Microsoft has announced its largest investment in Sweden to date, with plans to invest €2.9 billion (33.7 billion SEK) over two years in cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This initiative includes training 250,000 people in AI skills, aiming to accelerate Sweden’s adoption of AI and increase its long-term competitiveness in the AI era. The investment aligns with the Swedish government’s push for greater innovation and competitiveness. Microsoft will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure, deploying 20,000 advanced GPUs across its data center sites.
This investment, Microsoft’s second in three years, also aims to address the urgent need for upskilling with AI competencies. Microsoft’s skilling program will be run in collaboration with partners and representatives from academia, business, and government, aiming to enhance AI skilling and security and increase knowledge and competence in AI within organizations, schools, universities, the public sector, and society at large. The infrastructure will operate under Microsoft’s AI Access Principles, fostering innovation and healthy competition within the AI economy.
Microsoft will also partner closely with local governments and stakeholders to ensure its infrastructure contributes to a sustainable future and community prosperity. The existing Swedish datacenter region already powers the datacenter with 100% carbon-free energy and uses highly efficient cooling systems. Microsoft is also investing in renewable energy in Sweden, with nearly 1,000 MW of renewable energy procured and projects online. Microsoft’s suite of cloud services is built to secure datacenters against unauthorized access and other physical threats, following industry-leading practices for responsible AI.
”AI is a tech transformation that should be seen as a multiplier or catalyst. AI will not only have an impact on how we run businesses but will also help accelerate development in a wide range of other technology areas. This morning’s news here at Microsoft HQ in Stockholm is an example of how we want to attract investment to Sweden in order to Swedish growth and competitiveness. It is part of the strategy going forward when, after successfully fighting inflation, we enter a new phase, an investment phase.” says Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden.
Microsoft will expand its cloud and AI infrastructure and deploy 20,000 of the most advanced GPUs across its existing data center sites in Sandviken, Gävle, and Staffanstorp. This new investment, Microsoft’s second in three years, aligns with the Swedish government’s push for greater innovation, increased competitiveness, public sector efficiency, and national resilience and sustainability.
“Our investment in Sweden is a testament to our confidence in this nation, its government, and its potential as a leader in the AI Era. This announcement goes beyond technology, it’s a commitment to ensuring broad access to the tools and skills needed for Sweden’s people and economy to thrive in the AI era.” Brad Smith Microsoft Vice Chair and President.
Equipping 250,000 Swedes with essential AI skills
AI is set to transform Swedish workplace and businesses, with rapid adoption in workplaces – 75 percent of knowledge workers use it, and 46 percent adopted it within the last six months. With hundreds of thousands of partners and customers in Sweden, including Boliden, Gunnebo, Kry, Lindex, Region Västerbotten, Microsoft’s enables Swedish organizations to benefit from the power of AI. This investment aims to boost Swedish innovation initiatives, established businesses as well as the renowned Swedish start-up community, and addresses the urgent need for upskilling with AI competencies.
“AI serves as a catalyst for innovation, driving progress and growth across many industries. To fully realize Sweden’s potential, we must embrace AI to unlock new opportunities, streamline processes, and create solutions to complex challenges. Together with Microsoft, we are already seeing solid results in how AI is cutting down administrative tasks and enabling our healthcare professionals to better focus on patient care.” says Johannes Schildt, CEO, Kry.
Currently, Sweden ranks third in global demand for AI expertise. By providing skills training to 250,000, representing approximately 2,4 percent of the population, Microsoft aims to enhance AI skilling and security and increase knowledge and competence in AI within organizations, schools, universities, public sector and society at large over three years. The skilling will take place through technical and vocational education and training students with AI skills, tailored job transition training for specific industries, as well as AI-expert training for developers. To guide the skilling programs, Microsoft is establishing an AI Advisory Council, bringing together leaders in academia, business, and government. The skilling program will be run in close collaboration with partners and representatives from, amongst others, Linköping University, Swedish Public Employment Service, TechSverige, and Microsoft Sweden Responsible AI Innovation Center partners.
“Digital transformation starts with leadership, and skilling is essential to unlock AI’s full potential. Microsoft is empowering individuals, companies, and society to enhance innovation and democratize the use of AI by skills development, knowledge sharing and access to cutting edge technology and digital infrastructure. We want Sweden to be a global leader within innovation and technology to accelerate economic growth.” concludes Sophia Wikander, Country Manager at Microsoft Sweden.
Advancing responsible progress and community engagement
This infrastructure will operate under Microsoft’s AI Access Principles which were created to foster innovation and healthy competition within the rapidly growing AI economy. They reflect Microsoft’s expanding role and responsibility as a leader in AI and commit the company to making investments, forging business partnerships, and creating programs that ensure broad access to its AI technology that empower organizations and individuals to develop and use AI in ways that will serve the public good.
In addition, Microsoft today unveiled its global Datacenter Community Pledge that recognizes its commitment to be a responsible neighbor in Sweden and elsewhere by contributing positively to local economies and ecosystems while advancing global digital transformation. Microsoft will partner closely with local governments, residents, and key stakeholders to ensure its infrastructure is a resource that contributes to a sustainable future and advances community prosperity and well-being.
”We are delighted to announce our Datacenter Community Pledge on the day that we announce a further investment in Sweden’s cloud and AI infrastructure and its local AI skilling capability. Sweden has been a great partner for Microsoft over many years and the work we have done together is a role model for political and community partnership with a commitment to sustainability that aligns so well with Microsoft’s own approach,” says Noelle Walsh, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Cloud Operations & Innovation.
Powering world class sustainable and secure cloud and AI infrastructure
The existing Swedish datacenter region brings the best of Microsoft’s sustainability investments, powering the datacenter with 100% carbon-free energy with 24/7 hourly energy matching with partner Vattenfall. Water is used only for humidification and the majority is harvested rainwater. This system is highly efficient, using less electricity and a fraction of water used by other cooling systems. In addition, Microsoft has also successfully deployed a first of kind pilot with Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, using battery energy storage system (BESS) to replace back up diesel generators. This pilot shows the potential to decarbonize the digital industry and is a key milestone on Microsoft’s path to diesel-free data centers by 2030.
Mindful that the expansion of the business must be done in a manner consistent with protecting the environment, Microsoft is coupling its capital investment by investing in renewable energy. Microsoft has procured nearly 1 000 MW of renewable energy in Sweden, with more than 800 MW of projects online. Additionally, Microsoft has Sweden’s first hybrid wind and solar project under contract, which is expected to be coming online by 2025.
Microsoft’s infrastructure and suite of cloud services are built from the ground up to secure datacenters against unauthorized access, environmental hazards, and other physical threats. The company uses resilient architecture, business continuity plans, and disaster recovery steps to keep services available and to meet high security and privacy standards. Microsoft follows industry-leading practices for responsible AI, with its implementation of Responsible AI standards and AI Assurance Program to promote best practices for AI usage.
“Microsoft is committed to increasing access and accelerating the adoption of AI across the Nordic region, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. We will couple our AI investments with programs and partnerships that support individuals, businesses, and long-term economic growth across the region,” states Brad Smith Microsoft Vice Chair and President at Microsoft.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/microsoft-invests-e2-9-bn-in-sweden/
