Here are the finalists for AI Swede of the Year 2021

AI
It is now clear which five candidates the jury for AI Swede of the Year thinks have contributed most to the understanding, development and visibility of Swedish AI. The finalists are Danica Kragic Jensfelt, Joel Hellermark, Love Börjeson, Patrick Eckemo and Sara Mazur.

The AI Swede of the Year is awarded by TechSverige, formerly IT&Telekomföretagen, and aims to promote efforts, commitment and work in AI that lead to moving Swedish AI forward. The jury has consisted of a wide range of carefully selected experts in digitization from the public sector, academia and industry, including Daniel Gillblad, co-director of AI Sweden:

- "There is incredible potential in using AI in Swedish society, but it will take a lot of work and many good examples. It is important that we recognize and highlight the people who really contribute to this work," says Daniel Gillblad about the award and this year's nominees.

The jury's motivation:

Danica Kragic Jensfelt, Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Director of the Center for Autonomous Systems, KTH's research center in robotics
Through world-leading research, national leadership, heavy board assignments, and popularizing performances for the public, Professor Danica Kragic Jensfelt drives AI development nationally and puts Sweden on the international AI map.

Love Börjeson, Director of the KB Lab, KB
With great patience and commitment, Love Börjeson runs the KB Lab at the Royal Library. The lab builds, among other things, large-scale, Swedish language models with AI and has a major impact on the application of AI in the public sector in Sweden. KB-lab is considered a unique resource in Swedish AI development and, with Love's will and drive, also has the potential to position Sweden globally.

Patrick Eckemo, Head of Department Digitization and Innovation, Bolagsverket
With great drive and commitment, Patrick Eckemo drives AI development in the public sector in Sweden. In a simple and educational way, he spreads knowledge about the importance of increasing the use of AI. Patrick has a great understanding of AI from both a technical and a societal perspective and has, among other things, led government assignments to promote the use of AI in Sweden.

Joel Hellermark, Founder and CEO, Sana Labs
With Sana Labs, Joel Hellermark has successfully put the right education for everyone in focus. With the help of AI, lifelong learning can be personalized, and Sana Labs is at the forefront of a revolution where Joel with courage and commitment puts Sweden on the world map.

Sara Mazur, President of WASP
Sara Mazur has long seen the possibilities of digitalization and AI. Knowledge that she has used to develop the businesses where she has been. She is chair of Sweden's largest research program WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program) where she works actively with funding of research in AI in Sweden, collaboration between industry and academia, the internationalization of research results and attracting international top talent in AI to Sweden.

This year's jury consisted of:
Anna Hörlén, AI Coordinator, City of Stockholm
Christian Guttmann, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence and Data, TietoEVRY
Daniel Akenine, National Head of Technology, Microsoft Sweden
Daniel Gillblad, Co-director, AI Sweden
Elena Fersman, Head of Global AI Accelerator, Ericsson
Fredrik Heintz, Assistant Professor, Linköping University and Chairman of the Swedish AI Society
Sarah Wamala Andersson, Professor of Health and Welfare Technology, Mälardalen University
Åsa Zetterberg, Director of TechSverige (Chair)

The winner of the AI Swede of the Year will be announced during AI SUMMIT 2021 on November 18.