Sweden tops Global Technology Report rankings

When it comes to playing the enabler of a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world in the aftermath of one of the most serious economic crises in decades, Sweden has got all the applause. As per the rankings of The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010, which have been released by the World Economic Forum, Sweden is on top of the list. This is the first time that Sweden features on top.

The European nation is closely followed by Singapore and Denmark. Incidentally, Denmark had been at numero uno position during the last three years. According to Irene Mia, Senior Economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum and co-editor of the report, Sweden, Singapore and Denmark’s superior capacity to leverage ICT as an enabler of sustainable, long-term economic growth is built on similar premises, relating with a long-standing focus placed by governments and private sectors alike on education, innovation and ICT access and diffusion.

Brought out by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with international business school INSEAD, the report has been arrived at within the framework of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Programme for Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries.

The report incorporates an extensive coverage of 133 economies worldwide, and is being lauded as a well crafted international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations. The ICT for Sustainability theme has been very well dwelt upon and has made sure the study explores the many and diverse links between ICT and sustainability, in all its dimensions. Besides, the Networked Readiness Index takes a closer look at how countries are to use ICT effectively on general business, regulatory and infrastructure environment for ICT; readiness of the three key stakeholder groups in a society - individuals, businesses and governments - to use and benefit from ICT; and the actual usage of the latest information and communication technologies available.

These apart, various aspects of ICT’s contribution to a more sustainable economy and world, including through improving environmental sustainability, broadband infrastructure and cloud computing have been elaborated in the report.