Sweden is one of the most digitized countries in the world and the global leader in connected devices per person. It is also home to some of the world’s largest telecom companies.
Sweden contributes significantly to information and communications technologies (ICT) expenditure in the Nordics and spends considerably more than most countries in R&D as a percentage of GDP. ICT accounts for nearly 5% of the Swedish GDP, and forecasts for the Swedish ICT market project it to nearly double by 2032.
Nearly 4% of Swedes work as ICT specialists (equivalent to 1 in 25 Canadians). This is the highest share in Europe. In Stockholm, the concentration of ICT jobs 2.4 times greater than the national average.
Sweden offers an excellent ICT ecosystem, with:
- resilient, low-carbon digital infrastructure
- world-leading network and technology readiness
- experienced investors
Sweden is also a friendly country for business, with very high transparency and low bureaucracy. Lastly, almost every Swede speaks fluent English, and many companies have English as the internal working language.
As a result, Sweden attracts many international companies, with some of the world’s biggest companies investing heavily into the Swedish ICT sector. A recent CAD 10 billion investment to develop artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Sweden stands among the largest AI investments in Europe, supporting Sweden’s national AI strategy and the expansion of its AI technology infrastructure.
By 2025, the Swedish government aims to achieve near-universal gigabit broadband coverage and enhanced 5G mobile networks. It is also implementing an AI Commission roadmap to boost AI competitiveness, and an industrial strategy focused on developing strategic technologies from research to market. The government is also increasing R&D funding to support new technology and digital innovation through 2028.
Sweden’s energy mix is 99% carbon-free, with the EU’s highest share of renewables. Dozens of data centers are paid to feed heat back into the system.