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<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="(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="(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

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News

IoT Sweden receives continued funding

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

IoT Sverige

<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="(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

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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="(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="(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="(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>


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

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“Great challenges meet great opportunities in healthcare digitalisation”

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<p>Internet of Things Sweden – IoT Sweden – started in 2014 when Internet of Things was a buzzword. The development of IoT has progressed rapidly since then, and today we question whether we even need to talk about the concept of the Internet of Things &#8211; most things are, to some extent, connected and integrated.</p>
<p>Catrin Ditz started as the programme director at IoT Sweden this autumn and will head the programme until it ends in 2026.</p>
<h2>Listen to the episode</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://iotsweden.podbean.com/e/meet-catrin-ditz-the-programme-director-of-iot-sweden/">Podbean</a></li>
<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1fJAR2uvIdhzLD8AEjW2hW">Spotify</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-catrin-ditz-the-programme-director-of-iot-sweden/id1667876226?i=1000638289788">Apple Podcasts</a></li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_20790" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20790" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-20790" src="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catrin-Ditz-english-version-300x300.jpg" alt="Catrin Ditz " width="300" height="300" srcset="https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catrin-Ditz-english-version-300x300.jpg 300w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catrin-Ditz-english-version-150x150.jpg 150w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catrin-Ditz-english-version-768x767.jpg 768w, https://api.iotsverige.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Catrin-Ditz-english-version.jpg 814w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20790" class="wp-caption-text">Catrin Ditz. Programme Manager.</figcaption></figure>


In this podcast episode, you will meet Catrin Ditz, the Programme Director of IoT Sweden, about the use of IoT in public sector.