South Asia

Characterized by rapid economic growth, large population increases, and complex security challenges.

With a focus on India as an emerging great power, we analyse the region’s political, economic, and societal transformations and its growing global significance.

Project for Nordic-India Relations

The Project for Nordic-India Relations (PNIR) is a public-private partnership born out of an identified need for research-based dialogue and analysis to enhance Nordic-India partnerships.

Henrik Chetan Aspengren

Head of the Asia Programme

Axel Nordenstam

Associate Fellow

Pratik Arte

Associate Research Fellow

Erik Mollestam

Programme Manager (AP)

The 111th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: Agents of Globalisation? The Role of Foreign Workers in Japan’s Economic Trajectory

Evenemang 15:30 - 17:00

This seminar examined the growing role of foreign employees, entrepreneurs, and residents in contemporary Japan.

The 110th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: digital transformation & Japan: inevitable, but when?

Evenemang 13:30 - 15:00

Japan’s digitalisation faces several challenges despite its advanced technology sector. Bureaucratic structures and reliance on outdated systems hinder progress. A rapidly aging population creates gaps in digital literacy. In industry, risk-averse corporate cultures limit innovation and transformation. Cybersecurity concerns also rise as digital integration expands. Additionally, talent shortages in IT and data-driven fields make it difficult to sustain growth. Balancing tradition with modernisation remains a key challenge for Japan’s digital future.

The 109th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: The politics of periphery and depopulation: Japan and Sweden

Evenemang 15:00 - 16:30

As in many other places, the question of depopulating and economically disadvantaged communities, primarily in rural areas, has been a salient political issue for both Japan and Sweden. For decades, Japanese administrations have promoted the “balanced development of the nation” and “regional revitalization”, with concerns raised that nearly half of all municipalities will become “extinct” due to ongoing depopulation.

South Asia

Henrik Chetan Aspengren

Axel Nordenstam

Pratik Arte

Erik Mollestam

Previous events at the Asia Programme

The 111th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: Agents of Globalisation? The Role of Foreign Workers in Japan’s Economic Trajectory

The 110th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: digital transformation & Japan: inevitable, but when?

The 109th Stockholm Seminar on Japan: The politics of periphery and depopulation: Japan and Sweden

Recent publications at the Asia Programme

India’s Partnership with Russia: An Overview

Mollestam, E. & Saini, S.

Myanmar in Crisis: Navigating Humanitarian Aid Challenges

Vrieze, P.

Accelerating EU-India Critical Tech Cooperation: Drivers for Digital Synergy

Björklund, H. & Saini, S.

Varukorg