New award focuses on tech that strengthens Sweden's resilience and security

The industry and employer organization TechSverige is today launching, together with SME-D, the industry organization for small and medium-sized companies in the Swedish defense sector, the new Security Award of the Year. The award will recognize actors who, through technology, collaboration and responsibility, contribute to strengthening Sweden's security - digitally, civilly and militarily. At the same time, the jury that will select this year's finalists and winners is being presented.

In a time when threats to society are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, TechSverige and SME-D want to highlight how Swedish tech contributes to increased preparedness, robustness and trust. The award is awarded to a company, organization, initiative or person who, in or in close collaboration with the tech industry, has played a significant role in strengthening Sweden's security - from information and cybersecurity to technical solutions in crisis preparedness, defense and robustness in critical infrastructure.

– Security is today one of the most crucial societal issues of our time. Tech plays an increasingly important role in Sweden's resilience, total defense and ability to meet an increasingly complex threat landscape. With the Security Award of the Year, we want to highlight those actors who show how innovation, responsibility and collaboration can make a real difference to society, says Åsa Zetterberg, CEO of TechSverige and jury chair.

This year's security award recognizes innovations and initiatives with clear societal benefit. The focus is on initiatives that strengthen security, resilience and trust in society, that can be scaled and benefit more people – and that contribute to Sweden's overall security through technology, both in digital environments and in a broader preparedness and total defense perspective.

– We want to highlight both technical solutions and strategic initiatives that strengthen security in practice. This can involve everything from cybersecurity and defense tech to collaboration models between business, public actors, academia and defense – efforts that together contribute to society's preparedness and robustness, says Åsa Zetterberg.

– In a time of complex threats, we must take advantage of the innovative power that exists in Sweden's SME companies. These companies are a crucial part of our total defense. The newly established security award highlights in an important way the actors that really make a difference, says Jonas Sandwall, Secretary General of SME-D.

The jury that will select this year's finalists and winners consists of:
John Billow, Director, National Cybersecurity Center
Jens Matsson, Director General, Swedish Defence Research Institute (FOI)
Sara Kebert, network expert, Telenor Sweden
Richard Oehme, Senior Advisor in Community and Cybersecurity, Knowit
Karin Hagman, CEO, Truesec Group

Kristina Sundin Jonsson, Municipal Director, Skellefteå Municipality

Jonas Sandwall, Secretary General, SME-D

Åsa Zetterberg, CEO, TechSverige, jury chair

This year's security award will be presented for the first time in the spring of 2026. Read more and nominate for the award at techsverige.se/aretssakerhetspris

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