Here are the finalists in the Security Award of the Year 2026

TechSverige och SME-D presenterar idag finalisterna till Årets säkerhetspris 2026 – ett pris som uppmärksammar aktörer som genom teknik, samverkan och ansvarstagande stärker Sveriges säkerhet, motståndskraft och tillit i samhället.

The award highlights efforts that contribute to a stronger digital ecosystem and total defense, from cybersecurity and crisis preparedness to innovative solutions in defense tech and critical infrastructure.

This year's finalists are:

Cybersecurity Academy
Karl Emil Nikka, IT security expert
National Telecommunications Collaboration Group (NTSG)
Petra Klein, Group Security Manager, Swedbank
Scaleout Systems

– In a time when the threat landscape is becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, we see how tech plays a crucial role in Sweden's security. This year's finalists demonstrate the breadth of Sweden's innovative power, from general education and skills to advanced technology, entrepreneurship and operational collaboration. These are efforts that strengthen both our digital resilience and the security of society at large, says Åsa Zetterberg, CEO of TechSverige and jury chair.

This year's security award is awarded by the industry and employer organization TechSverige together with partner SME-D, the industry organization for small and medium-sized companies in the Swedish defense sector.

– It is clear that security today is built in close collaboration between business, the public sector and civil society. The finalists show how technology and knowledge can be translated into concrete benefits, here and now, but also in the long term for Sweden's total defense, preparedness and competitiveness, says Jonas Sandwall, Secretary General of SME-D and jury member.

The jury consisted of:

John Billow, Director, National Cybersecurity Center
Karin Hagman, CEO, Truesec Group
Sara Kebert, network expert, Telenor Sweden
Jens Matsson, Director General, Swedish Defence Research Institute (FOI)
Richard Oehme, Senior Advisor in Community and Cybersecurity, Knowit
Jonas Sandwall, Secretary General, SME-D
Kristina Sundin Jonsson, Municipal Director, Skellefteå Municipality
Åsa Zetterberg, CEO, TechSverige, jury chair

The winner will be presented on May 26 during the Stockholm Tech Show at Kistamässan in Stockholm.

The jury's motivations:

Karl Emil Nikka, IT security expert
Karl Emil Nikka is nominated for his engaging work as a public educator in IT security, where he tirelessly raises the level of knowledge about changing cyber threats and fraud among a broad target group. Through simple and practical advice that in principle everyone can apply in everyday life, Karl Emil Nikka's efforts raise security awareness within organizations, companies and private individuals. Efforts that collectively raise digital security competence in our society and make cybersecurity relevant, simple and accessible to everyone.

National Telecommunications Collaboration Group (NTSG)
The National Telecommunications Collaboration Group (NTSG) is nominated because the group has shown that real resilience is built together. NTSG is a collaboration forum where telecom operators, authorities and other socially important actors jointly strengthen the robustness of the digital infrastructure and enable rapid coordination in the event of disruptions. By uniting competing actors and the public sector in operational collaboration, NTSG secures Sweden's digital lifeline when it is tested the most. The work includes both preventive efforts and the management of incidents that affect communication and connectivity throughout the country. The working method is a clear example of what can be achieved when actors come together around a common mission.

Scaleout Systems
Scaleout Systems is nominated for its groundbreaking technology in secure and decentralized AI, where organizations can collaborate on advanced analytics without sharing sensitive data. By training AI models locally where data is available, the company enables AI development in environments where traditional methods do not work, especially in defense, industry and critical infrastructure. The technology has clear dual-use properties, where the same solutions create value in both civilian operations and security-critical contexts. With a strong focus on security, integrity and collaboration, as well as participation in NATO's innovation program, Scaleout Systems shows how Swedish tech can be at the forefront and contribute to strengthening digital resilience and building a more robust and trusting society.

Cybersecurity Academy
Cybersecurity Academy is nominated for its important national education initiative that strengthens young people's knowledge of cybersecurity through practical exercises and free materials. Through collaborations between Young Researchers, IBM and the Swedish Civil Defence Agency, the initiative addresses the growing skills shortage in society. The program offers lessons, teacher training and workshops that make digital security understandable early in life. Ahead of 2025/2026, the activities have been developed with a focus on AI security and source criticism in an era of deepfakes, something that is important for securing our democracy. The initiative has reached hundreds of thousands of students and strengthens both digital security and long-term skills supply, making them a strong finalist for the Security of the Year Award.

Petra Klein, Group Security Manager, Swedbank
Petra Klein is nominated for her strategic and exemplary leadership in cybersecurity, where she strengthens security work both within and outside the banking sector with deep technical expertise and a broad understanding of the threat and risk landscape. By clearly demonstrating that security is an enabler for business and growth, she works for a culture where security is a natural part of the work and something everyone contributes to. As a leading voice in the work on increased resilience, not least in the introduction of the EU Regulation on Digital Operational Resilience for the Financial Sector (DORA), and with a focus on the role of humans in cyber defense, Petra Klein contributes to a more robust and sustainable cybersecurity work in Sweden.

About the Security Award of the Year
This year's Security Award is an award presented by the industry and employer organization TechSverige together with partner SME-D, the industry organization for small and medium-sized companies in the Swedish defense sector, and celebrates actors who, through innovative technology, collaboration and responsibility, contribute to strengthening Sweden's security - digitally, civilly and militarily. The award can be awarded to companies, organizations, initiatives or individuals who significantly contribute to increased preparedness, resilience and security in society.

Contact: Jonas Sandwal, SME-D / jonas.sandwall@techsverige.se

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