Does SEK 50 million ensure the digitalization of society?
The Programme is a new EU instrument for the period 2021-2027 that aims to "support the digital transformation through large-scale deployment and facilitate the widespread use and uptake of digital services and technologies." The program will help build stronger European capacities in areas such as AI, data, cybersecurity and advanced digital skills. The budget is €7.5 billion.
Sweden is a net contributor to the EU budget. It is therefore not necessarily wrong to facilitate access to EU funds. Furthermore, several of the areas that the program will support are important and companies operating in Sweden can contribute to the work. The Government has tasked DIGG, the Swedish Agency for Digital Government, with responsibility for a national coordination function and hopes that the co-financing will attract more actors to match the funding.
The government writes that the purpose of the decision is "to ensure" the digital transformation of society.
If we could ensure the digital transition for SEK 50 million a year, few would hesitate. Not even to spend twice that amount to make sure it succeeds. Of course, it's not that simple.
If Minister Farmanbar wants to ensure digitization, just keep working after last week's press release. Investments in digitization are crucial for Sweden's competitiveness and TechSverige made some suggestions for tasks in an article in Ny Teknik when the Minister for Digitization took office.
In the article we wrote "for Sweden not to be overtaken in the global race and lose competitiveness, a substantial increase in ambition from the government and a holistic approach to Sweden's digitization is required." This is still true, and probably even after the last of the SEK 50 million has been spent.
Fredrik Sand
Industrial policy expert