IT initiatives in the government's fall budget - but what happened to skills?

IT & Telecom companies appreciate that the government sees IT and telecom solutions as important for creating growth as well as streamlining public administration. Particularly welcome are the announced investments in research and innovation, strengthening investments in broadband to sparsely populated areas and the investor deduction to support, not least, SME companies. However, the lack of investment in digital support in learning and making it easier for international students to stay and work after graduation leaves a silver lining.

The fact that the government emphasizes the need to support small and start-up companies is good. Especially for digital service companies, which have great growth and export potential, business conditions need to be adapted to create international competitiveness. Knowledge-intensive companies, which have high personnel costs, are particularly disadvantaged in the tax area. The government's announced investor deduction is therefore most welcome. Reduced corporate tax, on the other hand, is not the solution most prioritized by IT&Telecom companies to reduce companies' costs and create growth. A review of option and income taxation, the design of which inhibits not least small and start-up companies, would be desirable.

IT&Telekomföretagen welcomes the government's increased broadband support of SEK 600 million. Government support for broadband investments in sparsely populated areas is necessary. Although the government's overall investments are fairly modest and make market development crucial to achieving the goals, it is an important signal that the government responds to market investments.

The investment in R&D and innovation should be designed to support areas where Sweden has the greatest strengths and thus growth potential. In line with the government's digital agenda, IT and telecom solutions should be seen as a catalyst for many of the challenges facing society. Investments in green IT, open data (to create markets as well as to streamline and increase transparency in public administration) and digital business and consumer services are examples.

The fact that the government is also putting some effort into modernizing judicial information management is also welcome.

Sadly, the government is once again failing in the area of education and the labor market. The IT and telecom industry has a major shortage of skills. Failure to invest in and facilitate international students means that we are missing out on valuable skills and international contacts. The fact that the government is also unable to achieve a national initiative to strengthen teachers' skills in the use of digital tools also increases the risk that some schools and regions will fall behind.