Kista Science City (Sweden) initiates a pilot project with the Swedish Armed Forces' cyber defence to integrate technical solutions from startups and technology companies. The collaboration is said to aim at automating the mapping of complex IT systems and enhancing the national digital defence capability.
– A strong defence of Sweden and our allies in the cyber domain requires that we constantly keep pace with technological development. Collaborating with civilian innovators and understanding the digital terrain is a strategic necessity for building the future of cyber defence, says Colonel Thomas Höglund, head of the Swedish Armed Forces' cyber defence.
The challenge is named "Analysis of system defensibility" and, according to a press release, involves finding tools for digital terrain analysis. This entails an automatic mapping of network characteristics so that the defence can plan and prioritise actions. To meet these needs, the authority is looking for technology developed outside its own walls.
– Through this initiative, we are opening the door for civilian innovators to contribute directly to the country's cyber defence, and we are doing it with a speed and precision that traditional processes simply cannot achieve, says Sakarias Strand, programme manager for cybersecurity and defence at Kista Science City.
The application period is aimed at companies with expertise in network analysis and cybersecurity, and runs until 30 March 2026. After that, a selection process will take place to identify the most relevant solutions for matching meetings and demo days in Stockholm during the spring.
The goal of the pilot project is described as identifying technical tools that can transition into paid contracts and lead to long-term collaborations between the military defence and the civilian sector.