Gathering power for AI in municipalities and civil society

Digitization in welfare has been going on for decades, where AI is a new technological element. New technology creates additional needs for competence and abilities in welfare organizations. Expectations for the public sector to be able to deliver even better and more efficient welfare, with the societal challenges that Sweden faces, are high.

DIGG has calculated that a complete introduction of today's AI technology in public administration could mean a financial benefit for society of SEK 140 billion annually.The municipalities are responsible for most of the welfare, but civil society is also an important player in the work to develop it. The possibility of new values, increased quality and efficiency for better welfare and social benefit with the help of AI can be found in all areas related to municipal activities: from care, care and school to public transport, administration and urban planning.

Civil society organizations also have great opportunities to take on new challenges with the help of AI and conduct more efficient and (legally) secure activities. They have good opportunities to become a trusted and innovative player in the collection and use of data based on, at their core, high trust capital among citizens. The issue of AI is brought up to date within civil society, among other things, through sector-wide strategy work in the years 20/21. (NEW).

One of their conclusions is that:

Civil society has good opportunities to develop and create great value for themselves and for all residents of Sweden by using AI and the possibilities of digitization.

Based on the needs and opportunities described above, it is central that municipalities and civil society organizations strengthen their capacity and ability for innovation and insightful priorities in the AI area. It is only when the whole of Sweden can advance its positions in digital development that the whole of society can take part in the greatest benefits.

Both DIGG, Statistiska centralbyrån and SKR note that there are several challenges to realizing the benefits of AI. In order to successfully drive development forward, everything from knowledge support and change management to technical resources is needed. There is also a need for more widespread collaboration and more of a common direction where important questions and needs related to AI can be solved together.

Based on the above, Vinnova has decided to implement a four-year effort with the goal of stimulating and strengthening the capacity and ability of municipalities and civil society to take advantage of the opportunities with artificial intelligence. We call it Gathering Power for AI in municipalities and civil society and it is carried out in collaboration with AI Sweden.

The force collection is a complement to other efforts by the government and other authorities aimed at the public sector and civil society and takes place in collaboration with DIGG (The Agency for Digital Administration), MUFC (The Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs) and SKR (Sveriges Kommuner and Regions).

1. Mobilization
   A broad mobilization takes place where the target group is invited for learning, collaboration and help in getting started.
2. Arena for collaboration
   A central part consists of creating a platform and a forum for collaboration and exchange of experience within the target group. AI Sweden continuously informs about activities and provides the collaboration platform my.ai.se.
3. Structural capital
   Through its expertise and interaction with the target group, AI Sweden is gradually building up a portfolio of valuable tools that everyone can use to get ahead. It is, for example, about documentation of experiences, guides, methodology, use cases, etc
4. Funding
   During the gathering of forces, Vinnova offers four calls for proposals where the target group and involved companies can seek financial support for their project. More information can be found below.
5. Support for project
   AI Sweden will support the project that Vinnova finances. They will also facilitate cooperation and that important experiences from these project are made available to the entire target group.
6. National coordination
   AI Sweden and SKR run an AI council for Sweden's municipalities where common needs and opportunities are identified, prioritized and actively driven forward. One of Vinnova's calls for proposals supports broad collaborative projects for building joint capabilities.

On AI Sweden's website and their other channels, you can get more information about what is concretely offered as it is built up.

In order for the work to have the greatest imaginable effect, it is valuable that as many municipalities and actors from civil society as possible get involved in the gathering of forces. The decisive factor is not whether you use AI today, the decisive factor is whether you are curious about how the business can utilize a completely new toolbox.

Vinnova's planned calls for proposals within the framework of the venture

• Start your AI journey: For organizational learning and practical use of artificial intelligence. One-year pilot projects are financed through two identical calls for proposals which are open May - September 2022 and 2023 respectively.
• Scaling up of AI solutions with municipalities and civil society. Financial support for early adopter AI solutions that have potential to scale widely within the target audience. The call for proposals is open from March 2023 and closes in May 2023.
• Gemensamma AI-förmågor in municipalities and civil society. Financial support for collaborative projects where several municipalities and/or civil society organizations come together to jointly build increased AI capabilities. The call for proposals is advertised from June 2023, is open from 1 November 2023 and closes on 3 April 2024.

1. Increasing AI maturity of the target audience

The collection of forces should support the target group's maturation journey from interest and initial learning to a higher maturity based on practical experience, work with technical infrastructure and data and organizational ability.

2. Active cooperation and coordination

The target group must be given the opportunity for forums and tools for collaboration and concrete collaboration. The gathering of forces must also enable improved regional and national coordination around issues and needs of strategic importance for the target group so that common priorities can be set and implemented.

3. Building up and making structural capital available

AI Sweden must, in collaboration with the target group and supporting actors, work to ensure that the experience, knowledge and other values that are created are converted into structural capital that is made available to the entire target group in the form of articles, guides, policy proposals, use cases, tools, etc.

4. Synergies with the entire AI ecosystem

The gathering of forces must create the conditions for the target group's work with AI to take place in the best possible synergy with the entire AI ecosystem and the rest of society - from industry and startups to academia, authorities and regions.

The investment takes place in collaboration with DIGG (The Agency for Digital Administration), MUFC (The Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs) and SKR (Sveriges Kommuner and Regions). The power gathering is coordinated by a reference group in which all five organizations are included.

• Fredrik Weisner is responsible for the power collection at Vinnova.
• Rebecka Lönnroth is the AI Swedens programme manager.

Digitization in welfare has been going on for decades, where AI is a new technological element. New technology creates additional needs for competence and abilities in welfare organizations. Expectations for the public sector to be able to deliver even better and more efficient welfare, with the societal challenges that Sweden faces, are high.

DIGG has calculated that a complete introduction of today's AI technology in public administration could mean a financial benefit for society of SEK 140 billion annually.The municipalities are responsible for most of the welfare, but civil society is also an important player in the work to develop it. The possibility of new values, increased quality and efficiency for better welfare and social benefit with the help of AI can be found in all areas related to municipal activities: from care, care and school to public transport, administration and urban planning.

Civil society organizations also have great opportunities to take on new challenges with the help of AI and conduct more efficient and (legally) secure activities. They have good opportunities to become a trusted and innovative player in the collection and use of data based on, at their core, high trust capital among citizens. The issue of AI is brought up to date within civil society, among other things, through sector-wide strategy work in the years 20/21. (NEW).

One of their conclusions is that:

Civil society has good opportunities to develop and create great value for themselves and for all residents of Sweden by using AI and the possibilities of digitization.

Based on the needs and opportunities described above, it is central that municipalities and civil society organizations strengthen their capacity and ability for innovation and insightful priorities in the AI area. It is only when the whole of Sweden can advance its positions in digital development that the whole of society can take part in the greatest benefits.

Both DIGG, Statistiska centralbyrån and SKR note that there are several challenges to realizing the benefits of AI. In order to successfully drive development forward, everything from knowledge support and change management to technical resources is needed. There is also a need for more widespread collaboration and more of a common direction where important questions and needs related to AI can be solved together.

Based on the above, Vinnova has decided to implement a four-year effort with the goal of stimulating and strengthening the capacity and ability of municipalities and civil society to take advantage of the opportunities with artificial intelligence. We call it Gathering Power for AI in municipalities and civil society and it is carried out in collaboration with AI Sweden.

The force collection is a complement to other efforts by the government and other authorities aimed at the public sector and civil society and takes place in collaboration with DIGG (The Agency for Digital Administration), MUFC (The Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs) and SKR (Sveriges Kommuner and Regions).

1. Mobilization
   A broad mobilization takes place where the target group is invited for learning, collaboration and help in getting started.
2. Arena for collaboration
   A central part consists of creating a platform and a forum for collaboration and exchange of experience within the target group. AI Sweden continuously informs about activities and provides the collaboration platform my.ai.se.
3. Structural capital
   Through its expertise and interaction with the target group, AI Sweden is gradually building up a portfolio of valuable tools that everyone can use to get ahead. It is, for example, about documentation of experiences, guides, methodology, use cases, etc
4. Funding
   During the gathering of forces, Vinnova offers four calls for proposals where the target group and involved companies can seek financial support for their project. More information can be found below.
5. Support for project
   AI Sweden will support the project that Vinnova finances. They will also facilitate cooperation and that important experiences from these project are made available to the entire target group.
6. National coordination
   AI Sweden and SKR run an AI council for Sweden's municipalities where common needs and opportunities are identified, prioritized and actively driven forward. One of Vinnova's calls for proposals supports broad collaborative projects for building joint capabilities.

On AI Sweden's website and their other channels, you can get more information about what is concretely offered as it is built up.

In order for the work to have the greatest imaginable effect, it is valuable that as many municipalities and actors from civil society as possible get involved in the gathering of forces. The decisive factor is not whether you use AI today, the decisive factor is whether you are curious about how the business can utilize a completely new toolbox.

Vinnova's planned calls for proposals within the framework of the venture

• Start your AI journey: For organizational learning and practical use of artificial intelligence. One-year pilot projects are financed through two identical calls for proposals which are open May - September 2022 and 2023 respectively.
• Scaling up of AI solutions with municipalities and civil society. Financial support for early adopter AI solutions that have potential to scale widely within the target audience. The call for proposals is open from March 2023 and closes in May 2023.
• Gemensamma AI-förmågor in municipalities and civil society. Financial support for collaborative projects where several municipalities and/or civil society organizations come together to jointly build increased AI capabilities. The call for proposals is advertised from June 2023, is open from 1 November 2023 and closes on 3 April 2024.

1. Increasing AI maturity of the target audience

The collection of forces should support the target group's maturation journey from interest and initial learning to a higher maturity based on practical experience, work with technical infrastructure and data and organizational ability.

2. Active cooperation and coordination

The target group must be given the opportunity for forums and tools for collaboration and concrete collaboration. The gathering of forces must also enable improved regional and national coordination around issues and needs of strategic importance for the target group so that common priorities can be set and implemented.

3. Building up and making structural capital available

AI Sweden must, in collaboration with the target group and supporting actors, work to ensure that the experience, knowledge and other values that are created are converted into structural capital that is made available to the entire target group in the form of articles, guides, policy proposals, use cases, tools, etc.

4. Synergies with the entire AI ecosystem

The gathering of forces must create the conditions for the target group's work with AI to take place in the best possible synergy with the entire AI ecosystem and the rest of society - from industry and startups to academia, authorities and regions.

The investment takes place in collaboration with DIGG (The Agency for Digital Administration), MUFC (The Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs) and SKR (Sveriges Kommuner and Regions). The power gathering is coordinated by a reference group in which all five organizations are included.

• Fredrik Weisner is responsible for the power collection at Vinnova.
• Rebecka Lönnroth is the AI Swedens programme manager.