Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, has said government commitment to business innovation is a vital part of the country’s digitalization leadership ambitions. Her comments came during a visit to Ericsson’s Imagine Live Studio at the company’s Stockholm headquarters.
In a related press release, the Swedish government said it is committed to a “more offensive national technology agenda” through purposeful and long-term investments in light of increasing global competitiveness.
Speaking during the event, Minister Busch said: “Politicians need to see, and the new government does, that it is business that is in the driver’s seat. Our task from the political side is to set goals, but also to be able to support when it comes to the major structural changes.”
The minister was joined by Sweden’s Minister of Public Administration (Civil Affairs), Erik Slottner, and representatives of other leading Swedish companies, to announce continued support for the public-private partnership Advanced Digitization initiative.
Comprising Ericsson, ABB, Saab, Teknikföretagen and Sweden’s government innovation agency Vinnova, the initiative was established in 2021 to ensure Sweden plays a leadership role in developing and implementing digital solutions.
Funding from the business partners is matched by the government. The government said Vinnova is set to invest a minimum of SEK 300 million during 2023 and at least SEK 500 million per year from 2024-2027.
Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson, said. “It is a welcome announcement that the state will now contribute its share of the funding. We had a very good conversation with the ministers during the visit and there is an understanding from the government’s side that companies’ digitization is crucial for Sweden’s competitiveness.”
In addition to discussing Swedish and European digitalization competitiveness, the two ministers witnessed demonstrations of Ericsson 5G capabilities during the visit.
Minister Busch added: “Sweden is a world leader in many respects when it comes to digitization. I think our biggest challenge now is that we don’t sit back.”
Speaking in the related government press release (in Swedish), Minister Slottner said: “The solutions of the future, developed in Sweden, will benefit the whole of society, including public administration. For society to be able to make a digital transition, good collaboration between the private and the public is required, stable digital infrastructure and innovative applications in, for example, artificial intelligence. Authorities must also respond with fast and efficient permit and supervision processes.”
In the same press release, Minister Busch said: “Sweden’s ability to develop, use and export advanced technology is central to the development of our competitiveness, our business community and our security. Sweden must be a country where the next generation of advanced and powerful digital solutions is developed, not least to cope with the green transition.”
