Highlights

How is Sweden perceived around the world, and what role does the country’s international reputation play for trade, security and competitiveness in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty? When the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation gathered around thirty trade counsellors from foreign embassies in Sweden for its annual salon dinner, Sweden’s international image and the country’s new national brand strategy were at the center of the discussion.

On December 3, the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion on how the tax system can be designed to better support the development of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises. Since the major tax reform of 1991, the system has grown increasingly complex through various deductions, excise duties, and differentiated VAT rates. The discussion therefore focused on the principles that should guide future tax reforms to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth.

How can Sweden strengthen its representation in the institutions of the European Union? This question was at the center of a lunch discussion hosted by the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation in collaboration with the College of Europe.

How can Sweden strengthen its export and investment promotion in times of rising geopolitical uncertainty and an intensifying global race in industrial policy? That was the focus when the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation and the Stockholm School of Economics brought together decision-makers and experts for the seminar “Team Sweden 2.0 – What should it be?”

As societies grow more complex, the natural response often seems to be more laws and tighter regulation. But is political regulation always the best solution or can stakeholder-driven self-regulation sometimes offer a more effective and sustainable path forward? This was the central question at a recent seminar hosted by the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation, where decision-makers, researchers, and experts came together to discuss the issue. The evening underscored that Sweden has several strong track records of successful stakeholder-driven regulation.

Sweden needs to invest in the leaders of tomorrow. That is why the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) is planning to launch the first Master of Public Policy (MPP) program in the Nordic region. The program aims to equip students with the skills required to lead public institutions in Sweden, as well as within the EU, NATO, and the UN. With secured funding, the first cohort could be welcomed as early as fall 2027.

The Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation Scholarship has been awarded to three outstanding Swedish students to support their master’s studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. The long-term ambition is to strengthen Sweden’s presence within the European Union and help reverse the current underrepresentation of Swedes in EU institutions.

Sweden’s tax system has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s. On June 17, a new book was launched – Experternas guide till skattegalaxen – tolv röster om behovet av en skattereform – aimed at reigniting the debate on tax policy and exploring potential paths forward. The anthology, edited by Mats Bergstrand, has been co-financed by the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation.

With the turn of the year, a new mandate period began for the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation. This means that a new Board will now take over the management and further development of the Foundation. While the core mission remains the same, the new board has the opportunity to shape its future direction.

A mandate period characterized by significant global changes is coming to an end. Courage to explore new opportunities while maintaining a focus on long-term goals has driven the development of new initiatives and collaborations under the leadership of Tor Bonnier, Chairman of the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation.

Society faces major and complex challenges. There is an increasing need for individuals in politics and public institutions to be equipped with the right knowledge to address societal challenges and drive sustainable development. At present, the Nordic region has sparse higher education opportunities in this area. The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), in collaboration with the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation, is therefore initiating a scoping study to explore the creation of the Nordic region’s first Master of Public Policy program. The results will be presented before the summer of 2025.

Her curiosity about the Nordic entrepreneurship scene led Vietnamese Quyen Nguyen to apply for the K-A Bonnier International Fellowship Program. She became one of four students accepted into the program’s second cohort, which became a gateway to her career and future. Today, she works at the Swedish startup Validio in Stockholm and dreams of one day contributing to the startup scene in her home country.

On May 23rd, Karl-Adam Bonnier’s book, En ny tid – Livet som finansiell entreprenör, was released. It’s a personal book of his upbringing, his parents Tor and Tora Bonnier, his high school and college years in the USA, his service in the American military, and how his career as an entrepreneur began with the sale of premium bonds. He also shares the initiation of the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation, aimed at supporting Swedish entrepreneurship and making a broader impact.

Thomas Malmer was involved in the development of the Forum for Global Business (FGB) and served as Forum Manager during the formative years of 2015-2016. Since then, he has been following the operations from a distance and is now looking forward to reassuming the leadership role as Elizabeth Walentin moves on to new opportunities.

The Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation has initiated a new collaboration with the Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum to contribute to strengthening Swedish competitiveness. During the year, a joint seminar series is being launched to connect research with experiential knowledge from the business sector on current industrial policy issues.