Nordic EdTech News #137: 2025-06-23
Your Weeks 24 to 25 update from the Nordic and Baltic EdTech ecosystem
Nordic EdTech News is the best way to keep up with the EdTech ecosystem across 8 Nordic and Baltic countries. I curate it from company updates and a wide variety of international sources. It’s a passion project of mine - the rest of my time is spent running 10Digits, a consultancy for EdTech businesses who want to grow with pace and purpose.
Hello and welcome to today’s Nordic EdTech News. Hope that you had a great midsommar weekend and that the sun was shining where you were!
Many thanks again to Academy Smart for sponsoring this newsletter. Just reply to this email if you'd like to see your brand in Nordic EdTech News.
The issue of European digital sovereignty has been rising up the priority list in recent months and we’re now beginning to see some concrete moves on this topic, with Denmark, leading the way. Their national Minister of Digitization has already decided to phase out the use of Microsoft services in her ministry, whilst IT-Branchen has made a series of recommendations on “how Denmark and Danish companies can achieve increased digital independence from non-European powers” (Link).
More specifically, 21 Danish municipalities are currently working on a plan to disconnect Microsoft and Google services from Danish schools in two years (Link). The move could save DKK 35 million in licenses per year but needs an extra one-time investment of DKK 25 million to build the planned replacement.
Also in Denmark, Anders Frikke, the new Chairman of the Danish Upper Secondary School Teachers' Association (GL), has argued for the introduction of a new examination format that takes into account the use of AI (Link). His counterparts at other national organisations agree, arguing that “today's examination forms are outdated in relation to technological development” (Link).
Whilst we’re on AI, Norway has announced the creation of six new research centres for AI (Link). One of which is focused on the “Empowerment of Human Learning” and will involve leading universities plus Learnlab, Kahoot! and Visma.
As Norway moves forward, Sweden steps back. The government’s report Knowledge for All has been met with a wave of criticism, because of its proposal to remove the concept of digital competence from the basic school curriculum. In an article for Dagens Industri, the Swedish Edtech Industry warns of the consequences for Sweden's competitiveness and equality. CEO Jannie Jeppesen says: “The government must rethink and ensure that digital competence is given a clear place in school, otherwise we are building a knowledge society on a fragile foundation.”
In more positive news, the Finnish EdTech Report 2025 has now been published and shows “strong growth and global potential despite headwinds.” The sector now includes more than 270 active companies, with total revenues nearly quadrupled between 2010 and 2023 to hit €290 million.
This growth story sets the stage perfectly for discussions at the upcoming Nordic EdTech Summit (10 September at Studio Malmö), where Lee Schuneman, Chief Product Officer & President at Efekta, an EF (Education First) company, will share how their Nordic roots laid the foundation for a bold new EdTech business that's using AI to make personalised learning truly scalable.
I’m also excited to announce 6 new expert speakers to join the nearly-finalised programme. They bring fresh insights from across the EdTech landscape, covering everything from raising investment to expert perspectives in schools and corporate learning. Book your ticket today!
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If you’ve got a story that you’d like me to include in a future issue of this newsletter, please email hello@10digits.org, tag me on X or LinkedIn or use #nordicedtech / #balticedtech.
I’ll be taking a break for a few weeks, so the next full newsletter will be published on 4th August 2025. I’ll cover any breaking stories on LinkedIn, so do follow updates there!
Thanks for reading, Jonathan
News from Denmark
Denmark’s Liberal parties seek to give teachers greater freedom of choice over the resources they use in school. (Link)
“Artificial intelligence could eliminate the meaning of school.”
Podcast (in Danish) with Kim Rants, Co-founder and CEO at Alice.tech, talking about their growth, Y Combinator journey and the future of learning. (Link)
Danske Undervisningsforlag has confirmed Henrik Gejlager of Gyldendal Education as Chairman and Cliff Hansen of Lindhardt and Ringhof Education as Vice Chairman. (Link)
A new grant will expand the Gaming Group initiative nationwide. It uses computer games as a pedagogical tool to strengthen wellbeing among young people who struggle with isolation and school refusal. (Link)
News from Estonia
“Not using artificial intelligence tools would be like using an abacus instead of a calculator.”
Estonia is pioneering ways for teachers to deliver multiple simultaneous classes through a combination of face-to-face and digital delivery. (Link)
A new joint venture, Koolest Solutions GmbH, which will bring Estonia's EdTech solutions to the German market. (Link)
News from Finland
78% of parents surveyed as part of the 2025 Parents’ Barometer have a “positive attitude towards the use of digital learning materials and learning environments as part of teaching.”
The City of Helsinki has banned the use of mobile devices in comprehensive schools, even during breaks. The restriction will take effect in August.
How Annie Advisor helps make student support more accessible and impactful for learners at Suomen Diakoniaopisto Oy. (Link)
Sanoma Learning unveils further detail about their use of AI (Link) and launches new Guidelines for inclusive digital content. (Link)
Great to see such positive progress for See the Good in the US. (Link)
How Wilma is preparing for the new learning support reform, which comes into force in August to strengthen timely and individual support for learners. (Link)
News from Iceland
Further details of the winning EdTech projects at Menntaþon 2025. (Link)
The University of Akureyri aims to be at the forefront of AI, but warns that students and academics must be trained in its responsible use. (Link)
News from Latvia
An additional €8.9 million will be invested in “the purchase and development of teaching materials” (Link) as over 48,000 laptops have been delivered to teachers and students (Link).
Adults will be able to choose from nearly 100 programmes to boost medium and high-level digital skills at 20 different institutions across Latvia. (Link)
Over the past 12 months, the Datorium.AI team has trained nearly 4,000 teachers across Latvia. (Link)
News from Lithuania
The government’s working group has submitted its recommendations on the use of students' personal mobile phones and other smart devices at school. (Link)
13,000+ students have enrolled in the Generation AI scheme to make AI tools accessible to all Lithuanian schools. (Link)
Interesting to note that Vinted founder, Milda Mitkutė, is one of the co-founders of Aha Stories, who are taking part in the Edu Challenger programme. (Link)
EditAI was the winner in the Learning & Education category at the 2025 Skaitmeninis knygnešys awards. (Link)
News from Norway
AI can never replace the textbook - according to 4 Norwegian publishing bosses.
Whitelisting appropriate online sites is creating “major problems” for teachers in Bærum. (Link)
The Inspera Originality solution won the procurement agreement for the SUNET digital text matching service. (Link)
Udir confirms that work is underway on developing “a common digital framework in schools” that will make it easier to “make good, safe and pedagogically sound choices in the classroom.” (Link)
Visma SmartSkill signs a new deal with Rendalen municipality to simplify simple training in the health sector. (Link)
We Are Learning’s CPO and co-founder, Lars-Petter Windelstad Kjos, was on the Edtech Insiders podcast. You can catch up with it here.
News from Sweden
Albert reduces headcount by 25% as part of an “accelerated transformation programme to strengthen financial resilience.” (Link)
EdAider is now in more than 250 locations across the country. (Link)
Anton Osika, CEO of Lovable, posted on X that a Qconcursos, a Brazilian EdTech, had made “$3M in 48h” with a new Lovable-built app.
Pressbyrån has launched a new digital service to “awaken children's love of reading.” (Link)
The Mercian Trust has agreed to expand its partnership with Skolon by integrating its Skolup AI solution across their schools. (Link)
Tilda’s Behaviour Change Score is the first predictive AI for learning and change initiatives and helps users improve it before launch. (Link)
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