Sweden is facing major challenges in its power system. To ensure a stable electricity supply, HiQ has been selected as one of two suppliers in Svenska kraftnät’s new IT framework agreement, tasked with working on a new method for efficiently balancing the Nordic power system.

As the power system undergoes rapid transformation, the challenges of ensuring a stable and reliable power supply are increasing. Svenska kraftnät is the authority leading the development of the Nordic Balancing Model (NBM) – a new, future-proof balancing model for the entire Nordic region. It is being developed in collaboration with the region’s transmission system operators and is aligned with the EU’s common electricity market to support the energy transition.

For this development, Svenska kraftnät has signed a framework agreement with two suppliers, HiQ and Knowit. The agreement has an estimated total value of up to SEK 1.2 billion and runs for an initial period of three years, with the possibility of extending up to eight years. Security aspects are a key consideration, and the suppliers may be subject to security protection agreements under the Security Protection Act.

Experience with complex infrastructure essential to society

HiQ has extensive experience in delivering digital solutions for critical infrastructure, including ongoing collaborations with Svenska kraftnät and other clients across various industries and societal sectors.

“Earning the trust to contribute to such a critical societal function as the power system is a great honor. With our deep understanding and our experience in working with complex tech solutions, we look forward to helping ensure a robust and future-proof method for Sweden’s electricity supply,” says David Sandberg, Head of Public Sector at HiQ.

HiQ today announces it has appointed Peter Arrhenius as the new Group CEO. The change in leadership comes after CEO Samuel Skott decided to leave the company.

“I wish to thank Samuel Skott for his contributions as CEO and his instrumental role in establishing a solid platform for growth and building a European tech champion, and wish him success in his next endeavor”, says Magnus Meyer, Chairman of the board of directors of HiQ.

The new Group CEO, Peter Arrhenius, is an experienced senior executive in the Nordic tech industry with more than two decades of experience from leadership roles.

“HiQ has an unrivalled legacy and a brand that encompasses tech innovation and a strong inclusive and value-driven culture. Having spent my entire career in the tech industry, I have the utmost respect for the history and track-record of HiQ, all of the highly talented and creative colleagues, and their ability to build critical and customized solutions for our clients. HiQ is a tech leader in the Nordics and Germany, and I am proud to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the company”, says Peter Arrhenius, CEO of HiQ.

“With Peter Arrhenius’ deep experience and proven ability to lead digital transformation consulting services, we welcome a passionate, customer-centric and commercially driven leader, who has a long track-record of growth, operational excellence and people development. Peter will help develop and build on the unique culture that makes HiQ a leader in the sector, bring tech innovation to our customers and accelerate our commercial strategy”, says Magnus Meyer, Chairman of the board of directors of HiQ.

Peter Arrhenius joins from Netcompany where he held the position as partner. Before that he was CEO of the digitization company Inera, which he transformed into a customer-centric organization. In addition, Peter has worked for many years with digitization, consulting and tech in the global IT industry, and he has, among other things, been VP and COO Scandinavia at CGI, VP Head of Financial Services at Capgemini and Managing Director / Industry General Manager at CSC.

Samuel Skott will remain as CEO of HiQ until the transition takes effect from February 10th 2025.

HiQ West has appointed Malin Ekwall as the new Sales Manager. Malin Ekwall has extensive experience in the consulting industry and most recently comes from the Randstad Group. She will now be responsible for leading sales efforts in a region where HiQ has long been a strong player in digital innovation, transformation, and pioneering technical solutions.

Malin Ekwall has an impressive track record in the Swedish consulting industry, including roles such as Director at Randstad Technologies, Sales Director at Randstad Digital, and Sales Manager at Dfind IT.

“I look forward to joining HiQ and, together with my new colleagues and customers, further strengthening West Sweden’s competitiveness,” says Malin. “It is a dynamic region with a strong technological tradition and an impressive capacity for innovation. I see great opportunities in the rapid digital transformation within both the private and public sectors.”

In addition to her role as Sales Manager, Malin Ekwall will also join HiQ West’s management team. Regional Manager Dan Jonsson is very positive about the new addition:

“We are very pleased to welcome Malin to our team. Her understanding of the technological landscape, combined with her commitment to innovation and navigating the rapid digital transformation, will be invaluable in our efforts to create even greater value for our customers.”

The HiQ operations in Sweden are divided into five regions, with the West region holding a prominent position characterized by strong innovation – developing autonomous self-driving vehicles as well as business-critical personnel systems for the global aviation industry and world-class digital-physical brand experiences.

HiQ has been selected as one of three suppliers in the National Library of Sweden's framework agreement for IT consultancy services. As part of this assignment, HiQ will contribute with expertise in areas such as system development, IT security, and digital services. The aim is to support the library’s important mission of making Sweden's cultural heritage and scientific publications more accessible.

The National Library’s work involves preserving and providing access to everything published in Sweden – from manuscripts, books, and newspapers to music, television programs, and images. The library is also responsible for promoting and coordinating the work of open access to scientific publications in Sweden. Additionally, it operates KB-Labb, a national infrastructure for digital research and development in artificial intelligence.

The framework agreement for IT consultancy services, which spans four years starting in 2025, is part of the National Library’s initiative to modernize and strengthen its digital infrastructure.

“Contributing to the National Library’s work in developing a secure and sustainable digital infrastructure is a fantastic opportunity. By combining our technical expertise with the library’s vision, we can jointly create solutions that simplify and enable both researchers and the public to access our shared digital resources,” says David Sandberg, Business Area Manager Public at HiQ.

The National Library aims to provide equal access to its digital collections for society at large, which requires a robust and sustainable digital infrastructure. To achieve this, the pace of digitization must increase, and with the help of AI, already digitized but yet undescribed materials will be made accessible.

“HiQ has extensive experience in developing digital solutions for public organizations. We look forward to contributing our expertise and dedication to meet the high demands for functionality, security, and long-term sustainable development that this critical infrastructure requires,” concludes David Sandberg.