News

Information technology in the Nordics

November 23, 2020 23 Nov'20
Amazon Swedish language site will expand reach of local retailers

Amazon launches Swedish language website and promises to make more products available in the Nordic region
November 23, 2020 23 Nov'20
Finnish finance giant pilots fingerprint payments

OP Financial introduces biometric security technology to enable higher-value payments to be made safely using contactless cards
November 16, 2020 16 Nov'20
Privacy advocates call for European probe into Palantir

Dutch group SOMI is trying to raise awareness of Palantir’s data privacy practices and how it works with European government agencies
November 13, 2020 13 Nov'20
IT Priorities 2020: European IT budget share reflects home-working challenges brought by Covid

European organisations are being forced to redivert more limited budgets during the pandemic

November 11, 2020 11 Nov'20
Norway has lowest physical cash use in the world, says report

Norway claims to use less cash as a proportion of total spending than any other country across the globe, according to a study by its central bank
November 09, 2020 09 Nov'20
Tampere’s perfect storm triggers a startup revolution

Previously a hub for Nokia and Microsoft, Finland’s second-largest city is capitalising on a wealth of technical knowhow to become the dark horse of the Nordic startup scene
November 04, 2020 04 Nov'20
Nordic countries to develop common digital system

Common digital platform will help small and medium-sized enterprises across the Nordic region with data sharing
November 02, 2020 02 Nov'20
Finnish government rolls out digital projects to support SMEs

Finland is set to create network of technology hubs that will support SMEs in the country, as well as create links across the EU
October 28, 2020 28 Oct'20
Finnish therapy centre accused of covering up cyber attack

Private therapy practice Vastaamo faces questions over its security and business practices in the months leading up to one of the biggest data breaches in Finland’s history
October 26, 2020 26 Oct'20
Highly unusual hacking attack directly threatens therapy patients

A hacker has directly contacted therapy patients to say their highly personal therapy notes will be put on the internet unless they pay the ransom

October 26, 2020 26 Oct'20
Cooperation between Norway’s security agencies planned following cyber attack on parliament

Government seeks to develop enhanced national IT infrastructure with an embedded early warning system and defence shield to protect the IT systems of public and private organisations
October 22, 2020 22 Oct'20
Nordic countries in denial over IT industry equality

Arriving in Denmark to find she was the only woman on a computer science master’s course was a shock to Plamena Cherneva
October 22, 2020 22 Oct'20
Nordic CIO Interview: Teemu Salmi, Stora Enso

Working with startup communities helps to drive digital transformation at one of the world’s largest forest industry companies, Stora Enso
October 19, 2020 19 Oct'20
Estonian rude awakening spurs tech startup activity

Money laundering scandal in Estonia has sparked tech startup activity in the Baltic country as banks look for answers
September 30, 2020 30 Sep'20
Norway leaves door open to Huawei

Government gives telecoms companies responsibility to choose their equipment suppliers, which could include Huawei
September 25, 2020 25 Sep'20
Nordic CIO interview: Per Boström, Skanska

The construction industry may be a slow starter when it comes to adopting digital technology, but it is reaping the benefits quickly, with Sweden’s Skanska focused on playing catch up, according to CIO Per Boström
September 22, 2020 22 Sep'20
Green Cargo extends Rimini contract to keep legacy SAP backend running

Mainframe and SAP to provide systems of record, with real-time data for new digitisation initiatives, built on multi-cloud, RPA and low-code platforms
September 17, 2020 17 Sep'20
Swedish bank cuts branches and jobs, increases IT spend

Swedish bank is increasing investment IT to improve digital banking as it reduces its branch network
September 10, 2020 10 Sep'20
Nordic CIO interview: Maria Lundberg, ICA Gruppen

The CIO of Swedish retail giant ICA Gruppen, Maria Lundberg, who is overseeing the digitisation of four retail sectors, tells Computer Weekly about the challenges of providing shared IT services for localised needs
September 08, 2020 08 Sep'20
Nordic banks invest and innovate to keep digital rivals at bay

Large traditional banks are accelerating their digital transformations as the regional fintech sector makes its presence felt
September 01, 2020 01 Sep'20
Norway’s corporates want government to support ‘herd immunity’ to cyber attack

Leading business organisations in Norway call on government to play a more active role in improving and coordinating the country’s cyber defences
August 25, 2020 25 Aug'20
Nordic startups send a message to global investment community

Early-stage tech companies across the world should set up Nordic operations earlier in their development journeys
August 05, 2020 05 Aug'20
Netherlands investigates innovative privacy technology SSI

Dutch research organisation is looking into areas where self-sovereign identity technology could be used in society and business
August 04, 2020 04 Aug'20
Nordic enterprises look for SAP price reductions as they navigate Covid-19

Businesses in the Nordics are using SAP Cloud Platform to address Covid-19 challenges and are also seeking price reductions
August 03, 2020 03 Aug'20
Private equity leads Nordic IT sector consolidation

Private equity firms and industrial giants are triggering mergers and acquisitions in the Nordic tech sector as investment slows amid the Covid-19 pandemic
August 03, 2020 03 Aug'20
Estonian police and border services need better IT to block criminals from becoming e-residents

Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia needs to improve its IT systems to stop criminals from becoming e-residents, says report
July 30, 2020 30 Jul'20
Finland government funds work on potential quantum leap

Finland's government is committing money to the development of quantum computing technologies to potentially provide a giant leap for the nation's industries
July 22, 2020 22 Jul'20
New opportunities for Nordic startups post-Covid-19 as virtual offices become the norm

As companies adjust to digital office life in the pandemic era, a host of Nordic startups are already helping them convert these short-term fixes into long-term strategy
July 21, 2020 21 Jul'20
BMW Group signs six-year HPC contract with eco-friendly Swedish colocation firm

Motor manufacturer agrees to double-down on its use of EcoDataCenter's environmentally friendly colocation facilities
July 21, 2020 21 Jul'20
Santander consumer arm to automate further after Nordic project

Time and cost savings achieved by RPA pilot were high and customer experience improved, says bank
July 17, 2020 17 Jul'20
Nordic CIO interview: Brede Nielsen, Avinor

The Covid-19 pandemic put Avinor’s IT head at the centre of the airport operator's response
July 15, 2020 15 Jul'20
Huge declines in traditional outsourcing as Covid-19 puts a stop on deals

Traditional IT outsourcing deals value plummets in the last quarter as contracts dry up amid Covid-19 disruption
July 06, 2020 06 Jul'20
Avinor creates contactless airport check-in for Norway

Norwegian airport operator introduces touchless travel check-in to limit the potential spread of Covid-19
July 03, 2020 03 Jul'20
Bergen’s tech hub seeking to scale after positive start

Norway's second largest city is building a tech ecosystem that is beginning its development with a focus on the city's industrial heritage
June 29, 2020 29 Jun'20
Lawyers learn of fresh US allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from press reports

The US has filed an updated indictment against Julian Assange alleging that he conspired with hacking groups to obtain information for WikiLeaks. Defence and prosecution lawyers learned about it from press reports
June 18, 2020 18 Jun'20
Nordic business is leading open banking charge in Europe

Nordic region has the right ingredients to prove open banking can benefit consumers, businesses and the economy
June 18, 2020 18 Jun'20
Datacentre investment boost as Norway’s government reinstates tax relief

Government reinstates datacentre energy tax relief for cryptocurrency mining organisations after investments in the country’s datacentres drops
June 17, 2020 17 Jun'20
Amnesty identifies most privacy-invasive Covid-19 contact-tracing apps

Bahrain’s ‘BeAware Bahrain’, Kuwait’s ‘Shlonik’ and Norway’s ‘Smittestopp’ are the most privacy-invasive contact-tracing apps, reveals Amnesty International study
June 16, 2020 16 Jun'20
Danske Bank begins process of creating autonomous development teams

Danish bank begins the process of changing how thousands of its staff work as it attempts to be more responsive to digital demand
June 16, 2020 16 Jun'20
Norway’s contact-tracing app suspended over privacy concerns

Norway has been given until 23 June to justify the location tracking of citizens who download its contract-tracing app
June 11, 2020 11 Jun'20
Tech firms respond to Nordic government calls

Nordic firms are working with tech suppliers to help them get back up and running after Covid-19
June 08, 2020 08 Jun'20
Nordic CIO interview: Janne Puustinen, Valmet

Janne Puustinen built Finnish industrial technology company Valmet’s entire IT organisation from scratch after a demerger
June 03, 2020 03 Jun'20
Lidl Finland speeds up with new local server racks

Lidl brings server racks to its Finnish stores in a bid to improve connectivity and introduce new services to its customers
May 20, 2020 20 May'20
Coronavirus: Pandemic spurs QR code app upgrade at PayPal

PayPal introduces QR code payment functionality to its mobile app to support social distancing
May 18, 2020 18 May'20
Swedish mining firm LKAB revamps data backup setup to support downtime avoidance goals

State-owned Swedish mining company LKAB scooped the prize for Best Data Security and Data Protection Project at the Best of VMworld 2019 Europe User Awards. Here we run through what the project involved
May 15, 2020 15 May'20
Sweden’s Preem puts automation to the test

Preem is automating software testing as part of a wider plan that includes the introduction of robotic process automation software
May 12, 2020 12 May'20
Opportunity in times of crisis for Nordic tech startups

Nordic tech startups face some major challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, but this could be the making of some of them
May 07, 2020 07 May'20
Finland’s postal service targets new revenue streams through digitisation

Posti plans to use the new SisuID digital authentication method to accelerate business growth and opportunities
May 06, 2020 06 May'20
Sustainability credentials of underground datacentre in Norway lure green investment fund

Norway’s Lefdal Mining Datacenter has designs on becoming Europe's largest server farm, and its green credentials have secured further investment to help it reach its goal
May 05, 2020 05 May'20
Coronavirus: Total outsourcing spending collapses in March

IT spending plunged in March, drastically reducing increases that had been expected in the EMEA region
May 04, 2020 04 May'20
Nordic real estate sector becoming increasingly digital

The Nordic real estate and construction industry is modernising through digital technology, with an injection of urgency amid global pandemic
May 04, 2020 04 May'20
Coronavirus: Do Indian companies still have an edge in Nordic outsourcing?

Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing have affected Nordic outsourcing strategies. Do Indian firms still have the upper hand?
April 29, 2020 29 Apr'20
Nordic CIO interview: Stefan Olowsson, Swedish Social Insurance Agency

Stefan Olowsson, CIO at Sweden’s Försäkringskassan, helps to ensure social security payments run smoothly, which is a balancing act of innovation, data security and reliable delivery
April 16, 2020 16 Apr'20
Coronavirus: Nordic digital educators collaborate with authorities amid pandemic

Nordic education technology startups are supporting education establishments in offering continued education during the Covid-19 crisis
April 15, 2020 15 Apr'20
Coronavirus: Nordic authorities use tech in fight against Covid-19

Nordic government organisations are working with private technology firms in the region to support their efforts to contain the coronavirus
April 09, 2020 09 Apr'20
How Bolt plans to be more uber than Uber

Overcoming competitors with brand names that have become part of the modern vernacular is a challenge Estonia-based Bolt has set itself as it takes on Uber
April 06, 2020 06 Apr'20
Coronavirus: Nordic tech startups face job cuts amid falling sales and a lack of funding

Tech startups based in the Nordic region face difficult decisions as the Covid-19 pandemic leads to falling sales and investment
April 01, 2020 01 Apr'20
Swedbank to rebuild anti-money laundering systems after damning report

Report finds that €36.7bn in transactions, all carrying a high risk for money laundering, were processed through the bank’s branch network in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
March 26, 2020 26 Mar'20
Nordic fintechs urge financial literacy to be taken seriously before it’s too late

Fintechs in the Nordic region hope to prevent more adults getting into financial difficulty through apps that educate people about managing their finances at an early age
March 25, 2020 25 Mar'20
Coronavirus: Chatbot to help Estonians cope during pandemic

Estonian government is using a chatbot developed by local startups to answer the many questions its citizens have about Covid-19
March 24, 2020 24 Mar'20
Norwegian banking app gives access to other banks’ accounts

Banking customers can access and make payments from their other bank accounts using the DNB Mobile Bank app
March 20, 2020 20 Mar'20
How an Estonian digital nation emerged from the embers of Soviet rule

Estonia’s minister for foreign trade and IT tells Computer Weekly how the country went from having no governmental infrastructure in the early 1990s to acquiring the label “digital nation”
March 18, 2020 18 Mar'20
Estonia offers digital tools to countries struggling with coronavirus school closures

Government and tech companies in Baltic state unite to offer advanced digital learning tools to other countries
March 18, 2020 18 Mar'20
Swedish municipalities test AI to drive efficiencies and cost savings

Research in Sweden measures the benefits of using artificial intelligence in local government operations
March 17, 2020 17 Mar'20
Telenor opens Norway’s first 5G service

Commercial 5G network opens in nine different cities and villages across Norway, making Telenor the first mobile operator in the country to offer 5G to customers
March 12, 2020 12 Mar'20
IT Priorities 2020: Nearly two-thirds of Nordic IT leaders expect a budget increase this year

Nordic IT leaders are expecting budgets to rise as they move to more advanced stages of their digital transformations
March 11, 2020 11 Mar'20
International Women’s Day provides platform for Nordic women in tech

International annual event reminds tech industry that work needs to be done to reduce inequality, but organisations must work towards this on a daily basis
March 02, 2020 02 Mar'20
Nordic lessons on digital transformation

Swedish financial services firm reports a successful IT outsourcing project with India-based IT services company
February 28, 2020 28 Feb'20
Long, dark winters contribute to Finland’s advantage in video game development

Finland and Southern California are worlds apart at first glance, but both are leaders in video game development. We find out why.
February 27, 2020 27 Feb'20
Finland launches free AI skills course for EU citizens as presidency parting gift

Finland is making a course in basic artificial intelligence available to citizens of all European Union countries
February 26, 2020 26 Feb'20
Thousands of UK entrepreneurs register businesses in Estonia since Brexit referendum

UK entrepreneurs are registering businesses in Estonia to make sure they can continue to trade freely in the EU
February 25, 2020 25 Feb'20
Mastercard creates 1,500 tech jobs in Ireland

New roles at tech hub in Dublin will include professionals with expertise in artificial intelligence, cyber security, blockchain and user experience
February 24, 2020 24 Feb'20
Estonia to give citizens Alexa-like access to public services

The Estonian government is working on a project that will ultimately allow citizens to ask Siri, Alexa or almost any other virtual digital assistant to interact with government departments on their behalf
February 21, 2020 21 Feb'20
Exploring the Nordics’ healthy advantage in leisure tech

The Nordic region is home to an increasing number of global leisure tech startups
February 19, 2020 19 Feb'20
Swedish consumer-protection legislation will hit fintechs

New financial regulation to protect consumers from agreeing to unnecessary credit will force financial technology companies to make changes to their products
February 18, 2020 18 Feb'20
Swedish council tests virtual reality in care for vulnerable people

Local authority is testing virtual reality technology to provide care services to vulnerable groups such elderly and disabled citizens
February 14, 2020 14 Feb'20
CIO Interview: Siim Sikkut, Estonian government CIO

Siim Sikkut is one of a generation of tech native Estonians, who is turning his knowledge and experience to transforming government services
February 10, 2020 10 Feb'20
Norway braces for possible China backlash over 5G loss

Norway fears trading relationship with China will suffer as a result of Huawei losing 5G contract to Ericsson
February 07, 2020 07 Feb'20
Startup success is ‘The Finnish Dream’

Finland has a startup mentality running through its veins and its water, with an “all for one” attitude driving fledgling tech companies
February 06, 2020 06 Feb'20
Nordic industries increase IT outsourcing for IoT and big data skills

Nordic industries are outsourcing more to support their internet of things and big data capabilities
February 05, 2020 05 Feb'20
Finnish digital initiative to drive EU digital-based passenger services

Finnish-driven transport-as-a-service concept gets EU-wide appeal as a way of increasing customer satisfaction and reducing fuel consumption
February 04, 2020 04 Feb'20
Azimo gets loan from European Investment Bank to build cross-border payments infrastructure in EU

UK fintech gets validation from EIB through €20m loan which will contribute to building its smartphone app-based payments infrastructure
February 04, 2020 04 Feb'20
Swedish rail firm’s digital journey running on time

Swedish rail company tells Computer Weekly about its successful mission to improve customer experience
February 03, 2020 03 Feb'20
New jobs in Ireland as Brexit forces Revolut to migrate work from London

Brexit has pushed the financial technology firm into moving London jobs to Ireland
February 03, 2020 03 Feb'20
Cost-cutting and digital transformation spur increased European IT outsourcing in 2019

The need to rein in costs while digitally transforming has led to growth in traditional and as-a-service base outsourcing
January 31, 2020 31 Jan'20
Estonian CIO gives UK IT professionals hope as Brexit removes rights

Tech chief says Estonia’s door is open to UK IT professionals if they want to continue enjoying an EU lifestyle
January 29, 2020 29 Jan'20
AI is transforming the Nordic workplace – and it won’t stop there

Nordic startups are applying artificial intelligence to address workplace challenges, with HR and operations managers across the world watching
January 24, 2020 24 Jan'20
Cyber gangsters publish staff passwords following ‘Sodinokibi’ attack on car parts group Gedia

Sodinokibi hacking group steps up pressure on German automotive manufacturer by publishing information, including the CEO’s computer password and sensitive details of its IT systems, on the internet
January 24, 2020 24 Jan'20
Gender funding gap reveals complacency in the Nordics

Tech investors are biased towards men when it comes to investing – even if they are not aware of it
January 22, 2020 22 Jan'20
UK and EU AI communities will only be globally significant if they work as one

The European Union and the UK will be left behind in artificial intelligence research and development if they take separate paths after Brexit
January 21, 2020 21 Jan'20
5G builders test vulnerabilities in Finnish hackathon

University hackathon puts 5G security to the test as new wireless technology’s roll-out nears
January 21, 2020 21 Jan'20
High-street banks face disruption three weeks after Travelex hack

Foreign exchange services still disrupted, three weeks after Travelex received a $6m ransom demand from cyber gangsters
January 20, 2020 20 Jan'20
Norway’s government to upgrade digital in school curriculum

Primary and secondary schools in Norway will introduce more digital learning, following the latest government reforms
January 20, 2020 20 Jan'20
Modern telecoms has opened up Sweden’s far north

Modern telecom infrastructures mean datacentres can be further away from users, and environmental and cost advantages are to be had in locations such as Sweden’s far north
January 15, 2020 15 Jan'20
LGBTQ+ social app Grindr accused of breaching GDPR

Norwegian Consumer Council files complaints about LGBTQ+ social networking app, alleging it is in breach of the General Data Protection Regulation
January 14, 2020 14 Jan'20
What is behind Stockholm’s datacentre boom?

Datacentres are springing up in Stockholm – but what is drawing major IT companies to the Swedish capital?
January 09, 2020 09 Jan'20
Travelex hackers threaten to sell credit card data on dark web

Sodinokibi cyber gangsters have threatened to sell Travelex customers’ private data on a Russian underground cyber crime forum if it fails to pay a $6m ransom
January 09, 2020 09 Jan'20
Swedish venture capitalist giants anticipate increased global interest in local startup scene

Local venture capitalists in Sweden do not fear the arrival of international players
January 07, 2020 07 Jan'20
Swede’s war on cancer moves to a digital battlefield

One man’s blog in Sweden turned into a healthcare app to support cancer sufferers and is now expanding globally
January 06, 2020 06 Jan'20
Personal transport as a service drives across Nordics

New mobility-as-a-service projects are gaining traction in major cities across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden