Sundsvall municipality will lead the development of AI collaborations between business, the public sector, and education and research, according to officials. An initiative is being taken to establish a local AI commission in Sundsvall municipality, with the formal decision to establish the commission to be made by the municipal board on April 13. According to SVT Västernorrland, Niklas Säwén described the need to bring together the public sector, business, and academia to ensure future jobs remain in the region as AI impacts all industries.
The AI commission's mission is to identify local strengths, needs, and opportunities to strengthen Sundsvall's competitiveness, innovation capability, and attractiveness for establishments and investments in AI, the public sector, and cybersecurity, officials said. According to major media reports, the commission's work will focus on four prioritized areas: strengthening existing businesses' use of AI, attracting new establishments and competencies, developing digital infrastructure, and improving conditions for startups and scaleups in AI and cybersecurity.
We will get investments to Västernorrland. It will lead to new companies and new jobs.
The commission will include representatives from the municipality, business, and Mid Sweden University, officials confirmed. According to major media reports, the AI commission's work will continue throughout the year and result in an action plan and final report by the end of 2026. According to SVT Västernorrland, Marcus Matteby described the importance of collaboration for success in AI development in Sweden and Sundsvall.
Sundsvall faces a shift with a declining population and increased demands for efficiency, according to major media reports citing Marcus Matteby. The municipality has a strong position in GovTech, according to the same reports. According to a press release, Marcus Matteby, CIO in Sundsvall and Ånge municipality and a member of the government's AI commission, stated that Sundsvall faces a shift with a declining population and increased demands for efficiency, has a strong position in GovTech, but to continue to be at the forefront needs to gather strength and work even more closely with academia and business, making the local AI commission an important next step.
The main experience is the importance of collaboration, if we are to become good at this in Sweden and Sundsvall.
Advocates believe the AI commission is key to growth, progress, and development in the county, officials said. According to SVT Västernorrland, Marcus Matteby described expectations that the commission will lead to investments in Västernorrland, resulting in new companies and jobs.
Key unknowns remain about the commission's implementation, including what specific investments or funding are expected to result from its work and how many new companies and jobs are projected to be created. The exact names and roles of all representatives from business and academia who will be part of the commission have not been disclosed, nor have the specific actions or projects to be included in the action plan due by the end of 2026. It is also unclear how the AI commission's work will be funded and what its budget will be.
When AI affects all industries, we need to bring together the public sector, business, and academia to draw the right conclusions and ensure that future jobs end up here.
Sundsvall faces a shift with a declining population and increased demands for efficiency. We have a strong position in GovTech, but to continue to be at the forefront we need to gather strength and work even more closely with academia and business. Therefore, the local AI commission is an important next step.