The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY), formerly the Swedish Data Protection Authority, has commissioned HiQ to develop its new website www.imy.se. The focus is to make it easier for users to find the right information and to make the content accessible to everyone. "It is exciting for HiQ to assist the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection with their new imy.se website. We have been a strong partner for digitisation in the public sector and I am very proud to be deploying our expertise more widely. Go HiQ!," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

With increasing digitization, there are higher demands on public authorities to have clear information on their websites, making them accessible to everyone and easy to use. The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY), formerly the Swedish Data Protection Authority, has selected HiQ to develop their new website www.imy.se, with the goals to make it easier for users to use and to perform errands on their own.

The work started by identifying three different groups of user needs:

1. People who need guidance and help obtaining simple and clear information on a variety of topics; for example, whether they are allowed to install a surveillance camera on their property.
2. People who have a task to carry out, such as applying for various permits.
3. People who want to know what IMY does; for example, by accessing publications, news and information about the role and mission of the authority.
   
   An impact mapping process was undertaken in order identify priorities for the new website. The result was clear and proactive information on the website so that visitors can find the information they need.
   Three clear objectives were set:
   
4. The web as the main channel.
5. Increased awareness of privacy protection.
6. Clarity on what IMY can do to help.

– This project has taught us a lot about how important it is for IMY to have a secure and accessible website that complies with GDPR. We have also worked with IMY to ensure that no unnecessary cookies are used on the website. The project with IMY has been an incredibly instructive one, says Marie Gustafsson, Project and Administration Manager at HiQ.

The outcome of the project enabled HiQ to provide IMY with the tools to turn complicated content into more accessible material using checklists, digital guides and graphics to show how a process at IMY works. The project also enlisted the help of Begripsam, a Swedish association which promotes accessibility for everyone, to user-test the cognitive accessibility of the website. Some of the reactions identified in the test group were that the colours were pleasant and gave a calm impression, that it was nice not to have so many visual effects and that it was simple.

– Working with HiQ to develop our new imy.se website has been an exciting process. It is a good feeling to have an accessible and tailored website up and running where we can continue to develop our content and provide guidance both to individuals and to businesses. HiQ is an excellent partner to us and we are proud of the new imy.se website, says Anna Hjelm, Web Manager at IMY.

HiQ wins framework agreement with the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education (MYH). The procurement refers to consulting support regarding system development, architecture, and change management. "So great for HiQ to win this framework agreement, areas in which we are incredibly strong. Contributing with this kind of competence is the core of what we want to do, and the public sector is an important area for us," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education’s (MYH) IT unit works with system development regarding the internal, self-developed business and case management system, websites, and e-services. MYH has two offices in Sweden, one in Västerås and one in Hässleholm. The procurement refers to consulting support regarding system development, architecture, and change management, primarily regarding business and case management systems, websites, and My Pages, but also for general needs. Additionally, the IT unit is responsible for the operation, management, support, and development of the IT environment. HiQ now wins the framework agreement.

“After a lot of hard work from our team with the tender, it feels incredibly good to win the framework agreement. We have solid experience in system development, architecture, and change management, so it’s great that we get to be part of the journey with MYH and to help them develop,” says Åza Solomon, Client Responsible at HiQ.

The framework agreement covers a period of two years with the possibility of two extensions of one year each.

About MYH:
Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education’s (MYH’s) main area of responsibility includes Higher Vocational Education in Sweden (HVE) and the key function is to ensure that the HVE programmes meet the labor market’s needs for qualified workforce. MYH analyzes the labor market, decides which programmes qualify to be offered as HVE, allocate government grants, conduct reviews, produce statistics, and promote quality improvement in HVE. Additionally, other areas of responsibility include two types of post-secondary educations: arts and culture courses and interpretation courses and programmes.

BatteryLoop, a company which gives electric car batteries a second life as energy storage systems, launched an energy storage system in the spring of 2021 which makes it possible, among other things, to build charging infrastructure in places where the electricity grid suffers power shortages. In collaboration with HiQ, BatteryLoop is now developing a digital platform that makes it possible to maximize power in the charging infrastructure. The digital platform enables an estimate as to how long a battery has left to live, thus its economic value in a circular business model. "It is fantastic that our team is joining BatteryLoop on this journey. Circular business models and sustainability are important to us at HiQ, and it really shows with this project. There is an incredible amount to do to streamline the use of energy in society and this solution is an important contribution to that process," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

In recent years, electric cars have increased in popularity. Calculations made by the electricity industry’s interest group, Power Circle, show that there will be 2.5 million rechargeable vehicles in Sweden by 2030. In line with this development, the need to manage used batteries will increase. BatteryLoop is a Swedish company which gives electric car batteries a second life as energy storage systems. These energy storage systems are suitable for use in properties, logistics centers or harbors – places where we know that many electric vehicles will share the electricity grid in the near future. The idea around BatteryLoop came about in 2017 with the aim of finding a business model for reusing used batteries – when an electric vehicle is at the end of its life cycle, the battery still has a large degree of its capacity left. Even if the battery can no longer power a car, it is often possible to use it in an energy storage system and thus extend its life by many years.

But BatteryLoop’s solutions are not only about the energy storage system itself, which is a very technically advanced solution, but also about developing and offering software solutions that contribute to better energy efficiency and savings for customers. One example of this is the digital platform that BatteryLoop is developing together with HiQ, which enables the charging infrastructure to deliver more power. The digital platform enables operational monitoring of the energy storage system and makes structured data available for use in determining battery life. The data that HiQ and BatteryLoop gather can be used together with AI to estimate how long a battery has left to live, and thus its economic value in a circular business model.

By combining energy storage with a digital solution such as this one, a property owner can make both financial and environmental gains. For example, in an office building with charging points and an energy storage system, electricity supply costs can be reduced for the property, and the solution enables greater revenues from charging infrastructure and support services for the electricity grid. At the same time, climate-related emissions are also reduced through the increased electrification of vehicles and through the more efficient extraction of energy from the electric grid.

“We are just at the beginning of electrification in society. The charging infrastructure will need to be expanded and this will place tough demands on electricity grids. Having an energy storage system and smart digital solutions can be the key for companies that want a secure system for customers, employees, drivers and others who want to be able to charge safely and smoothly without interruptions or long waiting times. What we are now creating together with HiQ is an important piece of the puzzle in the development of electrification for our customers,” says Rasmus Bergström, CEO of BatteryLoop.

About BatteryLoop:
www.batteryloop.com

Examples of economic and environmental benefits:
In an office property of 8,500 m2 with 55 charging stations and a 300 kWh energy storage system, the electricity supply costs for the property are reduced and the solution enables increased revenues from charging infrastructure and support services for the electricity grid. At the same time, climate-related emissions are reduced by about 40 tons of CO2 per year through the increased electrification of vehicles and the more efficient extraction of energy from the electricity grid.

HiQ wins the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) procurement of a web agency for digital communication services. "It's great that HiQ wins UKÄ's procurement. This shows HiQ's breadth and expertise in various segments and that we are a strong partner as a web agency in government operations. Fantastic team effort from the team who worked on this," says Sven Ivar Mørch, CEO of HiQ.

UKÄ is an independent government agency in the higher education area, located in Stockholm. It is responsible for quality assurance, efficiency review, follow-up, supervision and developing management in the higher education sector. The vision is for the organization to contribute to strengthening Sweden as a knowledge society.

UKÄ needs a strategic and innovative partner who works proactively with the development of their digital communication and who can deliver digital services with the highest quality and accessibility in close collaboration. They want a modern and creative web agency with good experience in working with government operations and that puts UKÄ’s needs first. The website and digital services must comply with the law on accessibility to digital public service.

The procurement includes production, management and development of UKÄ’s existing website with associated technical solutions as well as digital communication for the web and other digital communication. The procurement also includes the analysis and accessibility services used on the website (eg Google Analytics, Solr and Readspeaker). The assignment also pertains to overall advice, support and guidance as well as the possible development of new digital services.

“We are building the Nordic region’s best web agency and I would like to extend a warm welcome to UKÄ. Web, innovation and digital services for the public sector with high demands on accessibility are areas we at HiQ are incredibly strong in, and that is growing,” says Linda Woxneborn, Head of Design, Innovation & Communication at HiQ.

The framework agreement applies from the time of signing the agreement and for two years with the possibility for UKÄ to extend the framework agreement by one + one year, for a maximum of up to four years.