SWEDEN is the recognized European center of Information technology. In certain areas, particularly in wireless communications. Sweden is number one in the world. Foreign investments In Sweden’s hightech industry continue to accelerate. Companies such as Nortel Networks. Intel. Microsoft. Nokia and Oracle, have all chosen Sweden for their R&D centres and the development of new wireless applications. Likewise. Swedish companies are expanding internationally. Examples include SEB. Frarnfab. Icon Medi-calab. Spray and Boxman.

Sweden is characterized by a sophisticated infrastructure, high penetration of Internet and PCs. an extensive use of mobile phones and a highly IT literate population. Some of the world's largest Internet consultants and award-winning software companies are based in Sweden. Young high-tech entrepreneurs inspire others, resulting in an increasing number of new companies aiming at global expansion.

Investments in infrastructure such as new IT universities are matched by investments in research. Over six percent of Sweden's gross domestic product (GDP) is invested Jn information technology and telecommunications. At the same time. Sweden invests a larger part of its GDP In ’knowledge” — education, training: R&D — than any other country in the world, according to the OECD. As a result. Sweden has become one of the most wired nations on earth.

Leading the world in JT penetration

Penetration of telecom applications and the use of PCs and the Internet are far higher in Sweden than in any other nation. It has long been the world leader in the number of telephone lines per capita. And now. at least one of even’ two Swedes has a mobile phone. According to MTB. the Swedish Mobile Telecommunications Association. Sweden reached 5 million cellular users by the end of 1999. equal to a penetration of 56 per cent of t|IC Swedish population

Internet penetration continues to grow at a rapid pace In December 1999. more that 52 per cent of all Swedes m the ages between 12 and 79 used the Internet. More than 3.6 million Swedes were Internet users, up by more than 640.000 from the previous year. 76 per cent of the population aged 12-24 and 69 per cent of the population aged 25-34 were Internet users. However. the fastest growing age group is 50-79 years old. with a penetration of 38 per cent.

Almost 70 per cent of Swedish households have an advanced personal computer, with most of them purchased in the past two years.

Software — fast-room industry segment

The Swedish software industry is one of the nation's fastest-growing industry segments There are approximately 600 software companies in Sweden and sales have more than doubled in two years. In 1998 alone the software industry grew by 40 per cent. Expansion was primarily due to the success of increased international sales.

Since companies primarily focus on business software, they are not as well-known by the general public as developers of consumer software. However, in their respective specialties. Swedish software companies are recognized as world leaders.

Large number of demanding customers In relation to its population, Sweden has more, multinational companies than any other nation. They include such world-famous corporations as ABB. AstraZeneca. Atlas Copco. Electrolux. Ericsson. Gambro. H&M. Ikea. Pharmacia and Upjohn. Saab. Sandvik. Sania. SKF. Stora Enso. Tetra Pak. and Volvo — to name just a few.

These companies’ close proximity. both physical and cultural. has stimulated suppliers in all areas of business software applications. Demands for IT to enhance capacity for product efliciency and to increase competitiveness forced Swedish suppliers to meet the highest standards in quality, features and service. Since programmes must be able to be used in several markets, in various nations with different languages and regulations, companies from the very beginning have been forced to develop products for the world market.

Competitive telecom market

Sweden’s teht ommunica-tlon networks are also technol-ogy and applications leaders. In 1993. Sweden became the first

nation in Europe to fully deregulate its entire telecom market. This helped to promote keen competition, more and new advanced services, and lower prices, which, In turn, stimulated IT applications and usage. More than 40 telecom operators — both Swedish and foreign — are active in the market

Progressive academic efforts

Sweden has a strong competence base established within the large technical universities. The Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Lund. Linkoping jand Goteborg and all world-renowned.

Sweden also has a strong engineering and invention tradition. For instance. Sweden holds more patents in force per capita than any other country in the world. As the home of the Nobel Prize Foundation since Its founding over 100 years ago. there is a natural focus on scientific achievements.

Swedish universities are highly adapted to new industry requirements and a number of initiatives demonstrate how tertiary education is increasingly IT-focused. For instance, the Roval Institute of Technology is opening an IT-oriented satellite campus in Kista. projected to have 10.000 students within 5 years.