Astra's merger with British company Zeneca and Ford's acquisition of Volvo have both contributed to the influx of outside investment in Swedish R&D."The foreign share of private R&D spending currently rests at 46 percent. In 1995 the foreign share of total R&D expenditure was 20 percent," said Anne-Christine Strandell from the Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies.

In a parallel development, Swedish companies have also begun increasing their overseas investments."Swedish companies have mainly expanded in manufacturing industries in low-wage countries such as China, India, Central and Eastern Europe and South America," said Strandell.

Source: The Local