Time to roll up your sleeves - last government statement before the elections
This is the start of the last year of the parliamentary term, and Ulf Kristersson has made his last government statement before the election next year. The Prime Minister said that during the parliamentary year the government will present a large number of legislative proposals to build a stronger Sweden and that the pace of reform will be high. We look forward to the government rolling up its sleeves - not just in rhetoric but in reality - to deliver the necessary reforms - Sweden needs to pick up the pace if it is not to fall behind in the face of increasing international competition.
The government declaration contained many different parts, of course, and the sections on crime and the security situation took up a lot of space, as expected, but schools and healthcare also received a lot of attention. Strengthening household finances after the years of inflation and restoring the work policy were overarching economic goals along with boosting Sweden's growth.
However, strengthening the business sector was not given a prominent role in the government declaration and was only mentioned on a few occasions. It was mainly a matter of general input rather than concrete proposals - for example, future investments to secure growth and major investments in research and innovation. The government also emphasized that a national AI strategy will be developed in the spring to quickly take advantage of the opportunities presented by the AI revolution (whether it is fast is debatable, see comment: Under construction - an AI policy - TechSverige), but it is important that the Prime Minister emphasized the role of business and investment. A simplification agenda for entrepreneurship was also mentioned, but again, it remains to be seen how this will be implemented in practice.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of a world-class school where ill-considered digitalization will be rolled back. TechSverige welcomes thoughtful digitalization - it's not about pitting analog against digital, but about using digital tools as an enabler. The future requires digital skills, technical competence and the ability to think critically and collaborate digitally. We share the Prime Minister's view that what happens in the classroom determines our future and emphasize the importance of digital skills becoming a cross-cutting part of the upcoming Curriculum Inquiry, in line with the EU's and UNESCO's recommendations, see consultation response Knowledge for All.
We welcome the fact that the government wants to increase Sweden's attractiveness and make it easier for researchers and doctoral students to stay. TechSverige has highlighted the need for a national strategy for global attractiveness, longer permit periods, clearer paths to permanent residence permits and exemptions from the requirement for long-term employment. We also welcome the fact that the government wants to make it easier for people with work permits to change jobs, but stress that high salary requirements and labor market testing risk making it more difficult to recruit international skills. See consultation response: tech-sverige.pdf.
With regard to healthcare, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to increase healthcare capacity and reduce waiting times. TechSverige's Healthtech report shows that Sweden has unique opportunities to take a leading position in digital healthcare solutions, AI and data-driven care that can strengthen people's health, the quality of care and the long-term sustainability of society. As healthcare needs increase and staff shortages become more apparent, it is becoming increasingly clear that technology is not a complement, but a necessity. Through the smart use of health data and digital solutions, we can free up time, reduce administration and create more person-centered care. We look forward to this perspective having a clear place in the upcoming work of the new Minister for Health, Elisabet Lann.
In summary, the 2025 Government Statement contained some positive overall direction that is close to the priorities highlighted by TechSverige. With room for reform of SEK 80 billion and a recovery expected to take off this fall, there is now a unique opportunity to strengthen innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth. It is gratifying that the Prime Minister in yesterday's Dagens Industri also highlighted the tech industry as an example of how Sweden can benefit from technological development. At the same time, many announcements linked to business and growth are still missing, and we hope that these issues will play a more prominent role in future budget announcements in the coming weeks - not least in their entirety when the budget is presented on Monday, September 22.
Christina Ramm-Ericson, Head of Industrial Policy and Chief Economist