Defense Sector News organized the event "Defense Meets Finance - Why Are They Important to Each Other?" in collaboration with Finserve's Global Security Fund at Berns Salonger during Spartorget Day on April 17. The event was very successful and gathered representatives from the financial industry and the defense sector.

The evening began with Global Security Fund's portfolio manager, Joakim Agerback, and Defense Sector News' founder Elias Mibesjö welcoming everyone.

– Our worldview clearly shows that defense and finance need each other and need to cooperate. Our financial markets as well as our free democratic sustainable societies need peace, security, and stability. Investments in defense are both responsible and offer unique investment opportunities, says Joakim Agerback.

– The financial sector is a very significant player in the buildup of total defense. Therefore, it is important to bring together experts from defense and finance. Information and knowledge transfer strengthens Sweden's defense capability, continues Elias Mibesjö.

Robert Limmergård, Secretary General of the Security and Defense Companies Association, spoke about how SOFF works to develop an attractive defense market that captures future technology.

– Defense needs innovation. Innovation exists throughout the country, in defense companies and in regular businesses, says Robert Limmergård, who also pointed out the challenges with the time it takes from political decision to agreement.

Among other things, he highlighted that demand has created a shortage of certain technical components, delivery disruptions for operational goods, specific materials and raw materials, resource shortages in terms of personnel, while prices are increasing.

– In the past, we could extend processes to adjust to the budget, now we must accelerate processes to get deliveries, concludes Robert Limmergård.

Björn Fägersten, CEO of the analysis company Politea and senior researcher at the
Swedish Institute of International Affairs, then took over and described geopolitical
risks and highlighted which macro trends are currently impacting the
world economy.

– We see a dramatic increase in geopolitical risk: turbulent
changes in the environment, political interventions in the market, and a new wave of
geopolitically motivated industrial policy with investments in strategic
areas. The effect is a completely new playing field that companies must master
to succeed, says Björn Fägersten.

Karl Engelbrektson, Sweden's former army chief and advisor at Finserve, concluded the evening by sharing insights on what awaits Sweden's defense now after joining NATO. He began his address with advice to decision-makers at all levels: to take command of the agenda they own and fill it with content.

– The Swedish NATO membership requires that we, with words and actions, always strengthen the entire alliance's deterrence capability. Sweden provides a substantial geopolitical contribution to NATO, and it presents opportunities and challenges for the entire total defense. Our total defense needs more of everything and faster, and to succeed in time, we must improve what we do today, says Karl Engelbrektson.

An engaged audience with representatives from both the defense sector and the financial market then participated in an interesting and active Q&A session with the speakers.

Defense Sector News and Finserve Global Security Fund look forward to more interesting meeting places where Defense meets Finance.