“Our Solutions Meet Today’s Operational Realities and Can Adapt to Tomorrow’s Challenges”

Interview with Marcus Wandt, Saab’s Chief Innovation Officer

Saab as global defence OEM has cemented its reputation of being able to bring in proven technology and integration expertise, highlighting its role as a key partner.

GBP Daily News spoke with Marcus Wandt, Saab’s Chief Innovation Officer prior to the show, to understand the company’s approach to innovation and partnership in the defence domain. Wandt has a career that bridges aviation, defense, and space exploration. As a former chief test pilot at Saab and only the third Swedish astronaut to travel into space, he brings a unique perspective on how human ingenuity, advanced technology, and strong partnerships drive defense innovation.

In this interview, Marcus shares his view on Saab’s approach to innovation, the importance of collaboration with customers and partners, and why mindset is often the decisive factor in turning ambitious ideas into real capabilities.

Saab emphasizes partnership in innovation. How do you see this approach shaping space and defense programmes?

Partnership is central. Autonomous systems and AI can achieve a lot, but human insight is still critical. By combining advanced technology with the cognitive capabilities of people—whether astronauts, pilots, or operators—we discover opportunities that machines alone can’t identify.

That principle applies directly to Saab’s role as a partner. We bring proven technology and integration expertise, but the real breakthroughs happen when we work side by side with customers and industry to solve problems in ways neither could achieve alone.

What role does mindset play in making partnerships effective?

Mindset is everything. I avoid calling things “impossible.” Many barriers that seemed unachievable in the past can be solved today with new tools. What matters is persistence, passion, and the willingness to approach problems differently.

In partnerships, this means listening closely to the operational user and aligning around a shared vision. When teams are passionate and committed, they don’t stop at the first obstacle—they keep pushing until they find a solution.

When Saab builds teams or engages with partners, what qualities do you look for?

It’s about balance. Experienced professionals bring essential knowledge, but they can also be constrained by past assumptions. Newer voices bring energy and challenge conventional thinking.

The strongest teams—and the best partnerships—combine both. You need expertise to understand the context, and fresh perspectives to break through barriers. Above all, passion is non-negotiable. Without it, experience and resources alone won’t deliver results.

Risk-taking is part of innovation. How does Saab approach risk when working with partners?

We approach risk deliberately. The key questions are: what is the value we are trying to create, what are the consequences if the risk materializes, and how do we mitigate those consequences? If the potential value is high and the risk is manageable, then it’s worth moving forward.

It’s also important to redefine failure. If a project doesn’t reach its exact target but generates new knowledge, that outcome still has value. We carry those lessons forward with our partners into the next iteration.

What opportunities do you see for Saab and its partners in the near future?

Saab has built systems that are technically ahead of how they are used today. Many are already designed to integrate advanced algorithms and AI. We see significant opportunities to deploy these capabilities not only to automate tasks but to generate insights and operational advantages that weren’t previously possible.

Partnership is vital here. End-users need to be part of the process from the start. By involving them early, we ensure the solutions we deliver meet today’s operational realities and are flexible enough to adapt to tomorrow’s challenges.

If there’s one takeaway you want partners to remember about Saab’s approach, what would it be?

Saab is committed to working side by side with our partners to deliver real innovation. We don’t shy away from difficult challenges, and we don’t accept “impossible” as an answer. If you have an idea that makes sense, and there is no sound reason not to pursue it, then we should pursue it together. That’s how innovation happens—and that’s the role we see for Saab: a trusted partner in creating the future.