My summer began in Almedalen and ends in the Arctic. Almedalen, this open meeting place for politics, public administration, and business, is something that makes Sweden special and worth being proud of. It is a tradition that we should safeguard and continue to develop.

As I mentioned in my first blog post, this is my first expedition aboard Oden. When I stand out on deck and look across the ice, I feel a strong sense of pride. Through the captain and crew, Sweden is a world leader in navigating ice-covered waters. We conduct world-class research in the Arctic Ocean, and this expedition also brings together some of Sweden’s foremost experts in digital infrastructure, alongside internationally leading experts in the field.
 Together, we have worked on the challenges facing the Polar Connect project, but after our workshop, they feel like just that – challenges. They are technically possible to solve.

As a nation, we should continue to invest in what we are already good at and become even better. Japan develops its high-speed trains, Switzerland its watches. In the same way, Sweden needs to continue developing the areas in which we have unique expertise, such as our expertise in and about the Arctic.

In Almedalen, there was strong political consensus that Sweden must invest in developing its Arctic capabilities by acquiring a new research icebreaker. I can still hear those words here on deck, and they will continue to be heard even after 14 September.

No ship lasts forever. Oden is a fantastic vessel, but if Sweden is to maintain and further develop its strong position in polar research, a modern and more environmentally friendly vessel capable of meeting future needs urgently needs to be procured.

Now we are disembarking in Longyearbyen and looking forward to an intensive autumn, as we continue working together to contribute to the development of Sweden’s research, knowledge and capabilities in and about the Arctic.

At the same time, the next expedition aboard I/B Oden is setting sail for the North Pole – with a new generation of young researchers ready to take on the challenge.

Follow the expedition here: https://www.polar.se/en/expeditions/canada-sweden-arctic-ocean-2026/

Ulf Jonsell
Expedition Coordinator