Smart City Sweden is a state-founded export platform that initiates cooperation between Sweden and other countries within smart and sustainable city solutions.
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the country’s largest city. Built on 14 islands and connected by over 50 bridges, the city boasts a beautiful old town as well as very modern buildings. In 2016, the city, with almost one million inhabitants, topped the Ericsson smart city index. Today, it has dropped by a few positions, but it still features in the top 30 of the world’s smartest cities. Here are the Top 10 (2024):
| Rank | City Change in rank | Change in Rank |
| 1 | Zurich 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Oslo 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Canberra 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Geneva +5 | +5 |
| 5 | Singapore +2 | +2 |
| 6 | Copenhagen -2 | -2 |
| 7 | Lausanne -2 | -2 |
| 8 | London -2 | -2 |
| 9 | Helsinki -1 | -1 |
| 10 | Abu Dhabi +3 | +3 |
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Smart Cities are urban areas that leverage technology and data-driven solutions to improve efficiency, sustainability, and the overall quality of life for their residents. These cities integrate various systems, such as transportation, energy, infrastructure, and public services, to create a more connected and intelligent urban environment.
Six regional offices around Sweden welcome international delegations on the decision-making level with an interest in implementing Swedish solutions in their local context.
Despite losing some momentum during the pandemic, Stockholm is again on a journey to becoming the world’s smartest city by 2040. This is the city government’s self-declared goal. It goes hand in hand with becoming carbon-neutral by 2040. Digital infrastructure will be key to “facilitating the services of the future”, ranging from IoT to 5G and data centers for edge processing and edge computing.
Sweden and the U.S. are actively involved in research and innovation related to smart cities, recognizing their potential to address urban challenges and support the green transition. Both Sweden and the U.S. recognize the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the smart city domain. They actively participate in international networks, engage in partnerships, and share best practices to foster global advancements in smart city technologies and strategies. By investing in research and innovation, the aim is to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities that enhance the well-being of their residents while minimizing environmental impact.
Smart City Sweden gathers best practices from Sweden within six areas: Energy, Climate & Environment, Mobility, Digitalization, Urban planning and Social sustainability. The organization tailors its visit programs depending on the needs of the visitors.
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Stockholm’s smart city strategy places great importance on sustainability, stating that a smart city is a sustainable city. Connectivity, publicly accessible data, smart IT platforms, sensors, and innovation are the pillars of the Swedish city’s plans for its urban future. Together with the employees, residents, businesses, and academia, a strategy for a smart and connected city was developed and approved by the City Council of Stockholm in 2017.
Sweden has been at the forefront of smart city initiatives, with a strong emphasis on sustainable urban development. Swedish cities prioritize research and innovation in areas such as renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, intelligent transportation systems, and digital infrastructure. The country invests in research institutions, startups, and collaborative platforms to develop and test cutting-edge technologies, including advanced sensors, data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. Swedish smart city projects often focus on optimizing resource usage, reducing emissions, improving mobility, and enhancing citizen engagement through technology-driven solutions.
Smart City Sweden’s headquarters are located in Stockholm, but there is a lot to discover in all parts of Sweden. On its website, or by visiting one of the six regional offices, you can explore smart and sustainable city solutions from all over the country.
The City of Stockholm regards data as a community resource. The government works with open data wherever possible, hoping that more actors will use the city’s data to develop new and smart services. Providing this data in a standardized way is important for external developers to freely use it. Currently, open data from the city’s businesses and administrations are available on dataportalen.stockholm.se.
The U.S. also places significant importance on smart city research and innovation. Many U.S. cities are actively pursuing smart city strategies to address urban challenges and enhance sustainability. Research efforts in the U.S. focus on areas such as smart grids, energy management, intelligent transportation, urban mobility, and digital governance. Collaborations between academic institutions, technology companies, and local governments drive innovation, leading to the development of scalable and replicable smart city solutions. The U.S. government supports research and development initiatives through funding programs and grants, encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies and data-driven approaches in urban planning.
Smart City Sweden, reported by Tor Kjolberg