As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become increasingly embedded in everyday life, Sweden is undertaking a comprehensive transformation of its education system to prepare for an AI-driven society. According to The AI Commission’s Roadmap for Sweden (Nov 2024), the country plans to invest SEK 5.5 billion over the next decade in AI education and research initiatives.
Three Strategic Shifts in Sweden’s Education Policy
The roadmap outlines three main pillars of reform in the education sector:
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Public AI Literacy and Access The commission stresses the importance of equipping all citizens with a basic understanding of AI, calling for a national campaign to increase AI literacy. Proposed initiatives include free public access to vetted AI tools and educational resources through public libraries, digital hubs, and adult education centers. “Everyone should be able to participate in a conversation about AI, around the kitchen table, over a working lunch, or in the boardroom.”
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AI Integration Across Higher Education AI-related content is to be incorporated across all disciplines in higher education, regardless of field. The report recommends upskilling university faculty through targeted training and integrating AI into curricula in fields ranging from engineering and law to humanities and social sciences.
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Expansion of AI Research Talent Sweden will establish national graduate schools in AI to train 600 PhDs over 10 years. The program will be funded with SEK 2.4 billion and include core coursework in AI technology, ethics, law, and security.Additional programs include:
- A SEK 500 million postdoctoral fellowship scheme for 200 AI researchers.
- A SEK 300 million initiative to fund 50 international visiting professors.
These programs aim to strengthen Sweden’s AI research capacity and increase global competitiveness.
AI Centers of Excellence and Industry Collaboration
To bridge the gap between research and real-world application, the government will allocate SEK 300 million annually over ten years to establish national AI Centers of Excellence. These centers will foster collaboration between universities, industry, and the public sector and are intended to accelerate innovation. “What used to take many years on the TRL scale can now take just a few months in the AI field.”
Joint Appointments and Immigration Reform
The roadmap also proposes expanding combined positions that allow researchers to work part-time in academia and part-time in industry or government. The state will fund up to 500 such positions for SEK 350 million over ten years. The commission also highlights the need to reform immigration policies that currently force foreign PhD graduates to leave Sweden upon completing their studies. Ongoing policy reviews aim to support long-term retention of international talent.
Beyond Education: Toward AI4Science and Sectoral Integration
The report emphasizes that education is only the starting point. It calls for investments in AI4Science, a movement applying AI to accelerate scientific research across disciplines such as biology, climate science, and the humanities. “AI is changing how knowledge is produced and will become central to national research competitiveness.”
Source: The AI Commission’s Roadmap for Sweden, Government Offices of Sweden
