Upon arrival in Linköping, we were welcomed by Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defense company. Saab Group in Sweden is one of five of the only places in the world that is able to design and manufacture fighter aircrafts, and we were lucky enough to see their production line. The newest aircraft in production is the Gripen E/F which is the single and twin fighter jets, respectively. Although similar in interface to the previous interaction of Gripen aircrafts, the Gripen C/D, the new jet had integrated AI capabilities for electronic warfare, upgraded radar systems, and increased payload capacity. The jet can be quickly refueled and restocked with weapons, which Saab also manufactures. Along with the jets, Saab produces missiles, camouflage nets, submarines, radar systems, electronic warfare solutions, and much more! We were able to walk around Saab’s production facility which consisted of multiple hangars that contained 3 stations for levels of development. Starting from station 1, we saw the fuselage of the plane being built, to station 2 with the addition of electronic components, and lastly station 3 where final equipment and touches were placed. Each step of production was overseen by multiple engineers who independently were able to approve of their work. This ensured each member was held accountable and had a comprehensive understanding of how the aircraft was built and how each item functioned. The new Gripen aircrafts took years to complete from construct to final product. In total, this was a robust display of Sweden’s position in the defense industry.
With free time, we were able to explore Linköping! The first stop was a stroll through Tradgardsforeningen park where we saw locals playing volleyball and community gardens. Next, we saw Linköping Castle and Linköping Cathedral. The Lutheran church is over 800 years old and full of Scandinavian art. The church has undergone multiple restorations over the years, but continues to be a beautiful display of faith for the Swedish people. Additionally, we explored the city, walking around the districts, had dinner, and walked back through the park. We noticed many young children wandering around the city, unattended by parents, riding scooters, and visiting friends at the park. This is a very different culture than the USA, but made us feel safe walking around in the evening!
Our last stop for this city was Linköping University. We met with the international relations representative and learned about how connected LiU is with the world and California colleges. We also heard from a member of their AI department, Frederick Heintz, which recently received a large grant acting as host of the Wallenberg AI Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) – Sweden’s largest research program. Their AI research focuses on interactions between humans and robots and is in collaboration with eight other Swedish universities, as well as prominent US universities, such as UC Berkeley. We are definitely looking forward to all of the amazing advancements in AI technology that will emerge from LiU!
We also noticed the quantity of students who utilized their bicycles to traverse campus. They don’t even lock up their bikes! Additionally, we noticed that many students pack lunches and used the many microwaves available to them in the kitchen space. This is a different model to that in US universities, but a welcome one. Linköping was full of life and provided many opportunities for prospective students and industry professionals!
