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Young talent program

An investment in the AI experts of the future – Experiences and lessons learned

The Young Talent program was an initiative by AI Sweden that, between 2021 and 2025, offered recent high school graduates a unique introduction to the world of artificial intelligence. The program aimed to identify and provide an initial boost to young talents with a strong interest in AI, through a combination of education and practical experience at AI Sweden and partner organizations.

Sofia Nguyen and Joakim Eriksson working on computers inside a ship

Young talent Sofia Nguyen and former young talent Joakim Eriksson from AI Sweden worked on a project exploring how edge models provide researchers with new insights into marine ecosystems

Program structure

During the autumn, participants underwent an intensive training period at AI Sweden, where they gained foundational knowledge and skills in various AI fields such as deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. The training was combined with opportunities to participate in AI Sweden's research and development projects and receive further guidance from AI experts within the organization.

The spring provided participants with the chance to apply their newly acquired knowledge in practice by spending time at one of AI Sweden's partner organizations. This gave them valuable insight into how AI is used in real-world industrial contexts and the opportunity to contribute to concrete projects.

Background and development

The program was launched in August 2021 with an initial cohort of talents from ABB-gymnasiet's advanced technical program in smart systems and AI. The following year, the program was broadened to include applicants from all over Sweden, reflecting the ambition to nationally identify and support young AI talents.

Over the years, the Young Talent program has engaged nearly 50 driven young individuals and fostered valuable collaborations with partners such as Combitech, Zenseact, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Lessons learned and insights

Over the years, the Young Talent program has generated several important lessons and insights into how to best engage and develop young talents in the field of AI. Some of our key conclusions are:

Young talents take responsibility and deliver.

By giving recent high school graduates trust and responsibility in challenging projects, we have seen how quickly they can grow and deliver concrete results. Their commitment and willingness to learn drive them to take ownership of their tasks.

Youthful enthusiasm and new perspectives enrich AI development.

The participants in the Young Talent program have contributed a unique combination of youthfulness, curiosity, and a different perspective on AI challenges. Their approaches have often led to innovative solutions and enriched the teams they have worked in.

AI competence can be developed quickly without long university education.

The program has shown that a deep understanding and ability to develop AI solutions does not necessarily require several years of university studies. With the right introduction, intensive training, and practical application, young individuals can quickly build impressive competence.

Testimonials from former participants and partners underscore the program's positive impact on both individuals and organizations.

The participants in the Young Talent program are incredibly competent. If I didn’t know about their background I would have guessed that they had a Master’s degree. They have brought a lot of value to the whole team.

Johnny Kemi

Engineering Manager at Zenseact

They have performed well above expectations and have shown a high level of interest in understanding the challenge at hand. The work they have performed has been of high value for Zenseact, as it helps us streamline our evaluation and feature improvement process.

Staffan Wranne

Software Developer at Zenseact

A group of Young talents in the Infrastructure edge lab at AI Sweden in Gothenburg.

The cohort of 2023/2024

Sofia Nguyen

The experience of working on real projects in the Young Talent program has deepened my understanding of AI and taught me things I didn't learn in school. At the same time, the program has also given me new and valuable contacts.

Sofia Nguyen

Sofia Nguyen

Young Talent 23/24

My idea for the program was to learn about AI, get lots of helpful contacts, secure internship opportunities and lay a strong foundation for my future career. I am happy to say that all of these goals have been achieved!

Minna Leijonhufvud

Young Talent 22/23

Joakim Eriksson

Besides the knowledge I have gained in for example object detection and language models, the Young Talent program has given me the opportunity to meet companies, work with extremely competent people, and explore an industry in which I will most likely work in the future.

Joakim Eriksson

Joakim Eriksson

Young Talent 21/22

Conclusion of the Program

The last cohort (September 2024 to May 2025) was the final in its current form. The program may continue at a later time, and the experiences and insights gathered will inform AI Sweden's ongoing work in AI talent development.

For more information, contact:

Sofia Hedén
Sofia Hedén
Head of Talent Programs
+46 (0)72-174 91 00

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