The 'Sweden-Korea Sustainable Partnership Summit,' jointly hosted by the Swedish Trade and Invest Council, the Embassy of Sweden in Korea, and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was held on the 16th at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan. During the event, a total of three Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and one official announcement were made.

Hitachi Energy and HD Hyundai Electric pledged cooperation in the field of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC, a high-efficiency transmission technology with low power loss), and agreed to jointly promote the development of future power grids in connection with the Korean government's 'Energy Expressway' project.

Subsequently, the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), and Naju City signed an agreement to establish the 'RISE-KENTECH Carbon Neutral Energy Joint Research Hub' (2026-2035). The collaboration will focus on electrification of power grids, transportation, and industry, development of next-generation power semiconductors (SiC, GaN, UWBG), testbed construction, and talent cultivation.

Munmu Baram Co., Ltd. and SK Oceanplant entered into a strategic alliance in the offshore wind sector. The two companies agreed to collaborate on the production of floating structures, localization of supply chains, and the establishment of a technology development system in compliance with domestic regulations.

In the official announcement section, Volvo Trucks Korea, Pulmuone, and Samsung SDI jointly announced the 'First Domestic Release of a Large Electric Truck.' Pulmuone officially declared the introduction of a carbon-free logistics system, while Volvo Trucks plans to expand carbon-neutral transportation through the distribution of electric commercial vehicles. Samsung SDI demonstrated its technological capabilities in the commercial electric vehicle sector by equipping the truck with domestically produced batteries. This vehicle is significant as it is the world's first mass-produced large electric truck.

In the afternoon, sessions on three topics followed. The first session, 'Linking AI and Sustainability,' involved discussions by representatives from Ericsson, EQT Partners, SK Telecom, and KAIST on AI contributions and ethical issues.

The second session, 'Navigating the Green Transition,' featured discussions by Minesto, Shanfool Next, Tetra Pak, SK AX, and Seoul National University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies on the harmony of energy mix (a combination of various energy sources) and climate response.

The final session, 'Sustainable Value Chains through Innovation and Collaboration,' emphasized the importance of supply chain resilience and international cooperation, with participation from Volvo Trucks, the Research Institutes of Sweden, I-Tech, KENTECH, and Kim & Chang Law Office.

Lee In-ho, Vice Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, stated, "At a time when climate risks and trade uncertainties are increasing, cooperation between the two countries is more important than ever. The scope of cooperation should be expanded across the environment, bio, and new industries. The combination of Sweden's futuristic vision and Korea's technological prowess will make a substantial contribution to global supply chain stability and climate response."

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