TechSverige lifted the industry in Karlstad

As a new independent industry and employer organization, TechSverige participated as an exhibitor during the Moderates' Sweden meeting together with other organizations and companies. The meeting in Karlstad brought together almost 1,700 people - from the government, parliament, regions, municipalities and Brussels.  

The size of the market for public sector IT operations alone is estimated at €21 billion for 2025. Many with responsibility for parts of it were present. TechSverige also pointed out that the tech sector's contribution to GDP is now greater than the Swedish basic industry and the sector also accounts for 12% of Swedish exports. This also places demands on the local business climate.  

The conditions for a strong and growing tech sector in Sweden depend to some extent on the actions of the politicians present at the Sweden Summit. It is about digitization in public administration, in healthcare - and not least in legislation both in Sweden and in the EU. Among the discussion topics were also AI use, data centers and the supply of skills.  

What about the politicians? Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a long speech, of course, with much about the serious situation in the world and the increasing internal and external threats. The words that Sweden is "a country of engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs" and the Prime Minister's observation that Sweden is ranked as one of the world's most innovative countries were certainly welcome. But of course, such things are easy to say in speeches.  

We are still waiting for the government's strategies for digitalization, information and cybersecurity. The latest action in the field of AI was to send the AI Commission's report Roadmap for Sweden on reply to public consultation for several months.  

As the work of the government continues, perhaps all ministers and parties in the field of digitization should also take to heart Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin's recurring phrase that there is "danger in delay". This applies not only to the Ministry of Defence, but also to digitalization and competitiveness. 

Christina Ramm-Ericsson
Head of Industrial Policy and Chief Economist

Fredrik Sand
Industrial Policy Expert