Kista companies invest early in future tech talent

Sweden’s new STEM strategy has set ambitious goals for education and industry collaboration. In Kista, companies are moving from policy to practice — meeting students sooner, building relationships, and redefining what it means to secure tomorrow’s tech talent.

A gathering of 100+ high schools students listening to the welcome remarks at Tech Day 2025

100+ high school students kicking off Tech Day 2025

In February 2025, the Swedish government launched a new STEM strategy to strengthen education and encourage closer collaboration between schools and industry — from preschool through to PhD. The goal is to raise performance, broaden participation, and help more young people find a path into science, technology, engineering, and maths.

This national focus is echoed in Kista, where more companies are choosing to act early instead of waiting until students are ready to enter the workforce. They’re hosting workshops, running hands-on activities, and listening to young people’s perspectives. This isn’t about charity; it’s a business-critical move.

IBM and eCiceron are two companies putting this new approach into action. We asked them what’s driving this shift — and what they’ve learned so far.

From policy to practice

At IBM, that work includes national initiatives like the Cybersecurity Academy — developed together with MSB and Unga Forskare to build digital safety skills and spark interest in tech. In 2024 alone, the programme reached over 260,000 children and young people through workshops, events, and training. The aim is to reach even more this year.

eCiceron, a Kista-based tech firm specialising in digital security, has stepped up its involvement with local talent. The company recently participated in Tech Talent Connect — part of Systemvetardagen — where more than 500 university students in cybersecurity, AI, and computer science were matched with prospective employers. Events like these help eCiceron both raise its profile among young people and hear firsthand what tomorrow’s tech professionals care about.

The value of acting early

For both IBM and eCiceron, early engagement with young people isn’t just about visibility — it’s a way to stay relevant and adaptable in a rapidly changing tech landscape.

“We want to ensure a diverse and future-ready workforce,” says Evelina Pärnerud, CSR Manager at IBM. “By reaching young people early, we can spark an interest in technology—not just for those who will work directly in the industry, but for everyone. Tech literacy is becoming essential for all sectors of society.”

Marc Rantanen, CEO of eCiceron, puts it this way: “The biggest benefit is not just access to new skills, but the cultural and strategic agility this new generation contributes. By integrating young talent early, we future-proof our company and keep ourselves on the edge of innovation and culture.”

For both companies, the focus is shifting away from simply filling roles. The goal is to build a talent pool that’s adaptable, curious, and aligned with how technology — and society — are evolving.

Matching students and tech companies at Lunch Stories

A group of university students listening to a man presenting in front of a large screen

Tech companies in Kista welcome students to the industry

Two-way learning

Opening up to students has become a way for companies to challenge their own thinking and adapt to new perspectives. Both IBM and eCiceron say that working with students has sparked fresh ideas inside their own teams.

“Young people are incredibly smart, and they often push us to think in new ways,” says Evelina Pärnerud. At IBM, student interactions have sparked internal conversations around how problems are framed, what assumptions are held, and how openness to new perspectives can unlock innovation.

eCiceron has seen similar effects. “We’ve had cases where a student, with the right mindset, has accelerated into the business faster than a more senior professional,” Rantanen explains. “That challenged our assumptions about the typical learning curve. Potential and attitude can outweigh experience — especially in tech.”

These experiences aren’t one-offs. For companies, working with students is becoming part of a bigger shift. One where recruitment and development are less about static processes, and more about building ongoing relationships and learning together.

The risk of waiting

Some companies already treat student engagement as a core strategy. Others are still deciding when — or if — to get started. But as competition for talent intensifies, the argument for early action keeps getting stronger.

That risk isn’t just about missing the best candidates. “It’s about staying relevant, competitive, and prepared for the challenges ahead,” says Evelina Pärnerud. Students form impressions early, and by the time they enter the job market, many already know which companies they associate with purpose, opportunity, or innovation. Getting on their radar early should be a top priority.

Rantanen at eCiceron warns that companies who wait too long to build relationships with students risk losing relevance — both technically and culturally: “Without strong pipelines from academia and youth communities, companies may face a talent cliff where the next generation simply doesn’t consider them relevant or attractive.

Moreover, without the diversity of thought that young professionals bring, companies may fall into stagnant thinking and miss out on disruptive ideas. In our industry, that can mean falling behind in security innovation, failing to adopt new standards, or not seeing emerging customer needs early enough.”

The next generation will decide which companies feel relevant, innovative, and worth joining. Those building relationships today will likely be the ones to attract talent tomorrow.

National priorities, local action

Sweden’s new STEM strategy sets the direction: stronger tech education, earlier engagement, and closer collaboration between schools and industry. But policies only matter when they’re put into practice, and that happens locally.

In Kista, these ambitions are already becoming reality. Companies are joining school-led initiatives, opening their doors to students, and finding new ways to support the education ecosystem. Some are building long-term partnerships, while others start small — with a single event, workshop, or class visit.

The common denominator is a shift in mindset. In practice, this means the gap between education and industry is narrowing — one conversation at a time.

“We’re seeing more companies in Kista get involved in talent initiatives — especially in areas like cybersecurity, semiconductors, and AI,” says Mikaela Färnqvist, Talent and Community Manager at Kista Science City. “Our role is to coordinate these efforts and make it easier for companies to get involved—whether it’s through major initiatives or smaller actions. By staying committed and actually working together, we can achieve results that matter and last.”