Robust welfare technology is crucial for the future of society

Ahead of the IT&Telecom companies' seminar in Malmö on welfare technology in future care, Lars Lundberg answers three quick questions.

Why is a seminar on welfare technology and the future of healthcare important?

It is mainly about raising awareness that welfare technology is an important component in building the welfare society of the future - especially if it is to be a digital one. If you don't have an easy path for IOT data, flowing from heart sensors, fall sensors and the like, to the right recipients, development will stall. If it is not easy for municipalities and county councils to install digital ecosystems, they will not do so either. In the future, we need to apply new ways of working and new technologies; that is enabling. The meeting between the public and private sectors can de-dramatize technology and help new ways of working to emerge.

When we talk about welfare technology, we do not think proprietarily but holistically. This means that when you install this type of system, there must be APIs that mean that no matter what product you use, you must be able to connect it. Then, of course, the national patient overview (NPÖ) must become a kind of framework that you interact with. If that doesn't work, there will be problems for doctors, and ultimately problems for patients. Tieto, who will be at the seminar, has an application that easily connects to such a system.

The reason why the seminar is organized in Malmö is to show our members and the market that we are not only in Stockholm; we are a voice to be reckoned with throughout Sweden. Originally, it was a member company that suggested that we hold this seminar with them, and now it is happening.

How does Malmö compare to the rest of the country in terms of the development of welfare technology?

The entire Skåne region is generally doing well. Helsingborg has previously been praised by SKL for its IT work, and it is well ahead in welfare technology. Malmö is also far ahead. In addition, there is an extremely interesting health technology cluster in Lund around Mobile Heights.

What will you take away from this seminar?

The companies that come to the seminar will see the opportunities in the future to connect easily to such a gateway that RISE will talk about. Similarly, the municipalities will see the possibilities and that companies like Tieto can help them to effectively connect to NPO.

Finally, this is a great opportunity to connect with exciting new companies at the forefront of technological developments.