Swedish companies score only 39 out of 100 in new AI Leadership Index

The first edition of Elvenite’s AI Leadership Index places Swedish companies in the AI Adopters category. The foundations for broad AI adoption are in place, but many companies have yet to embed AI in their core operations. If Sweden is to achieve the government’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top ten AI nations, Swedish companies need to move from experimentation to business-critical use.

To gain a clearer understanding of how Swedish companies use AI in practice, Elvenite developed the AI Leadership Index 2026. The report is based on responses from 163 Swedish decision-makers with strong insight into their organisations’ AI and digitalisation work. It measures AI maturity across areas including operational integration, business impact, governance and control, and data and technology readiness.

Swedish companies score 39 out of 100 in this year’s AI Leadership Index, placing them at the AI Adopters level - the second-lowest of the index’s four maturity levels: Explorers, Adopters, Scalers and Leaders. These organisations have begun using AI but have not yet integrated it into core processes, decision-making or business-critical operations.

– The results show that Swedish companies have made more progress in exploring AI than in turning it into real business value. The potential is significant, but many still need to take the critical step of making AI an integrated, value-creating part of the business, says Mathias Dyberg, CEO of Elvenite.

The report identifies recurring gaps between ambition and execution. Many organisations report positive effects but lack the structures needed to measure them. Although AI is being discussed more often by executive teams, few organisations view it as a clear leadership responsibility.

– We are not seeing a lack of interest in AI. Quite the opposite. What we see is an execution gap. Closing it requires a new kind of leadership. Leaders need the courage to make decisions and set a direction without having all the answers, while continuing to learn and adapt as the technology and conditions change, says Mathias Dyberg.

The report also highlights significant opportunities. One-third of companies have increased their AI investments over the past year, and many already report positive effects, including higher productivity, more efficient ways of working and better decision support.

– The AI Leadership Index shows both where Swedish companies stand today and the potential ahead. What is needed now is decisive action. The next phase is to put that potential into practice and make AI a natural part of how the business operates, makes decisions and creates value, says Mathias Dyberg.

Read more and access the report: https://elvenite.se/en/ai-leadership-index-2026/

For more information

Mathias Dyberg
CEO, Elvenite
mathias.dyberg@elvenite.com

About the report

The AI Leadership Index 2026 is based on a survey conducted by Prime on behalf of Elvenite. The survey includes responses from 163 people with responsibility for or strong insight into their organisations’ AI and digitalisation work and maps how Swedish companies use AI in practice. It was conducted through Norstat’s panel. The results should be interpreted as indicative and are not statistically representative of Swedish business as a whole.

About Elvenite

Elvenite is the leading Infor CloudSuite M3 partner in the Nordics and specialises in helping companies move from ERP to ERX, where ERP, data and AI together redefine how companies make decisions, evolve and create value. Since its founding in 2007, Elvenite has grown to around 220 employees, with offices in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Romania. Elvenite is part of CombinedX, a publicly listed digitalisation group.