National AI Initiative for Healthcare Receives Funding
29 September 2026 - The Swedish University Hospital Alliance (SUHA), which includes all of Sweden's university hospitals, has secured funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) to jointly establish “Health AI Academy Sweden”. This national initiative aims to develop a shared educational programme in artificial intelligence (AI) for the Swedish healthcare sector.
Leaders of Sweden’s university hospitals gathered for a group photo. From right: Martin Gunnarsson, Acting Director of Health and Medical Services, Region Örebro County; Marianne van Rooijen, Chief Executive Officer, Akademiska University Hospital, Uppsala; Ninnie Borendal Wodlin, Chief Executive Officer, Linköping University Hospital; Pia Näsvall, Director of Health and Medical Services, Region Västerbotten; Carolina Samuelsson, Chief Executive Officer, Skåne University Hospital; Boubou Hallberg, Chief Executive Officer, Sahlgrenska University Hospital; and Christophe Pedroletti, Chief Executive Officer, Karolinska University Hospital.
The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the European Union's key instruments for strengthening skills development and employment, improving working life, and financing development projects. The ESF funding, which amounts to SEK 18 million, will enable 600 employees across Sweden's seven university hospitals to benefit from AI skills development initiatives over the next three years.
AI has the potential to improve healthcare through faster and more reliable assessments as well as earlier diagnosis. It can also free up valuable time for patient-facing care. Realising these benefits requires healthcare professionals and healthcare support functions alike to strengthen their expertise across several areas, including legal and regulatory frameworks, information security, and risk assessment related to the use of AI in healthcare.
- Sweden's university hospitals play a vital role in advancing healthcare. Through joint educational programmes, we can strengthen healthcare services across the entire country. The ESF funding provides us with excellent opportunities to maintain a coordinated and long-term approach to AI development in healthcare, says Helena Nilsson, Strategic Advisor for Data-Driven Development and AI at Region Örebro County and Project Manager for Health AI Academy Sweden.
The project is set to begin in December 2026 and run until June 2029.
The Health AI Academy Sweden initiative is being developed in collaboration with AI Sweden and draws on insights and experience from Unity Health Toronto, Canada.
About SUHA
The Swedish University Hospital Alliance (SUHA), established in June 2025, is a national alliance of Sweden's seven university hospitals. Its mission is to strengthen relationships and collaboration between Sweden’s seven university hospitals and to develop a common strategy for addressing current and future healthcare challenges.