IBM Sweden working for a more sustainable future together with start-ups

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In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution containing 17 Sustainable Development Goals – now more commonly known as SDGs. For these goals to be reached we need to have a collective outlook on how to go about solving the problems we are facing and without addressing the three major dimensions of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental – it is impossible to achieve lasting sustainability.

The EU is currently in the final stretch of negotiating a dozen laws to fight global warming to deliver its 2030 climate change target. Sweden currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency and will chair negotiations until July. During this time, Sweden wants to finalize tougher targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency and minimum energy performance standards for buildings, as well as requirements for airlines to use more green fuel.

IBM Sweden has long had the prerogative to work to further collective sustainability goals, in the organization itself, as well as through the different ecosystem partners.

With IBMs capabilities and passion for the societies that we are both a part of and serving, we want to contribute to all 17 sustainability goals that were established by the U.N in 2015 – with a current focus on areas like education and skills and environmental sustainability, aligned to the national Swedish agenda.

The initiative Cybersecurity Academy was started in 2019 by IBM and Unga Forskare, and the number of partners and volunteers involved has grown significantly since. The purpose of the project is to provide children and youth with a broader knowledge on how to use the internet safely and create safe habits online. By supplementing this increase in knowledge for youths, the project aims to inspire young people to a future in technology and broaden the image of technology along with who can work and develop technology now and in the future. To this day the initiative has reached over 450 000 students.

Another initiative that is close to heart, is #HackYourWorld, run in collaboration together with Ericsson and Drivhuset. #HackYourWorld is an inspiration and programming event for high school students in year 2 studying the technology program. The initiative aims to strengthen high school students knowledge in programming, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

Innovation Studio – Accelerator Program for Startups

IBM Sweden has supported start-ups pro-bono since 2018, and in 2020 when the pandemic hit and the need for support was at its peak, the support offered was formalized into a program. It offers participants help to meet IT requirements from B2B clients and commercialize their value offerings while preparing their platforms to scale through contributions from IBM Technology. By hosting their solutions on IBM Cloud, participants of the program can build secure, flexible, scalable, and integrated cloud solutions.

To date, the Accelerator program has worked with around 100 different start-ups – helping
them in their journey towards expansion and a sustainable business.

An outtake of current- and alumni members in the Accelerator program are:

• Turnr is a returns automation platform for modern fashion brands, featuring one-click exchanges and revolutionary customer-to-customer returns. The rise of e-commerce during the pandemic was immense – and with it the returns increased as well. Even though e-commerce enables growth, it also allows for an over consumption and waste because of easy-to-return purchases.
  
  Ineffective shipping routes and returns make up an extra source for CO2-emissions, but as it is many companies have started to take action to reduce these emissions. Turnr helps companies reduce these emissions by streamlining shipping and redirecting returns to the next customer that is interested in the returned product. By analyzing data and predicting what products will be popular, as well as using sale and return data to keep procurement departments informed on coming trends – Turnr is able to help their clients optimize their returns as well as avoid unnecessary ones.
  
• Tvinn offers products and services that accelerate the transition to a fossil-free society. They free up capacity and create flexibility that can realize large-scale electrification and a transition to a renewable energy system.
  
  With the help of their smart energy management system, they optimize the use of energy resources such as battery systems, electric vehicle chargers, energy production and heat pumps. Through their flexibility services, they create a so-called Virtual Power Plant that enables new revenue streams from energy markets for energy flexibility and ancillary services.
  
• Foodchain by Blockchain creates a traceable food production from seed to fork, preventing food fraud, infected food, food related diseases and several other problems in the food industry. FCB’s purpose and vision is in relation to the importance of sustainability and traceability in the food chain.
  
  The food production industry is a very large market, with revenue amounting to 84,8 billion USD 2022 in the Nordics alone. With a market this big, it is increasingly important to understand what characterizes the market but also what can derail it – to always be able to work to improve it.
  
  Today, the question of sustainability and traceability in the food chain is marked by insufficient transparency. There are a few challenges that the market stands before – not least in the supply chains. Data quality is less than ideal, with batch numbers and other markings that create obstacles in traceability, but also in the sharing of information. Cecilia Ryegård, founder and CEO of FCB, means that electronic product code information services like GS1 and EPICS are tools that can help to solve these issues going forward.

”We are surprised to be treated with so much interest, respect and enthusiasm by a big corporation like IBM. We think this is very rare in companies of the size of IBM in fact, we thought we would need to fight for our ideas as a small company, but IBM is very open and perceptive to what we want to achieve. We have been introduced at many different levels at IBM.”

Cecilia Ryegård, CEO and founder FoodChain By Blockchain

• Safe handling of personal data and information is more important than ever, especially with the rise of digital healthcare. Giddir offers a platform of integrated diagnostics system that brings unprecedented high-quality data connectivity, by making it possible to connect physicians, institutions, and patients all around the world to one shared platform. This enables physicians to get a holistic view of a patient’s medical state, history, and trends through the necessary data and tools enabling decisions and delivery of personalized care. This allows physicians less time spent digging through medical records, meaning more time dedicated to treating and engaging with patients.
  
  The platform allows for individuals to access their medical data and information and with powerful visualization tools Giddir makes it easier for individuals to understand and make sense of their medical data. By helping patients understand their own information, they are enabled to take control of their own health, allowing for a more proactive patient care from all angles.
  
• Many steps need to be taken before our sustainability goals can be reached, and everyone needs to pitch in to make it work. ThingWave helps their customers go green by offering solutions for improving energy efficiency, increasing safety for workers, and lowering energy consumption.
  
  ThingWave’s Digitalization platform enables remote sensing, using state-of-the-art IoT solutions. By using ThingWave Cloud and ThingWave’s mobile app, customers can know what is happening in remote places in underground mines, at factories, and in Smart cities. This allows for real-time management in harsh environments and nullifies the need for time-consuming manual inspection of assets.

Learn more about the Accelerator Program for Startups here.

Sustainability is an important factor that needs to be considered by everyone if real change is to be made. Individuals, corporations, and start-ups alike need to have a proactive mindset if we are to collectively reach our sustainability goals and achieve lasting sustainability. Through the different initiatives and programs, IBM Sweden has the fortune of being able to work to further our collective sustainability goals, not only in the organization itself but through helping others – businesses and individuals alike.

Take action and get to know IBM:s Sustainability solutions.