collaborations.

In addition, me and some of my fellow presidents initiated, what I believe to be, a much-needed debate on how Swedish universities should approach cooperation with China  (in Swedish). Sustainability technology could be a possible area of cooperation, without compromising security or the values that are crucial to democracy.

I also submitted a discreet but nonetheless forward-looking reform proposal to the government (in Swedish) in another opinion piece.

There is a lot to look forward to this autumn in terms of education, research and collaboration. As the autumn semester gets underway, we will be fully focused on continuing to work with all our new and existing students, and on continuing to conduct successful research in broad collaboration with other universities, the business community and society. I look forward to continuing to work for the best interests of KTH!