STEM and AI Day brought together stakeholders from education, research, and the business community in Gävle

The demand for expertise in science, technology, and AI is growing. On Thursday, the University of Gävle, together with several partners, organized a STEM and AI Day. The focus was on ensuring a future supply of talent in technology and artificial intelligence.

The event brought together representatives from academia, the business community, the public sector, and civil society to demonstrate how strategies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and AI can be put into practice.

Minister for Upper Secondary Education, Higher Education, and Research Lotta Edholm participated in the event, along with representatives from Microsoft, the Ljungberg Foundation, and Rapatac, among others. Discussions centered on Sweden’s growing need for expertise in science, technology, and AI, and how collaboration between various societal actors can help meet the challenges of the future.

– Sweden has long been, and remains, a nation of engineers. Our prosperity has been built on skilled engineers and a strong capacity for innovation. Now, the labor market is undergoing a complete transformation, and technology is advancing rapidly. The government has developed a STEM strategy with a comprehensive program to strengthen STEM education. The initiative we’ve seen here today contributes significantly to interest in these subjects,” said Lotta Edholm.

During the afternoon, new educational environments and technological initiatives were presented to bolster the region’s efforts in technology and digitalization. Visitors were able to experience, among other things, the AI Perspectives Room, the Twin Transition Lab, and an AI-based learning platform for children and young people. These initiatives are part of the University’s long-term effort to spark an interest in technology from an early age and create stronger links between education, research, and the workforce.

University Vice Chancellor Anders Kottorp emphasized the importance of academia taking an active role in societal development.

“We are living in an era where expertise in STEM and AI is becoming increasingly important. Development has never moved this quickly, and we need to safeguard our supply of skilled workers. It is important that we teach our children to use AI responsibly and that we view AI as a tool to support us, because then there is great potential,” said Anders Kottorp.

Through initiatives such as Teknikerjakten and research-oriented educational environments, the University of Gävle is already working to create a seamless pathway from preschool through higher education and into the workforce.

“We have various projects at different levels. We create systems and make things possible that otherwise wouldn’t be. ‘Co-creation’ is a key word for us. We want to build bridges between schools, academia, the business community, and society, and the University of Gävle plays a central role in this,” said Sara Jons, CEO of the Ljungberg Foundation.

The day was moderated by Johannes Hylander from New Republic and concluded with participants continuing to network and explore the new spaces on campus.

Text and photo: Anna Sällberg