footernav-en

podcast-gro%cc%88n-platta

Podcast foto Adobe Stock

Tune in our podcast!

News about our innovative public-sector IoT projects around the country can be found here. Please let us know what you would like to read more about. 

Stay tuned!

News and events

Podcast

News

iot-smart-city

IoT Smart city

Learn more

What is IoT?

Since 2014, IoT Sweden has provided over SEK 200 million in funding to over 100 IoT projects, mostly in the public sector. The projects have contributed at least as much in self-funding.

Over 100 IoT projects

Funding innovative IoT

Our work

iot-sweden-stockholm-city

IoT Sweden Stockholm city

We are IoT Sweden

IoT Sweden is one of seventeen national strategic innovation programmes. We work to increase the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the public sector.

Internet of Things Sweden

Our board

About us

Internet of Things Sweden – IoT Sweden – is a strategic innovation programme that supports and funds innovative IoT project in public-sector all-over Sweden.

IoT in public sector

Contact us

mainnav-en

<p>It is incredibly exciting and a great honour to have been put forward by the Nominating Committee and given the confidence of the Programme Board to take on this important role, especially at a time when the programme is entering a new phase. We are moving from focusing primarily on calls for proposals and funding of IoT projects to now prioritising efforts to ensure the preservation and up-scaling of the valuable results, experiences and knowledge generated by the 140 projects and the SEK 350 million in funding provided through the programme.</p>
<p>At the same time, I am approaching this role with great humility. The very positive evaluation of the 9 years of the programme has set a high level of ambition, both for the Board and the Programme Office. Our chosen exit strategy goes far beyond submitting a final report in an archive – it seeks to lay the foundation for long-term impact and benefit.</p>
<h3>Could you tell us a little more about yourself and your background?</h3>
<p>I currently work as a senior advisor in the public sector at Knowit Insight West in Gothenburg, where I have been for just over a year. My area of expertise is coaching municipalities and municipal companies in improving their ability to adapt through digitalisation and innovation. In practice, this involves developing culture, structure and capacity to accelerate the change process. I am one of Knowit’s representatives in Adda’s partner programme for suppliers, which promotes digital maturity, as well as in IoT Sweden’s sister programme Viable Cities, a programme promoting climate-neutral cities in which Knowit is a member organisation. In addition to this, I am currently chair of the Swedish computer society’s local chapter, Dataföreningen Västra, and a board member of the national society, Dataföreningen i Sverige.</p>
<h3>What did you work with before that?</h3>
<p>Previously, I spent seven years working as an innovation developer in Uddevalla Municipality, where I was part of the Municipal Management Office and the Sustainable Growth Department. My role centred around strengthening innovation capacity in the public sector. Among other duties, I led iCare4Fyrbodal, a project conducted by Vinnova to foster innovation in the public sector, as well as the municipal council’s assignment to develop a group-wide growth and transition strategy.</p>
<h3>You have been active in many different fields. Could you tell us more about this?</h3>
<p>Yes, my background is generally interdisciplinary. I began my career as a registered nurse and midwife. I’ve also worked as an IT consultant, eHealth research coordinator at the Department of Applied IT (Chalmers and the University of Gothenburg), in start-up companies and as an entrepreneur. In addition, I’ve run cross-border networks as part of Dataföreningen, participated in the SIS Standardisation Committee for Innovation Management and been an expert assessor in Vinnova’s calls for proposals in IoT for societal benefit and AI in municipalities and civil society.</p>
<h3>What will you contribute in your new role as board chair of IoT Sweden?</h3>
<p>My main contribution is my systems perspective on IoT/digitisation and my focus on implementation and impact capture. The aim is to strengthen organisational capacity to use digital technology as a catalyst for smarter welfare and sustainable societal development. I am not a technical expert at the detail level – we have many competent technical experts on the Board. What I contribute is knowledge from a municipal group perspective based on strategic governance and management. I think this can be valuable in the phase of the programme we are now in.</p>
<h3>IoT Sweden is a stakeholder-driven innovation programme, with representatives from municipalities, regions, companies and research institutes on the Board. What are the advantages of this?</h3>
<p>It’s a fantastic asset! For one, in terms of all the valuable skills and perspectives around the table, which helps to create exciting and challenging dialogues, thereby refining our work. Secondly, because of the breadth of contacts and networks that the Board possesses, which will be extremely important in this final phase for the dissemination, scaling and further development of the results. The Board has now been bolstered with new, valuable forces.</p>
<h3>IoT Sweden works with IoT applications in the public sector. But AI is currently high on the agenda and many people are not talking about IoT. How are IoT and AI connected, and is a continuation of the programme needed?</h3>
<p>I think it will be important for us to highlight the interdependence that exists between IoT and AI, where one plus one equals three. IoT collects large amounts of data via sensors, cameras and connected gadgets that can provide a real-time picture of municipalities’ resources and needs. AI, on the other hand, requires large amounts of data as fuel to analyse, interpret and act on data in real time. The combination offers a powerful tool for municipalities to become more data-driven, efficient and sustainable. Not least through green transition supported by digitalisation (Twin Transition).</p>
<h3>What are you looking forward to most in your new role?</h3>
<p>Getting started! To work together to shine the spotlight on concrete results for further refinement and utilisation. Only then can they be characterised as innovations. Otherwise, by definition, it’s just a good idea.</p>


Porträtt på Angelica Hafström, ny styrelseordförande för IoT Sverige.

After previously serving as a board member of Internet of Things (IoT) Sweden, Angelica Hafström have now been elected to chair the Board.

Angelica Hafström named new board chair of IoT Sweden - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Angelica-bredare-bild.jpg

Angelica Hafström named new board chair of IoT Sweden

IoT Sverige vill öka användningen av sakernas internet i offentlig sektor.

IoT Sverige

<p>There is no shortage of challenges when it comes to building a robust and secure IoT infrastructure in a city. Also, doing this in the midst of a raging war puts many things on edge.</p>
<p>During the third and last day of the smart city fair in Barcelona, IoT Sweden arranged a panel discussion together with Kiev. Catrin Ditz moderated the event and began by talking to Oleks Maistrenko from the city of Kiev. Before the war broke out, Kiev had built a digital infrastructure and had a citizen app that could be used to buy bus tickets, find parking spaces and the like.</p>
<p>&#8211; We could never have guessed that this app would become part of Kiev&#8217;s digital resilience. Today, the app is used for completely different things, says Oleks Maistrenko.</p>
<p>This involves, for example, receiving notifications about where there are pharmacies with available medicine, where there are free and available shelters, and more. So a completely different area of use than the original idea with the application.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23979" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23979" style="width: 273px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23979 size-medium" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--273x300.jpg" alt="Porträttbild på Oleks Maistrenko, Kiev." width="273" height="300" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--273x300.jpg 273w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2--768x843.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Oleks-Maistrenko2-.jpg 899w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23979" class="wp-caption-text">Oleks Maistrenko, Kyiv.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Manage contingencies with IoT</h2>
<p>Digital resilience is about systems being able to handle digital threats, disruptions and unforeseen changes. In Kyiv, the use of IoT applications has played a crucial role in building the city&#8217;s digital resilience. A key factor is being able to access real-time data.</p>
<p>&#8211; There are so many variations of sensors that can be connected and used for many different things. We use sensors to measure sound, air and flows of people, for example, says Oleks Maistrenko.</p>
<p>The variety of sensor solutions is also a challenge as there are several different systems to be managed and tested (with unpredictable scenarios in mind). Some sensor solutions to measure ecological parameters are also hampered by missile impacts that cause both sound and air changes.</p>
<h2>Relying on data is critical</h2>
<p>A key word for success with the Kiev project is to create trust in the data that is generated. Oleks Maistrenko believes that it has been absolutely crucial that users trust the information displayed in the app. The residents are not interested in the technology but in getting help with various needs they have.</p>
<p>Another crucial part of the resident app deals with cyber security. Oleks says that the system is exposed to many attacks every day. The city of Kyiv has a security center that works systematically on cyber security issues.</p>
<p>&#8211; Safety has proven to be a critical aspect that could have been prioritized higher from the start, he says.</p>
<p>Kyiv participates in international fairs and cooperates with other cities and universities to exchange experiences around IoT and smart social solutions.</p>
<p>&#8211; It means a lot to us to collaborate with other countries and cities around this issue. At the same time, I hope that no other cities will have to experience what we are experiencing right now, concludes Oleks Maistrenko.</p>
<p>The panel also included Maria Holm from the city of Stockholm, Britta Duve Hansen from the city of Helsingborg and Morten Holst from the company Innocode.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23954" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23954" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23954 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1024x624.jpg" alt="Paneldeltagare på IoT Sveriges seminarium." width="640" height="390" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-300x183.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-768x468.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-1536x936.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-2048x1248.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23954" class="wp-caption-text">Oleks Maistrenko, Kyiv, Britta Duve Hansen, City of Helsingborg, Catrin Ditz, IoT Sweden, Maria Holm, City of Stockholm and Morten Holst, Innocode.</figcaption></figure>


During the third and last day of the smart city fair in Barcelona, IoT Sweden arranged a panel discussion together with Kiev.

IoT for digital resilience in Kyiv - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Paneldeltagare-Smart-City-Expo-scaled.jpg

IoT for digital resilience in Kyiv

<p>Under the somewhat provocative workshop title “the funeral of pilot projects” we gathered a very representative and engaged audience mainly from Nordics and the Netherlands. We wanted to discuss and identify obstacles why pilot projects in the public sector seldom scales and turn into successful implementation and rollout across the public users. The background is the need for innovation in order to further streamline the public sector to keep up with the growing demand (elderly population, climate challenges, crowded cities etcetera), without raising taxes and fees. Pilot project driving innovation is a commonly used tool and vehicle for this streamlining.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23903" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23903" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23903 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1024x347.jpg" alt="Workshopdeltagare" width="640" height="217" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1024x347.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-300x102.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-768x260.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-1536x521.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Workshop-2048x695.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23903" class="wp-caption-text">Well visited workshop arranged by IoT Sweden and AeroVision.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Success and scaling are also important to draw attention from entrepreneurs and investors complementing the public actors and their scarce resources. Entrepreneurs and investors are quick movers and tend to cluster, like omnivores and shoals of herring, close to where the market opportunity is. The overall prospect looks promising though. In Europe, public spending is 40-50 % of GDP, half the economy, so why this under performance? And can we do something about it?</p>
<h2>Technology is not the challenge</h2>
<p>First of all, there was a very clear consensus among the workshop audience that technology is not the challenge. Technology such as IoT, AI, automation and biotech, holds promises to unlock untapped potential, and even though technology in some cases are early stage, already a lot can be done.</p>
<p>Instead, we identified three major obstacles, and the consensus among the discussion groups were almost unanimously.</p>
<p>1. Engagement of the problem owner<br />
2. Risk appetite in the public sector<br />
3. Implementation affecting processes and organization (adoption)</p>
<p>In a way these three identified obstacles can be summarized in culture. The private innovation arena, with its people, competencies, processes and capital has evolved from a rather immature venture scene and innovation culture late 90-ies, in the first wave of the IT boom, to foster worldwide recognized scale ups from both the Netherlands and the Nordics.<br />
The public sector seems not to have kept up with their counterparts from the private venture scene even though efforts have been made. The public sector needs to continue its efforts and to go from innovation system to innovation culture. People/leadership not manuals and steering documents rule. It’s a journey well worth the effort.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23891" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23891" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23891 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1024x766.jpg" alt="Bild på Magnus Fransson och Leon Hendriks." width="640" height="479" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-300x225.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-768x575.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-1536x1149.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Magnus-and-Leon-hadshake-2048x1533.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23891" class="wp-caption-text">Magnus Fransson and Leon Hendriks.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Learn from each other to overcome the challenges</h2>
<p>This workshop kickstarted a new initiative to benchmark practices of implantation of innovation: what to learn from each other and how to overcome the challenges. IoT Sweden and AeroVision pick up this task to bring cities and stakeholders together in a European City Benchmark ‘how to create life after a pliot project’. This journey will continue in a European City Benchmark ‘how to create life after a pliot project’.</p>
<p>Join us and connect!</p>
<p>Barcelona, November 5th 2024</p>


A blogpost about why pilot project seldom scale. Thoughts from Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona where IoT Sweden participates.

The funeral of pilot projects - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Pilot-program-foto-Adobe-Stock-scaled.jpg

The funeral of pilot projects

<p>For the second year in a row, IoT Sweden is participating in the <a href="https://www.smartcityexpo.com/">Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona</a>. The goal is to network and share knowledge and experiences around IoT solutions in the public sector. IoT Sweden participates with a delegation of representatives from both the public sector, companies and authorities.</p>
<p>IoT Sweden has its own stand in the Nordic Pavilion. Are you there? Come and talk smart IoT solutions for societal benefit with us.</p>
<h2>Workshop about pilot projects &#8211; do we need to reconsider the method?</h2>
<p>IoT Sweden also participates in the <a href="https://smartcitybusinessday.com/">Smart City Business Day</a> on november 4th with a workshop about pilot projects. Execution of pilot projects, receiving both public funding and matching private engagement, for innovative smart city applications has been a well-established method for accelerating necessary development in the public sector in both the Netherlands and Sweden. However expected results such as successful scale up implementations across the public sector, following a successfully executed pilot project, can seldom be seen. Do we need to reconsider the method, pilot projects?</p>
<h3>IoT Sweden&#8217;s program office is on site:</h3>
<p>Catrin Ditz, Program Director<br />
Kristin Blom, Deputy Program Director<br />
Anette Persson Stache, Project Manager<br />
Frida Kempe, Project Coordinator<br />
Magnus Fransson, Director of Internationalisation<br />
Maria Bergenheim, Communications Manager</p>


IoT Sweden participates with a delegation at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. Meet us at our booth in the Nordic Pavilion.

IoT Sweden participates in Smart City Expo in Barcelona - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Barcelona-foto-Adobe-Stock-scaled.jpg

IoT Sweden participates in Smart City Expo in Barcelona

<h2>More independence and involvement</h2>
<p>For just over six months, she has worked as a digital assistant nurse in Tyresö Municipality. This new role is part of ‘Kommunikativ’, an implementation project funded by IoT Sweden. The project&#8217;s goal is to develop digital services that help elderly people become more independent and involved in shaping their own lives.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23547" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23547" style="width: 261px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23547 size-medium" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Foto-2-261x300.jpg" alt="Porträttbild på Natalie Simander. " width="261" height="300" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Foto-2-261x300.jpg 261w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Foto-2.jpg 700w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23547" class="wp-caption-text">Natalie Simander works as a digital assistant nurse at Tyresö Municipality.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Found her Calling</h2>
<p>Let&#8217;s go back to 2006. At that time, Natalie Simander was nineteen years old and got a job as a care assistant, working hourly at Tyresö Municipality. Initially, she planned to work only for the summer, but she quickly realized that she enjoyed her new job. What really drew her in were the social aspects and the connection with the elderly.<br />
&#8220;I’ve always found it easy to talk to people, and being able to brighten someone’s day felt really rewarding. The elderly saw me for who I was and never judged me for being young, which meant a lot to me,&#8221; says Natalie.<br />
So she stayed, and a few years later, she secured a permanent position and also had the opportunity to continue her education to become an assistant nurse. Today, Natalie feels she has found her calling in her profession, perhaps especially in her recent role as a digital assistant nurse.</p>
<h2>A health-promoting app</h2>
<p>Her work as a digital assistant nurse involves assisting and communication with the users of the app &#8220;Tyresö for Me.&#8221; Currently, there are fifty users, but interest is growing, and more people want to use the app. &#8220;Tyresö for Me&#8221; is a health-promoting app that provides easily accessible information on things the elderly need in their daily lives. For example, it includes updates on what’s happening in the municipality, contact numbers for assistance officers, and suggestions for meal plans and physical activities.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23559" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23559" style="width: 544px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23559 size-full" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/min-dag-e1725523967425.png" alt="Bild på appen Tyresö för dig." width="544" height="569" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23559" class="wp-caption-text">The app and the tab &#8220;My day&#8221; where users can see what is sceduled for today.</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the app, users can see what’s happening under the &#8220;My Day&#8221; tab, such as a schedule of daily events. There are also notifications that can help remind them of various tasks like food deliveries, garbage collection, or showering. But perhaps most importantly, the app offers the ability to interact with Natalie, either through chat or video calls.</p>
<p>&#8220;We need to find new ways of working to cope with the fact that more people are aging and have increased needs for help, while the resources to assist them are becoming scarcer.&#8221;</p>
<p>A lot of the information in the app can also be found online on different websites, but the app presents it in a more accessible way. Natalie is carefully pointing out that the service is not a healthcare advisory service but rather a guide and support for many different aspects of daily life.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23553" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23553" style="width: 395px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23553 size-full" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/mess-e1725525290585.png" alt="Bild på telefongränssnittet i appen Tyresö för dig." width="395" height="606" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23553" class="wp-caption-text">In the app, users can communicate with the digital assistant nurse. Image of a fictional example.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Reducing digital exclusion</h2>
<p>Sometimes new digital solutions in elder care are met with fears of replacing physical meetings and important human contact with a digital service. There’s a concern that loneliness and exclusion will increase. But Natalie wants to turn that thinking around:</p>
<p>&#8220;I see it more as a way to reduce digital exclusion. When it comes to our app, it&#8217;s not a robot or AI you&#8217;re interacting with. I get so much positive feedback from our users, and I feel that we&#8217;re actually lowering the barriers to using digital services.&#8221;</p>
<p>She further explains that most people want to remain independent for as long as possible in their own homes.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a very private matter to let new people into your home. Not everyone wants that. By receiving support for simpler things through the app, it’s possible to extend the time someone can manage on their own in their home,&#8221; Natalie believes.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23612" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23612" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23612 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x438.jpg" alt="Äldre kvinna använder en iPad." width="640" height="274" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x438.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-300x128.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-768x329.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1536x658.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kvinna-med-iPad-foto-Adobe-Stock-2048x877.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23612" class="wp-caption-text">The use of the app can help reduce digital exclusion, says Natalie Simander. Photo: Adobe Stock.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>A jack of all trades</h2>
<p>The role of digital assistant nurse is a bit like being a jack of all trades. There are many tasks to juggle, and you need to be attentive, able to pick up on signals and wishes that may not always be explicitly expressed. Natalie’s experience is that the older generation often has a habit of &#8220;not wanting to be a bother.&#8221; This means they often don’t ask for things.</p>
<p>So, it&#8217;s not the technology itself that has been the challenging part of being a digital assistant nurse, but rather understanding what the users really need. She often has to gently push to get these needs to come to the surface. Natalie shares a touching example when, after some probing, she realized that one user, an elderly man, was feeling lonely.</p>
<p>&#8220;He missed spending time with male friends. Women are often better at meeting up and doing things together like having coffee, knitting, or other activities. So, we organized a men&#8217;s lunch with Wallenbergare (a Swedish dish) and non-alcoholic beer &#8211; it was a well-received event.&#8221;</p>
<h2>A future work model</h2>
<p>Natalie is feeling more and more comfortable in her role as a digital assistant nurse. She believes it can become the future way of working, but it requires a good understanding of the needs of the elderly, something that can only be gained through human interaction. Natalie feels that she has a good understanding of the needs of the elderly after all her years in home care. She often emphasizes that it&#8217;s about creating motivation:</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s about how you present things, whether it’s to someone who doesn&#8217;t want to shower, or to someone who is too sedentary. Creating motivation requires attentiveness, persistence, and a bit of coaxing. I want my users to feel that I&#8217;m here, I&#8217;m available, and it’s going to be okay.&#8221;</p>
<figure id="attachment_23584" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23584" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23584 size-large" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x664.jpg" alt="Närbild på händer som håller i iPad." width="640" height="415" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x664.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-300x195.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-768x498.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-1536x997.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hander-haller-i-ipad-foto-Adobe-Stock-2048x1329.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23584" class="wp-caption-text">There are preconceived notions that older people can&#8217;t handle digital tools. Natalie has users who are over 90 years old, and she finds that everyone wants to learn more. Photo: Adobe Stock.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Solving the demographic challenge of having more elderly people who need help from fewer younger people requires new innovative and digital solutions. The role of a digital assistant nurse could be an important part of the solution. Natalie Simander is a dedicated professional who is passionate about her work, using technology as a tool for a greater purpose. Today, the elderly in Tyresö Municipality can look forward to a pleasant afternoon:</p>
<p>&#8220;There will be a crayfish party tonight, and all the app users will get a push notification about it in the &#8216;Things to do today&#8217; tab. I hope many will join,&#8221; Natalie concludes.</p>


Bild på sköterskas händer framför dator. 

Bild på en sköterska som sitter framför datorn. 

Digital Assistant Nurse – A Role for the Future? - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Skoterska-framfor-dator-foto-Adobe-Stock-scaled.jpg

Digital Assistant Nurse – A Role for the Future?

<p><em><strong>Press Release, 19 June 2024: </strong></em></p>
<p>IoT Sweden serves an important function for investments in innovative IoT solutions in municipalities and regions. Since its inception in 2014, the strategic innovation programme has contributed to both development and progress in the field. A clear indication of this is the high marks that IoT Sweden received in the latest evaluation conducted by Sweco on behalf of the funding organisations Vinnova the Swedish Innovation Agency, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas (Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development). IoT Sweden has now been granted funding for its last and final stage.</p>
<p>“We are proud and happy that confidence in us continues. We have built a unique movement around the use of the Internet of Things in the public sector. In a larger perspective, IoT Sweden contributes to creating a sustainable future in which smart societal solutions are an important cog in the wheel,” says Catrin Ditz, Programme Manager at IoT Sweden.</p>
<figure id="attachment_20226" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20226" style="width: 252px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-20226" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt.png" alt="Catrin Ditz foto Mikael Wallerstedt" width="252" height="284" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt.png 814w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt-266x300.png 266w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt-768x867.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20226" class="wp-caption-text">Catrin Ditz. Photo by Mikael Wallerstedt.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Over the years, IoT Sweden has funded around 140 projects with almost SEK 350 million. The project portfolio includes IoT initiatives in virtually all areas of society, from healthcare and health to education, climate and smart city solutions. The portfolio also includes strategic investments in procurement, standardisation, interoperability and cybersecurity.</p>
<h2>Strategic talks on the way forward</h2>
<p>During the final three years, the focus will be on creating strategic partnerships with potential actors who could take over when IoT Sweden draws to a close in 2026. There is a great need for a national unifying force for the Internet of Things.</p>
<p>“After nine years, it is clear that municipalities and regions need continued support in these issues, which are often highly complex. We have already started strategic work that involves talking to various actors who could take our issues further,” says Azadeh Lithammer, Board Chair of IoT Sweden.</p>
<figure id="attachment_11470" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11470" style="width: 265px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-11470" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Azadeh-Lithammer.jpeg" alt="" width="265" height="265" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Azadeh-Lithammer.jpeg 800w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Azadeh-Lithammer-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Azadeh-Lithammer-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Azadeh-Lithammer-768x768.jpeg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-11470" class="wp-caption-text">Azadeh Lithammer.</figcaption></figure>
<p>In addition, IoT Sweden will continue to create conditions for an IoT that benefits society. An important part of the remaining three years of work is to continue to help Swedish IoT companies enter the European market. The IoT Forum, IoT Sweden&#8217;s arena for knowledge sharing and experience exchange for the Internet of Things in the public sector, will also continue. </p>


By incorporating technology, behavioural change and knowledge sharing, Internet of Things Sweden has created a unique arena for promoting the use of IoT in the public sector.

IoT Sweden receives continued funding - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IoT-Sverige_Illustration-2_220303.png

IoT Sweden receives continued funding

<h3>Hello there Josefin! You are the product owner of Sveriges dataportal, which is managed by Digg, the Agency for Digital Government. What is the overall purpose of dataportal.se?</h3>
<p>&#8220;Digg has been tasked by the Government to maintain a register of available datasets, which is the <a href="https://www.dataportal.se/">data portal</a>. The main purpose is to enable the sharing of data and make it easier for those who want to use these datasets for different purposes. The intention is for the data to reach society and create benefits. The data portal is for everyone, from public organisations to businesses to individuals.&#8221;</p>
<h3>Can you explain why data is a strategic resource for society?</h3>
<p>&#8220;Data is a strategic resource in so many different ways. We are currently living in an era where much is data-driven. The digitalisation of society is based on access to data and being able to manage data effectively in different ways. Having good access to data allows us to address many of the major societal challenges, a clear example being the climate challenges. Through various types of sensor data, we can obtain information on, for example, floods, water monitoring and so on.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Data needs to be used strategically for purposes such as developing new services, analyses, research and forecasting. Making data available also has an inherent democratic aspect. Citizens should be able to access data and have confidence in it. In these times of widespread disinformation, it is very important to have access to and trust in facts.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;AI is also a technology that is largely based on access to data, both for actual development and for testing. This makes it crucial that there is good access to data.&#8221;</p>
<figure id="attachment_22437" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22437" style="width: 472px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-22437" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg-1016x1024.jpg" alt="Josefin Lassinantti Digg" width="472" height="476" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg-1016x1024.jpg 1016w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg-298x300.jpg 298w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg-150x150.jpg 150w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg-768x774.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Josefin-Lassinantti-Digg.jpg 1211w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-22437" class="wp-caption-text">Josefin Lassinantti, Digg.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>How can municipalities and regions use dataportal.se?</h3>
<p>&#8220;In addition to sharing data for further utilisation, municipalities and regions can also work towards becoming data users themselves to a greater extent. There is huge potential to make greater use of data from authorities or data from neighbouring municipalities or regions in various collaborative projects. Geodata is one example of data that all municipalities and regions use to varying degrees.&#8221;</p>
<h3>Why is this not done to a greater extent?</h3>
<p>&#8220;I think a change of approach is needed here. The issue of data needs to be prioritised, and this can sometimes be a challenge. At present, municipal and regional datasets are not always structured in the same way, which creates difficulties in utilising each other&#8217;s data.&#8221;</p>
<h3>Why are open data and data sharing important?</h3>
<p>&#8220;The public sector is funded by taxes, and citizens have the right to access public information. The increasing degree of digitalisation over the last twenty years means that “access” to data and information has to be adapted. It is no longer enough to simply access information and data on paper or as a PDF.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Data is the linchpin of so many different processes and development environments, and better use of data has the potential to be a game changer in addressing many societal challenges. I think we have yet to realise the full power of innovation in terms of what increased access to data can lead to.&#8221;</p>
<h3>An updated version of Sveriges dataportal was recently released. What are the main improvements that have been made?</h3>
<p>&#8220;One of the main changes to dataportal.se is that we have transitioned from being a portal focused on our digital catalogue to serving as a broader digital arena for collaboration related to data and innovation. We have made many useful updates that will make it easier to use the portal. An important improvement is that we show the benefits more clearly. For example, we have a section with good examples and also present major collaborative data initiatives that may be of interest to many.&#8221;</p>
<h3>Is the Swedish public sector generally good at recognising data as a strategic resource? Is there a willingness to share data?</h3>
<p>&#8220;Many people are willing to share data, but there are also many who are unsure. In practical terms, it can sometimes be difficult and costly, and since data sharing is part of a larger digital transformation that includes basic data management, it requires both willingness and commitment. We find that the challenge is greater for smaller public actors, such as smaller municipalities, and this is unfortunate.&#8221;</p>
<h3>What can be done about this?</h3>
<p>&#8220;Above all, we need more data to be shared by more actors, and more standardisation so that it is easier to use data. One example is that as long as you do not get the same data from all municipalities in a region, it will be difficult to build regional services, or to conduct regional research on such data.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Another major area of improvement is that we must begin to recognise that datasets and their life cycle are separate from the IT systems or IT artefacts that produce or manage data, which have a completely different lifespan. When you consider this to be the same thing, there is a risk that important conditions for data sharing will not be created, for example in the procurement phase. Many datasets are locked up in various ways already during the procurement, and this becomes costly for many.&#8221;</p>
<h3>IoT Sweden’s projects focus in particular on the use of IoT data or connected data in various applications to create societal benefits. How can they benefit from dataportal.se?</h3>
<p>&#8220;IoT Sweden’s projects can benefit from the data portal by both sharing data that others can use, and being able to find other data that can be used with their own data. At Digg, we welcome others to send us good examples of how different datasets have been utilised.&#8221;</p>
<h3>Is there access to open data within the European Union?</h3>
<p>&#8220;Yes, there is a <a href="https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets?locale=en&amp;minScoring=0">European data portal</a>, and all data in Sveriges dataportal is harvested for this.&#8221;</p>
<h3>What are the next developments planned for Sveriges dataportal?</h3>
<p>&#8220;As I said, we have made a shift from a focus on only data sharing and data access towards also becoming an arena for collaboration and innovation creation in relation to data. We will now continue to work with and scale up the content in a systematic and controlled manner, and we will have a special focus on bringing in good examples of how data is used and creates benefits. We know that this is very much in demand. But things are happening all the time in this area, so I can confidently promise that there are more things to come with Sveriges dataportal – so keep an eye out!&#8221;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Data is an important strategic resource that creates benefits in a number of different areas of society. Read more.

High time to use data as a strategic resource - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dataportal-ettor-och-nollor-1.png

High time to use data as a strategic resource

<h2>In the early 1900s, healthcare was cheap, inefficient and quite dangerous. Today, healthcare is efficient, safer for patients and much more expensive.</h2>
<p>These developments have led to higher survival rates for many previously incurable diseases and helped us live longer and healthier lives. But with these advances come new challenges, not least the demographic change of an ageing population. Fewer and fewer people of working age will have to support more and more people.</p>
<h2>Combining digitalisation with system innovation</h2>
<p>Welfare’s biggest challenges can be found in healthcare. Skills provision and securing the necessary staffing, both in the short and long term, is an almost unsolvable equation. We need to think and act differently to safeguard our common welfare. To solve the really complex problems, I see great benefits if we, going forward, can combine digitalisation with system innovation.</p>
<p>System innovation aims to address complex problems and challenges that cannot be solved through single, isolated innovations. At Uppsala University Hospital, digitalisation is integrated into our four core missions: care, education, research and collaboration. Digitalisation and innovation are important, not only to strengthen our competitiveness as a leading university hospital, but also to create benefit and value for the people we serve – our patients.</p>
<figure id="attachment_10843" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10843" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-10843" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-1024x569.jpg" alt="IoT inom vård och hälsa." width="640" height="356" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-300x167.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-768x427.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-1536x853.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IoT-vard-och-halsa_webb1-2048x1138.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10843" class="wp-caption-text">To solve the really complex problems in healthcare, we need to combine digitization with system innovation, says Olle Bergdahl. Photo: Adobe Stock.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>IoT and other technologies enable task shifting</h2>
<p>Task shifting is a phrase heard quite a bit at Uppsala University Hospital and other hospitals right now. Tasks normally performed by occupational categories that are currently in short supply are shifted to another occupational group that can perform them as well or better. This can free up time for healthcare professionals for more patient-centred work. Digitalisation supported by IoT, AI and similar key technologies plays an important role in enabling task shifting.</p>
<h2>Speech recognition through artificial intelligence</h2>
<p>The aim is to change ways of working while taking advantage of everything digital technology has to offer. One example of such efforts is the introduction of speech recognition. An AI-based solution translates speech into text. Medical record documentation takes place without delay, which increases patient safety and saves time. Another example is our development programme for healthcare logistics. There are large logistics flows in the hospital in the form of consumables, medicines, medical devices, staff and patients. We are laying the foundation for our robust logistics capability. New logistics solutions and service concepts are being created, and IoT and positioning will be natural elements going forward.</p>
<h2>Transition to person-centred care</h2>
<p>IoT also supports the transition to more person-centred care. Region Uppsala is procuring a solution for self-monitoring (home monitoring) of blood pressure. We have had solutions for this in diabetes care for quite a while. There is great potential to broaden the range in the future to increase the degree of self-monitoring for different patient groups with chronic diseases. When samples can be taken at home, it reduces the burden on the healthcare system, while the solutions contribute to greater security for the patient. In parallel with this, we are facing a major shift in the management of health data in our medical records systems. In collaboration with several other regions and hospitals in Sweden and internationally, we are working with open standards for health informatics. Structuring data and separating it from the application creates new opportunities to further utilise health data for healthcare and research.</p>
<figure id="attachment_11878" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-11878" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-11878" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x619.jpg" alt="Digitala vårdbesök i hemmet." width="640" height="387" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-1024x619.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-300x181.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-768x464.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-1536x929.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digitala-vårdbesök-foto-Adobe-Stock-2048x1238.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-11878" class="wp-caption-text">Digital care visit from home. Photo: Adobe Stock.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Technologies promote precision medicine</h2>
<p>We are seeing major advances in precision medicine. With the healthcare of the future, diagnosis and treatment will be based not only on general guidelines but also on an in-depth understanding of each patient’s unique genetic make-up, lifestyle and environment. We collaborate within the framework of the Precision Medicine Centre Uppsala (PMCU) to ensure that patients benefit from precision diagnostics and treatment. IoT and AI are obvious innovation tools in this change, as data collection and analysis in real time enable more personalised and efficient care.</p>
<h2>Digitalisation connects the core missions</h2>
<p>The development and integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare is not only an opportunity, but a necessity to meet our growing challenges. If we have good access to good data, we can make good decisions – if we have access to bad data, we will make bad decisions. If I am in need of healthcare and data about me and my health is available, I obviously want it to be used.</p>
<p>No single actor has all the answers. But by working together, sharing experiences and lessons learned, we can create a healthier future for everyone. The Strategic Innovation Programmes are important to create ecosystems and to foster actor-driven innovation. We need to build bridges and ensure that technological advances lead to positive societal changes. If we build these bridges, new solutions and technological advances can lead to positive societal changes.</p>
<h2>Sweden is well positioned to succeed</h2>
<p>Historically, Sweden has come out on top in connection with major technological shifts, and I believe that we have several good opportunities to succeed again – because we can, because we want to and, above all, because we must!</p>
<p><em>Written by Olle Bergdahl</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<figure id="attachment_10918" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10918" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-10918" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-300x169.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-768x432.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Olle-Bergdahl-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-10918" class="wp-caption-text">Olle Bergdahl. Photo by Mikael Wallerstedt.</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong>Olle Bergdahl</strong> works as Chief Digital Officer at Uppsala University Hospital. Before that, he was Programme Director for IoT Sweden and Collaboration Manager at Uppsala University.</p>


Digitalisering av sjukvården foto Adobe Stock

“Great challenges meet great opportunities in healthcare digitalisation” - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Digitalisering-av-sjukvarden-foto-Adobe-Stock-scaled.jpg

“Great challenges meet great opportunities in healthcare digitalisation”

<h2>Sweden has generated world-class products</h2>
<p>Swedish industry has clear areas of strength. Expertise in vehicles, telecommunications and similar complex systems has been transformed into solutions that have generated export revenues and created welfare. It has resulted in world-class products that have had a global market impact. ABB, Ericsson, Volvo Cars, Saab and Scania all use Sweden as a base and continue to invest significant resources in long-term and forward-looking research and development (R&amp;D). These investments are often made in close collaboration with public actors at the regional and local level. It is a collaboration that has and continues to benefit all actors, often manifested through strategic innovation programmes.</p>
<h2>Each krona invested gives SEK 7 in return</h2>
<p>Since 2013, strategic innovation programmes have been one of the main tools for the Government to stimulate R&amp;D. The aim has been to create arenas for collaboration between companies, institutes and academia that generate new ideas and strengthen industry and the rest of society. In the 10 years that the programmes have been active, they have generated innovations equivalent to an average of SEK 7 per krona invested. Their ability to create an ecosystem for new products, processes and knowledge has been a recipe for success.</p>
<h2>Cuts in research and development</h2>
<p>Unfortunately, the ability to sustain this innovation system has been reduced. Instead of investing for the future and embracing digitalisation like our competitor countries, the Government has decided to rest on its laurels. Public R&amp;D has therefore been cut, resulting in collaborative efforts being postponed or dismissed as counterproductive.<br />
The lack of vision and the glaring absence of a technology and innovation strategy has resulted in a haphazard approach, often with no foresight or coordination to the efforts. The consequence has been a significant deterioration in efficiency where Sweden is perceived to lack focus. This development has also been observed by the cooperation organisation OECD, which is rightly concerned. There is a cold wind blowing in Sweden.</p>
<h2>This negative trend can be reversed</h2>
<p>A research and innovation bill will be presented this autumn. It will be preceded by an industrial strategy. These are two important tools through which the Government can set out visions and reverse the current trend. What is needed is increased funding for R&amp;D, visions for Sweden as a technology country and renewed investment in strategic innovation programmes. Collaboration, a long-term approach and prioritisation are in the interests of industry, and this should also be embraced by politicians and manifested in policy.</p>
<p><em>By: Patrik Sandgren</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Patrik Sandgren</strong> is a member of the board of IoT Sweden. As his “day job”, he works as area manager for research, innovation and industrial development at Teknikföretagen.</p>


In this blog post, Patrik Sandgren shares his thoughts on why Sweden needs a technology and innovation strategy.

Sweden needs a technology and innovation strategy - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Robotarm-ABB_foto-Adobe-stock-scaled.jpg

Sweden needs a technology and innovation strategy

<p>IoT Sweden is one of six strategic innovation programmes that underwent a nine-year evaluation in 2023. Evaluations are carried out every three years and are intended to lead to learning and the development of each individual programme.</p>
<p>The strategic innovation programmes shall contribute to creating conditions for sustainable solutions to global societal challenges and increased international competitiveness. IoT Sweden has designed a strategic innovation agenda to steer towards these overarching goals. The evaluators write the following in brief about IoT Sweden:</p>
<p>“The overall conclusion of the evaluators is that IoT Sweden is a well-functioning programme that has an appropriate strategic innovation agenda with a clear IoT system perspective and a relevant outcome logic. The programme contributes to creating collaboration between new actor constellations with a clear focus on IoT with societal benefits.”</p>
<h2>Confirmation and guidance for the future</h2>
<p>Catrin Ditz, Programme Manager for IoT Sweden since last autumn, is happy and proud of the evaluation. She considers it proof that the programme is on the right track.</p>
<p>“This evaluation confirms that we are doing many good things. Not least that our projects together contribute to increased knowledge and development regarding the use of IoT in the public sector. The evaluation also shows that we have many things left to work on,” she says.</p>
<p>One of those things is to find ways and strategies for the last three years. As a strategic innovation programme, IoT will come to an end in 2026. An important task in the coming years will be to reflect on how the accumulated knowledge about IoT in the public sector can continue even after the programme has ended.</p>
<figure id="attachment_20226" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20226" style="width: 266px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-20226" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt-266x300.png" alt="Catrin Ditz foto Mikael Wallerstedt" width="266" height="300" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt-266x300.png 266w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt-768x867.png 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Catrin-Ditz-webb-foto-Mikael-Wallerstedt.png 814w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20226" class="wp-caption-text">Catrin Ditz. Photo by: Mikael Wallerstedt</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Contributed to increased competence</h2>
<p>The evaluators also find that IoT Sweden has contributed to steering development in areas such as welfare technology, the built environment, IoT infrastructure, procurement, climate and the environment. The evaluators write the following about IoT Sweden&#8217;s work:</p>
<p>“The programme contributes to strengthening development through means such as national guidance, standards and reference architecture. One challenge for the programme has been to get public sector need owners and suppliers to meet and learn from each other outside of concrete procurement situations. Driving innovation through public procurement is of great importance to enable the application and development of IoT technology. The programme has contributed valuable initiatives to increase competence in innovation-promoting procurement among both purchasers and suppliers.”</p>
<p>The nine-year evaluation was carried out by Sweco on behalf of the strategic innovation programme funding bodies – Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vinnova.se/globalassets/publikationer/2024/iot-sverige-nioarsutvardering-231208.pdf?cb=20231208145115" aria-label="Download IoT Sweden nine year evaluation PDF"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone  wp-image-20742" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige-Sweco-218x300.png" alt="" width="275" height="378" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige-Sweco-218x300.png 218w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige-Sweco-745x1024.png 745w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige-Sweco-768x1055.png 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige-Sweco.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" /></a></p>
<h2>Read more</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.vinnova.se/globalassets/publikationer/2024/iot-sverige-nioarsutvardering-231208.pdf?cb=20231208145115">Nine-year evaluation of IoT Sweden (PDF in Swedish)</a></li>
</ul>


IoT Sweden is one of six strategic innovation programmes that underwent a nine-year evaluation in 2023. Read more.

“IoT Sweden is a well-functioning programme” - IoT Sverige

https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nioarsutvardering-IoT-Sverige_Sweco.png

All the news