The introduction of ICT in Sweden is performed in the frame of centralistic governing and settlement structure characterized by activities located like islands in sparsely populated areas. Contrasts are evident between sparsely populated areas in the North and densely populated areas in the South. The development towards a more knowledge-intensive society tends to strengthen the role of Stockholm as the dominant Swedish node. In this context the use of ICT is seen as a tool to counteract tendencies towards regional imbalances. This paper focuses on the geographical conditions necessary to the use of ICT in Sweden and the efforts made on local, regional, national and international levels to support the use of ICT. The interplay of actors representing all levels is emphasized. In Sweden the local area authorities play an important role for launching and performing projects.

Le point de départ de cet article est d’étudier le processus de la création du parc scientifique de Gothia. Le but est d’analyser les circonstances qui peuvent expliquer l'établissement de ce type de parc scientifique qui s'est déployé sur une échelle somme toute modeste. Quels sont les facteurs spécifiques qui permettent l’implantation des compagnies au sein du parc scientifique de Gothia ? L'approche intègre des logiques organisationnelles et des critères géographiques tels que l'endroit du parc, l'infrastructure disponible pour les transports et les communications, ou la coopération avec l'université de Skôvde. Au final, on s’intéresse à la manière dont les différents acteurs (par exemple politiciens, hommes d'affaires, universitaires) agissent les uns sur les autres et peuvent contribuer, de ce fait, au développement du parc. En outre, l'attention est portée aux facteurs localisés des compagnies établies au sein parc.

The arrival of the Internet as well as that of cheap long-distance telecommunications mean that many activities that once required physical presence can now be conducted online. On the other hand, at transferring unstructured information which is often the case when work is carried out in the form of a project, proximity seems to be more needed than ever. In Sweden, sparsely populated, new telecomputer techniques are seen as means for regional development. Besides, ICT-use enables the location of functions to Sweden that may serve Scandinavia and the Baltic Region in an European context. Studies presented in this paper have been conducted in Western Sweden, that represents varying prerequisites for location of call centres. Environmental conditions such as infrastructure for transportation and communication and assistance by the state and/or EU are observed. Furthermore, the studies focus on what types of functions that are performed at different locations. This paper contributes to the understanding of what types of works that are performed in call centres located to varying geographical environments and to what extent the location of call centres may be used as a tool for regional development.

This paper concentrates upon how knowledge of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been used in the production of products and services in local authority areas (LAAs) that are seen as being advanced within the sphere of IT and the results for geography that follow. The aim is to increase knowledge about enterprises that are located in LAAs that have invested in the use of ICT in order to develop their industry. A subordinate aim has been to analyse the way in which the enterprises' needs for communication have affected their localisation preferences and the competitiveness of the regions/neighbourhoods. In order to get an understanding of how peripheral regions can develop against the background of changes in the possibilities of processing and transfering information, general questions are asked such as the developments of physical telecommunication networks and who the actors on the telecommunication market are. The studies of the companies were performed 1994/1995 and 2001.

(2003). Changes in the Flows and Means of Information Exchange: Business Uses of ICT in Sweden in the 1990s. Journal of Urban Technology: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 89-110.

This paper focuses on the interplay between the use of information communication technology (ICT), the new organizational structures of transnational corporations (TNCs) and the competitive power of places/regions being integrated into these international production systems. The studies have been carried out by looking at the spatial patterns of communication and the requirements for communication in different corporate functions. The results are based on studies of the use of ICT at ABB HV Switchgear in Ludvika and at the engine plant of Volvo in Skovde. The studies show that work, independent of function, can be performed in places/regions located in the European periphery. But the studies also stress the importance of knowledge-based competence making co-location of production and R&D an essential competitive factor. Flows of information take place between nodes of competence located as islands far from each other. The need for personal contacts emphasizes the importance of investments in infrastructure for transport to enable places to shape different networks. The results further suggest that places are continuously connected into spatial growing webs by the knowledge-seeking tentacles of corporations scanning the world.

manner. In the past two decades, several organization theorists have tried to structure this reservoir of 'everything outside the organization'. They stratified the environment according to levels of specificity, immediacy, and relevance to the organizational phenomenon concerned (cf. Beard and Dess 1988; Castrogiovanni 1991; Starbuck 1976). Moreover, for the sake of comparison, theorists have described the basic character of environmental elements in terms of various theoretical dimensions (cf. Aldrich 1979; Child 1972; Dess and Beard 1984; Mintzberg 1985). Thus, it is argued that environments are both multilevel and multidimensional (Betton and Dess

This article is based on results from a project on the conditions and potential for an integrated natural gas market in the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland). Research has been conducted from economic, historical, geographical and psychological perspectives. The market is young and small but promising, and an integrated Nordic gas network will improve the connections between the four countries and the gas links between Western and Eastern Europe. When the network is integrated the safety, readiness to provide supplies, and competition will grow—to the consumer's advantage. In addition, economic efficiency will improve, if a coordinated investment is made in infrastructure.