After another spring with unusual conditions, we now summarize the past months. What did Swedsoft do in the spring and what will happen this autumn?
Great engagement during the spring’s meetings and events
We started the year by arranging STEW for the ninth year in a row, this time in a postponed 2020 digital version. For two days, the participants took part in engaging discussions, networked, and listened to interesting presentations on this year’s theme – Data for Software Development. Through the great engagement that the participants showed, new meetings, contacts and discussions about future projects were created. Just as STEW should be!
In February, we held the annual workshop Gathering of Software Sweden. The focus of this year’s digital workshop was to provide feedback on the recommendations regarding activities and proposals that the government assignment on digital excellence has produced in the survey of Swedish initiatives and educational paths. The whole day was full of engaging and focused discussions and the participants contributed with several interesting reflections and suggestions. The workshop resulted in the report Digital spetskompetens – Så tar vi nästa steg (How can we take the next step in Digital Excellence?)
The spring meeting was once again held digitally. During the meeting, we went through what happened in 2020, looked ahead and elected a new board for the association. We are pleased to welcome two new members to the Board, Anna-Lena Strömsten, Scania CV AB and Joakim Wernberg, Lund University. In connection with the spring meeting, Swedsoft also arranged the seminar Open Source from a business perspective, where our invited experts raised challenges, opportunities and why open source can be a good business choice.
Views and comments
During the spring, we submitted our comments and view to proposals and reports. An improved system for labor immigration is an important issue for Swedsoft and we are particularly keen to attract people with system and software expertise. Swedsoft therefore submitted our views on the interim report An improved system for labor immigration SOU 2021: 5.
In December, the Government presented the Research and Innovation Bill 2021–2024, which forms the basis for the Government’s direction and ambition for Swedish research and innovation. Prior to the work on the bill, Swedsoft (2019) submitted the report The holistic view of the importance of software for digitization and competitiveness, and in January we commented on the Government’s proposal for the Research and Innovation Bill. Among other things, we commented that we lack a major national investment in software.
In June we submitted comments on the proposal regarding the development and use of AI systems in the European Union – the Artificial Intelligence Act. In Swedsoft’s opinion, the proposed legislation is likely to inhibit the innovation and market dynamics for AI-solutions linked to a number of areas. We therefore call for significant changes in the proposed regulation.
New strategic plan and STEW 2021
We now look forward to a wonderful summer and then an autumn full of activities awaits. To prepare for the autumn, the Secretariat and the Board have, among other things, started to work on a major review of our strategic plan. Prior to this, we invited all members to provide input, interviewed many other organizations, authorities and not least, during the summer the board is interviewing all of main member contacts. All this input is important to help shape the future focus for Swedsoft and ensure that we stay current, transparent and close to our members.
This spring, the planning for this year’s major Swedsoft event, Software Technology Exchange Workshop, STEW, has also been in full swing. The theme for this year’s STEW, which is the tenth edition, is Software as a motor for acceleration and disruption. The program, that is filled with interesting speakers, will be presented after the summer when we also open the registration – we hope to see you in Lund 11-12th of November! In addition, we are planning for this year’s edition of Lindholmen Software Development Day, of which Swedsoft is one of the organizers.
We look forward to a fun autumn, where we hope to meet again, but first of all we want to wish you all a really nice summer!
The office will be more or less closed until the 6th of August. Of course, we check the email from time to time, but it can take longer than usual to get a response.
