For the fourth consecutive year, HiQ is proud to partner with Women in Tech Sweden, continuing its commitment to fostering a more inclusive tech industry. The partnership extends throughout 2025 and includes participation in the #WITswe2025 conference, which will take place in Stockholm on April 23.

“Equality and inclusion in the tech industry require a collective effort. That’s why it’s a natural choice for us to continue our collaboration with Women in Tech and, together with other partners, contribute to platforms and initiatives that empower and inspire women in tech. This is critical in a world where technological progress is advancing at record speed – not only to secure the necessary talent but also to develop inclusive tech solutions that address real needs,” says Samuel Skott, CEO of HiQ.

Increasing the representation of women in tech is a strategic priority for HiQ.

“We have an important role in continuing to attract more women to the industry, and for HiQ, this is central to our culture, our business, and how we create value for our customers. Through our partnership with Women in Tech, we want to keep the spotlight on this topic and make a difference, both within HiQ and beyond. We look forward to building on last year’s important discussions, such as the interplay between humans and AI, while continuing to be inspired to explore the opportunities and confidently test new technologies,” says Helena Herolf, Chief People Officer at HiQ.

Women in Tech Sweden: A Movement for Change

Women in Tech Sweden works to inspire more women to pursue careers in tech and to retain those already active in the field. The platform has grown into a movement with over 26,000 members, providing networks, role models, and inspiration.

“We are thrilled to welcome HiQ as a partner this year again. Their commitment to driving gender equality and innovation in tech aligns perfectly with our mission at Women in Tech Sweden. It is so important that we do this together and we’re looking forward to another year creating impactful events and opportunities that inspire and empower women to thrive in the industry,” says Åsa Johansen, Director at Women in Tech Sweden.

The 2025 Women in Tech conference will be held at Stockholm Waterfront Congress Center on April 23. It is the largest conference of its kind in Scandinavia, bringing together talents, entrepreneurs, and leaders from around the world to discuss the future of tech.

For more information about Women in Tech Sweden, visit:
https://womenintech.se

HiQ is strengthening its focus on business-oriented artificial intelligence, prioritizing AI solutions that directly support and enhance customers' core operations. AI expert Sofie Perslow, with a solid background in tech-driven business development and leadership roles at Aller Media and ICA, has been hired to lead this strategic initiative.

HiQ aims to be a leading partner in AI, with a special emphasis on advanced, tailored AI solutions that meet customers’ business needs in an ever-changing digital world. With Sofie Perslow at the helm, HiQ is enhancing its capabilities in the field.

“We work with many clients facing the challenge of transforming AI’s potential into tangible execution that delivers real value. Sofie’s deep understanding of both technology and business makes her the perfect leader for our business-focused AI offering, and we’re excited to strengthen our support for clients even further with her onboard,” says Samuel Skott, CEO of HiQ.

Sofie Perslow brings extensive experience in turning complex technical concepts into concrete business advantages, building data-driven organizations, and implementing AI solutions to optimize operations and drive business value.

“Leading HiQ’s focus on business-oriented AI is an opportunity to set a new standard. It’s time for companies of all sizes and forms to stop hesitating, start building long-term strategies, and look beyond the risks. AI is about opportunities. We aim to transform ideas into business value, not just in projects but as part of ongoing success. AI is not the future – it’s now. Together with our team, we’re creating solutions that unlock real potential,” says Sofie Perslow, the new Head of AI at HiQ.

In her new role, she will focus on strengthening and accelerating HiQ’s team of AI experts and its business offering based in Stockholm, and she will also lead the overarching initiative to build HiQ’s capabilities in AI, data science, and machine learning engineering across Sweden.

Bankgirot has been a central part of Sweden's financial ecosystem for over 60 years. Now, the organization is embarking on a major transformation journey that will impact both payment flows and the infrastructure of tomorrow. Anna Maria Nyström, Chief Product Officer at Bankgirot, discusses the challenges and opportunities Bankgirot faces as it shapes the future of payments, in collaboration with HiQ.

A Historic Foundation to Build Upon

“Bankgirot has been a cornerstone of the Swedish payments landscape for decades,” says Anna Maria Nyström, Chief Product Officer at Bankgirot. “We are proud to have enabled everything from mass payments in the 1960s to today’s modern solutions.”

On average, around 9 million transactions, equivalent to 84 billion SEK, flow through Bankgirot’s payment systems every day. These systems handle a wide range of societal payments. Many people are familiar with key services like Autogiro (direct debit) and e-invoicing, which impact almost every company and individual in the country.

Bankgirot’s customers are banks and financial institutions operating in Sweden. To ensure the stability of Sweden’s payment market, Bankgirot is regulated and authorized by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

Transforming for the Future

The company is now facing one of its biggest transformations to date. Increased security requirements, stricter regulations, and global standards are driving the need for a modernization of Bankgirot’s platform and services—at a time when society is more dependent on payment systems than ever before.

“Our goal is to continue providing a secure infrastructure while adapting to new market demands,” explains Anna Maria. “The payments landscape is evolving, and we need to be prepared for the future.”

Collaboration with HiQ

At the heart of this modernization effort is the development of a new payment system that will offer greater flexibility. The system is being designed with scalability in mind and built on a modern architecture based on microservices and API-first principles. To achieve this, Bankgirot has chosen HiQ as its technical partner.

“HiQ is a key partner in this work. Their consultants bring deep technical expertise and an innovative mindset that is essential for building the infrastructure of the future,” says Anna Maria.

The goal is to create a platform that is faster, more secure, and fully compliant with regulatory requirements.

Challenges and Opportunities

However, the path to the new system is not without its challenges. Bankgirot must develop the new infrastructure while ensuring the existing system continues to operate seamlessly—a balancing act that requires meticulous precision.

“This is no small task. We are undergoing a major transition where we must decommission old systems while building an entirely new payment infrastructure—all without compromising the daily operations of millions of transactions,” says Anna Maria.

Regulatory requirements have also added complexity. Adapting to new standards, such as ISO 20022, requires significant changes in how payment information is processed and transferred.

Bankgirot is now focused on delivering a state-of-the-art system that will serve Sweden for decades to come.

Want to know how HiQ can support your business in banking, finance and payments? Read more and get in touch here.

The program kicks off in August 2025 and is aimed at newly graduated and junior talents in technology and programming. It’s a modern take on traditional trainee programs, offering participants a fast and practical path into working life. The goal is to provide real hands-on experience from day one while fostering a strong sense of community through social activities in true HiQ spirit.

A Smooth Transition from Studies to Work

Unlike classical trainee programs, which often focus on internal training, HiQ participants jump straight into real assignments or projects that mirror actual customer tasks. From the second day, candidates work in teams at clients or participate in internal projects with a focus on Java and C++ – all to provide genuine work experience.

During the program’s ten weeks, participants also receive support in the form of courses and certifications tailored to individual needs. This is complemented by social activities such as dinners, internal events, and evening courses to create an inspiring and cohesive experience.

Who Can Apply?

HiQ is looking for candidates who:

• Have a background in fields like computer science, engineering physics, information systems, or mechatronics.
• Are students, recent graduates, or have up to one year of work experience.
• Are highly driven to start working practically and want to grow in a team-oriented work environment.

Merits that can strengthen an application include:

• Experience programming in C++, Java, or frontend frameworks like React and Angular.
• Project or extracurricular work in programming.
• Previous summer jobs in the tech industry.
• Knowledge of cloud technologies, such as AWS.

Focus on Community and Support

HiQ’s program is designed to be cost-effective and flexible, with the ambition that all participants will have a role from the start. With support from experienced colleagues and shared activities, a safe and inspiring environment is created where participants are never sent out alone on assignments.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted until February 28, 2025. Read more and apply here