SWEDEN HOSTS GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY AND ROAD SAFETY INNOVATION
GLOBAL CHILD SAFETY LEADERS CONVENE IN SWEDEN TO TACKLE ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGES
Leading researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and safety specialists from around the world will gather in Gothenburg this week as Sweden’s child safety pioneer Axkid hosts its second international Child and Safety Conference.
Taking place at the World of Volvo on 11 June, the event aims to address some of the most pressing challenges in child traffic safety while highlighting the gap that remains between scientific evidence and current global safety standards.
The conference forms part of Axkid’s broader mission to improve child travel safety worldwide through research, innovation, education and regulatory change.
A major focus of this year’s discussions will be the continued importance of rear-facing travel, an area where Sweden has long been recognised as a global leader but where adoption rates across many countries remain well below expert recommendations.
Sweden’s Leadership In Child Safety
For decades, Sweden has been regarded as one of the safest countries in the world for child passengers, thanks largely to its pioneering work on rear-facing car seat technology.
Safety experts attending the conference will explore how evidence-based approaches developed in Sweden can be applied more broadly to reduce child injuries and fatalities on roads worldwide.
The programme includes presentations from leading international researchers and safety organisations examining everything from crash analysis and injury prevention to product design and regulatory frameworks.
Among the keynote contributors are Maria Klingegård from Folksam, who will present real-world accident data, and Francisco José Lopez Valdés from Mobolus Lab, who will share insights from advanced crash investigations and safety research.
Anton Wall, Vice President and Commercial Director at Axkid, said: “Sweden has a unique historical heritage in child car seat safety, and for us, this conference is about building on that legacy.
“By sharing knowledge across borders and bridging the gaps between research and industry, we can co-create a safer future for children on the roads worldwide.”
Addressing An Overlooked Ambulance Safety Risk
One of the most significant innovations to be showcased at the conference comes from an unusual area of child transport safety: emergency ambulance services.
A collaborative Swedish pilot project involving innovation arena Picta, Axkid, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and paramedic Andreas Ericson has focused on improving how infants are secured during ambulance transport.
The initiative addresses what safety experts describe as a long-standing vulnerability within emergency healthcare systems.
Despite major advances in vehicle safety, the secure transportation of very young children in ambulances remains a challenge in many countries.
At the conference, attendees will see a live demonstration of a newly developed stretcher insert prototype designed specifically for children aged between zero and three years old.
Combining Medical Care With Crash Protection
The prototype aims to deliver enhanced crash protection while still allowing healthcare professionals to provide critical medical treatment during emergency transport.
Andreas Ericson, who initiated the project, believes the issue deserves greater attention across the healthcare sector.
He said: “It is a significant road safety risk when we operate under emergency lights with a child who is insecurely harnessed.
“While emergency vehicles are exempt from many standard traffic regulations, it must never happen at the expense of a child’s life.”
The project highlights how expertise developed within the automotive safety sector can be applied to broader transport environments where vulnerable passengers require protection.
Driving Global Change
For Axkid, the conference represents more than a knowledge-sharing event. It is part of a wider effort to encourage stronger international collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals and industry leaders.
The company believes that meaningful progress will require greater alignment between scientific evidence, engineering innovation and regulatory frameworks.
Daniel Johansson, Chief Executive Officer of Axkid, said: “We are proud to serve as a catalyst for cross-disciplinary innovation, especially when medical expertise and crash-safety engineering come together to solve real-world challenges.
“Our goal with the conference is to unite research, healthcare, and industry to push for stricter global safety regulations – ensuring safe journeys for children worldwide.”
As countries continue to improve vehicle safety standards, advocates argue that greater focus on child-specific protection measures will be critical to reducing preventable injuries and saving lives.
For many attending the Gothenburg conference, the objective is clear: ensuring that advances in child safety research translate into practical action that benefits families around the world.
