ICT Industry Guide
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry Snapshot
Information and communications technologies represent some of the fastest-growing business sectors with their cutting-edge advances. Sweden is well-placed to do business in the industry, with the highest percentage of ICT-specialists of any of the advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The United States is the leading innovator in the industry, responsible for a third of all ICT-related patents filed and over 70% of global software research and development. In 2011, Sweden’s friendly and productive environment for information technology made it the choice for Facebook’s first data center outside of the United States. As companies in these sectors see steady growth with the continued expansion of the internet subscriptions, computers and cell phone use, and ITC infrastructure, the U.S. and Sweden, as leading ITC economies, will continue to be critical markets for companies in these industries.
Quick Facts about ICT
- Information and communications technology industries in the U.S. jumped by 16.3 percent in 2010.
- The World Economic Forum listed Sweden at the top of its rankings of 138 economies in its 2010-2011 Global Information Technology Report, based on its preparedness to use information technology.
- The US ranked 1st and Sweden 4th on the Business Software Alliance’s 2011 IT industry competitiveness index, a measure of their ability to support a strong IT production sector.
- Sweden ranks 3rd in the world for mobile-broadband subscriptions, among the top 10 for fixed broadband, and among the top 5 for internet users by population.
- The U.S. software and IT industry was worth $551 billion dollars last year; $34.8 billion was spend on research.
Sources: BEA, OECD, World Economic Forum, International Telecommunication Union, Business Software Alliance
Information and Communications Technology Survival Guide
Insightful analysis, current business news, and industry events will keep you informed about the Informant and Communications Technology industry. The resources below include ITC trade associations, government programs, and industry magazines to give you timely and relevant business information.
http://www.tiaonline.org/market_intelligence/links/index.cfm – Directory of ICT industry publication in the United States. The Telecommunications Industry Association also offers research and resources for information and telecommunications businesses.
http://web.ita.doc.gov/ITI/itiHome.nsf/MrkRes?OpenForm – The International Trade Administration’s Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce (OTEC) provides market research and listings of industry publications and trade organizations. Also provides export assistance and guidance for U.S. based businesses going international.
http://www.investsweden.se/world/Doing-business/Fact-sheets/ - Contains business cost statistics and information on taxes and regulation for the industry.
http://www.access-ict.com/site/ – Acess ICT links European ICT start-ups with venture capital investment.
http://www.cio.com/ – Magazine for ICT industry professionals. Contains information on current events as well as how-to tips for operating in the world if ICT
http://www.info-techs.com/
