Impact Study

During the spring of 2026, SweDCI, together with Radar and our members, produced the industry report SweDCI Data Center Impact Study. The report describes the strategic role of data centers in our digital society and the contribution the data center industry makes to employment and GDP. It also highlights the challenges that must be addressed for the industry to reach its full potential and deliver the infrastructure required for continued digital development.

Below you can read a summary of the report, and you can also download the full report (in Swedish) by clicking the link at the bottom of the page 

Summary of the SweDCI Data Center Impact StudyData centers have become a strategic foundational function within the Swedish economy. The report shows that SEK 3.75 trillion in Swedish corporate revenue is directly dependent on data center capacity. At the same time, the sector generates a total GDP contribution of SEK 57.8 billion, of which SEK 12.6 billion is direct, SEK 31.1 billion indirect, and SEK 14.1 billion induced effects.

In the report's forward-looking analysis, the contribution to Swedish GDP is estimated at approximately SEK 800 billion over a five-year period. The employment impact is significant and extends far beyond data center operations themselves. Today, the sector supports nearly 12,000 jobs in Sweden, including approximately 1,600 direct, 7,500 indirect, and 2,800 induced jobs. By 2030, this could increase to around 30,000 jobs. Data centers are therefore not merely an IT issue, but a driver of broader value creation across energy, construction, installation, technology, security, and local service economies.

The Swedish market is estimated to comprise around 800 MW of installed capacity, with approximately 50 percent within hyperscale, 35 percent within colocation, and 15 percent within other segments. Capacity has roughly doubled since 2020, and the diversity of market participants is a strength for Sweden. Growth is driven by digitalization, AI, increasing cybersecurity requirements, and rising demand for digital sovereignty.

Swedish organizations' digital initiatives are expected to increase by up to 27 percent by 2028, global data volumes are growing by approximately 23 percent annually, and around 90 percent of consumer transactions in Sweden are already digital. AI is accelerating this development even further. The report indicates that nearly 9 out of 10 Swedish organizations are investing in or planning AI initiatives, and that 96 percent of Swedish companies already use AI or plan to do so. This increases the demand for advanced, secure, and scalable data center capacity. At the same time, control over data, jurisdiction, and resilience are becoming increasingly important.

The report highlights the need for different types of digital infrastructure to strengthen resilience and sovereignty. Sweden has strong competitive advantages in the form of fossil-free electricity, technical expertise, and high digital maturity, but the study identifies permitting processes as a clear growth bottleneck. Environmental permitting and construction-related approval processes often take many years, creating uncertainty and slowing investment momentum.

The conclusion is clear: data centers are no longer peripheral digital infrastructure. They are a strategic production layer for Swedish competitiveness, AI development, security, and future growth. Clear and long-term policy conditions are strategically necessary to secure Sweden's position as a leading and sustainable destination for digital infrastructure in Europe.

Download the SweDCI Datacenter Impact Study here (in Swedish)