TechSverige on the government's AI strategy: A step in the right direction – now we need to join forces to be among the top ten in the world 

The government's AI strategy is an important and long-awaited step toward strengthening Sweden's competitiveness, welfare, and innovation capacity. TechSverige welcomes the fact that there is now a unified direction forward with the goal of Sweden being among the top ten in the world in AI. The strategy could be the starting point for an AI policy that contributes to increased use of AI in business to boost competitiveness. The public sector and society in general also need to be prepared for the changes that AI will bring.  

It is high time that Sweden had a comprehensive AI strategy in place. The government's goal of making Sweden one of the top ten AI nations in the world is both right and necessary. It is also the minimum level we need to reach in order to remain competitive. It is positive that the strategy identifies key areas such as innovation, competitive ecosystems, infrastructure, access to data, responsible use, expertise, and clear rules that will make it possible to use and scale AI in practice, says Åsa Zetterberg, CEO of TechSverige. 

“At the same time, we would have liked to see even clearer priorities, a more forward-looking action plan, and allocated resources for the continued work. Several other countries are now making very large, long-term investments in AI in everything from access to computing power to broad skills reforms. Sweden needs to be part of this development, maintaining momentum and perseverance so as not to lose ground and to prepare people, businesses, and society for a new era, says Åsa Zetterberg. 

TechSverige also points out that Sweden as a country has several strengths. 

Sweden is in a strong position, not least thanks to our leading tech industry. We are seeing a new generation of AI companies emerge with world-class solutions, while established tech companies are integrating AI into more and more areas of their operations. But in order to maintain and strengthen our position, we need to increase our ability to adapt – in companies, in the public sector and in working life in general. This is not just a matter for politicians, but for all organizations and individuals. For Sweden to succeed, a broad coalition is needed, with politicians, the business community, the public sector, labor market partners, and academia taking joint responsibility and clearly signaling that Sweden wants to play an active role in the new AI era, both in Europe and globally, says Åsa Zetterberg. 

In connection with the launch, TechSverige is hosting an event on March 4, where the AI strategy will be presented and discussed together with Minister for Public Administration Erik Slottner and representatives from the tech industry, the public sector, and academia. Read more here