Geopolitics, Innovation and Collaboration – HUG at HIP25

Jan 16, 2025
Geopolitics, Innovation and Collaboration – HUG at HIP25

On January 16, HUG participated in HIP25, a prestigious event for owners, board professionals, and leaders focusing on the key questions of the future. Our Head of Mission, Kateryna Blagodyr, represented HUG in a panel discussion alongside prominent experts in geopolitics and strategy:


• Andreas Svenungsson, CEO of Volvo Defense.
• Karl Engelbrektson, Major General and former Army Chief.

The panel discussion provided valuable insights into the global agenda for 2025 and how we can collectively prepare for the challenges of the future. The discussion revolved around geopolitical uncertainty, crisis-driven innovation, and the importance of collaboration – themes central to building a more resilient world.

Geopolitical Uncertainty and Lessons from Ukraine

The conversation began with an analysis of the ongoing situation in Ukraine and its global impact. Andreas Svenungsson highlighted Sweden’s hybrid warfare situation, where sabotage and information operations form part of the threat landscape. He emphasized the importance of strengthening both Swedish defense and international support for Ukraine:

“This is our war too. [...] What you are fighting for is also what we want. We want to determine and live the lives we choose for ourselves.”

Karl Engelbrektson reflected on the importance of preparation at both the individual and societal levels and emphasized the role of total defense in creating a robust society. He noted that resilience is built through distributing critical resources, investing in crisis preparedness, and strengthening cooperation between public and private actors:

“Can healthy individuals take care of themselves when the power goes out, when the toilets don’t work? When the heat fails, and they need food for several days? If everyone can do that, society as a whole becomes much stronger.”

Engelbrektson also highlighted the significance of local leadership in crises. He referred to how Ukraine has set an example by empowering civilian leaders, such as mayors and regional representatives, with critical roles:

“Ukraine has shown how important it is to have a structure where even civilian commanders at different levels hold power over their populations.”

Innovation in Times of Crisis

The panel also discussed how innovation can emerge from crises. Ukraine has become a leader in drone technology, where local companies and individuals have developed solutions to meet the demands of war. Andreas Svenungsson described this as an example of necessity-driven creativity:

“It’s hard to speak of anything positive about war, but innovation is born from it. There’s been a lot of focus on drone technology.”

This drive for innovation, the panel argued, is built on collaboration and creative solutions under pressure – a lesson Sweden can also learn from.

Collaboration Between Civil Society and Business

A recurring theme in the discussion was the importance of collaboration between business and civil society. HUG’s role as a bridge-builder was highlighted as an example of how effective partnerships between different sectors can be created.

“Volvo can’t do everything on its own. We need to collaborate with civil society and the organizations closest to the problems,” said Andreas Svenungsson.

Karl Engelbrektson stressed that successful crisis management requires both flexibility and structure. Civil society can often act faster, while businesses have the resources and capacity for long-term solutions.

A Call to Action

Towards the end of the panel discussion, a clear call to action emerged: act. Both businesses and individuals were urged to get involved, contribute resources, and think creatively about solutions.

“Start contacting an organization you like. Start supporting, start doing something. Get involved and take action. There’s a lot of untapped potential in donations but also in ‘in-kind’ ideas,” urged Andreas Svenungsson.

Reflection: Change Starts Within Ourselves

“If we are to build a more peaceful world, it starts with changing our mindset. We must dare to face our fears, believe in the possibilities of collaboration, and learn to value peace and democracy here and now. That’s where the foundation is laid – within ourselves and in what we teach our societies to value.”

She described how war is born out of an unhealthy and frightening mindset, where fear and hopelessness dominate. When the threats seem greater than the ability to find peaceful solutions, we often lose focus on the real problem. To break this destructive cycle, we must invest in education, strengthen our understanding of the world, and make wise decisions in complex situations. Building resilience is not just about material resources but about safeguarding democracy and peaceful societal structures – both locally and globally.

“Let us begin here and now, by investing in knowledge, dialogue, and collaboration. That is our best chance to shape a sustainable future – one where we can all live in freedom and peace.”

HUG looks forward to continuing to build bridges between people, organizations, and countries. By working together, we can create a stronger and more resilient world.