PUBLISHED ONOctober 20, 2026 5:31 AMBYSean LerSingapore and Sweden on Monday (Oct 19) inked a joint declaration that will see the two countries strengthen bilateral cooperation on emerging technologies and other areas that contribute to their mutual prosperity and competitiveness.
The signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Cooperation on Trusted and Innovative Technologies was witnessed by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, said Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement on Tuesday morning.
Under the joint declaration, the two countries pledged to support innovation and bolster their respective societies and economies.
It also sets out potential areas of cooperation, including technology and supply chains, cybersecurity and trusted connectivity, trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) deployment and governance, as well as international rules, norms and standards.
On the technology and supply chains front, the two countries said they intend to strengthen resilience and enhance competitiveness through cooperation in areas such as semiconductors and other strategic hardware; Internet of Things (IoT) technologies; AI models and applications; quantum technologies; digital and physical infrastructure, as well as advanced and trusted connectivity, including 5G/6G applications.
Recognising the growing scale and sophistication of cyber threats, Singapore and Sweden also intend to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity, resilience in the information and communications technology domain, and post-quantum cryptography.
They will also explore exchanges on developments in emerging technologies and digitalisation, drawing on their complementary strengths and shared interests.
According to MFA, such exchanges may include sharing knowledge and expertise in areas such as 6G, cybersecurity, AI and trusted connectivity.
While the rapid development of AI has created new opportunities across economies and societies, it has also raised questions about governance, security and public trust.
To this end, Singapore and Sweden will share experiences and best practices in AI governance, public sector digital transformation, regulatory approaches, workforce preparedness, and practical measures supporting the responsible use of AI.
The two countries will also deepen exchanges on technology-related issues and, where appropriate, cooperate in relevant multilateral, regional and standards-setting bodies.
President Tharman is on a five-day state visit to Sweden.
In a joint press statement on Monday, he said that amid a more divided and uncertain world, like-minded countries must join up their capabilities and work closely to address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities.
President Tharman will deliver a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics and attend a lunch hosted by the Stockholm City Council on Tuesday.
On Oct 21, he will visit the city of Gothenburg, where he will be hosted to lunch by Governor Sten Tolgfors.
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