With world-class research institutes in artificial intelligence (AI), Sweden keeps up with all the latest ideas – and sometimes even steps out ahead. But blue-sky research doesn't always lead to practical solutions that can be used by industry. That's where AI Sweden plays a key role. An important first step in the development of AI Sweden came when Mikael Ljungblom was working as a political advisor to the Swedish minister for digital development. While travelling to see what other countries were doing, Ljungblom and his colleagues saw that countries such as Japan and China were investing in AI. Given the importance of the technology for competitiveness and societal development, they sensed a need to develop an AI centre in Sweden.

With world-class research institutes in artificial intelligence (AI), Sweden keeps up with all the latest ideas – and sometimes even steps out ahead. But blue-sky research doesn't always lead to practical solutions that can be used by industry. That's where AI Sweden plays a key role. An important first step in the development of AI Sweden came when Mikael Ljungblom was working as a political advisor to the Swedish minister for digital development. While travelling to see what other countries were doing, Ljungblom and his colleagues saw that countries such as Japan and China were investing in AI.

Sweden is set to become a leader in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry by prioritizing AI-driven initiatives and opportunities in the country. Artificial Intelligence (AI), referred to as intelligence demonstrated by machines, encompasses many technologies, such as, machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), blockchain, etc. AI Sweden launched in February, 2019 (formerly, AI Innovation of Sweden) is an initiative by the Swedish Government's Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation to harness the opportunities offered by digital transformation in automation. The government is implementing this initiative in collaboration with the European Union and several partnering agencies, such as, Lantmäteriet, Vinnova, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, universities, and research institutions. The Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) was launched in 2015 but received an additional billion Swedisn kroner grant in 2018 from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. This funding has expanded the AI Sweden initiative under the name of the Billion kroner program for AI research.