Hello World!

HiQ is founded in Stockholm with the mission to broaden the operations with a focus on telecom. The foundation to HiQ was laid already in 1992 with the forming of Stayetten Konsult AB, with the subsidiary Approve AB – back then with simulation technology as the basis for the group’s business.

The internet gains ground on a broad front and Nokia presents its first smartphone. The CEO of HiQ is Ken Gerhardsen.

HiQ now has more than 100 employees. This is also the year when the DVD reaches the market and when the Toyota Prius is launched in Japan as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car.

The Google search engine is launched and the build of the International Space Station, ISS, starts. HiQ establishes subsidiaries in Gothenburg and Oslo, and the name of the parent company is changed to HiQ International AB.

HiQ International is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, and Carl Bildt is elected into the board of HiQ. HiQ signs a new framework agreement with Ericsson, as “preferred ­supplier” of consultancy services. This is also the year when the term “Internet of Things” is launched.

Lars Stugemo assumes his position as new CEO of HiQ. The company grows through the establishment of HiQ East Oy in Finland and through the acquisition of two new subsidiaries, HiQ København in Denmark and HiQ Open in Gothenburg. Computers have now survived the turn of the millennium, and 12 per cent of the people in the world have a mobile phone.

HiQ establishes a new subsidiary in Lund, HiQ Skåne AB, and acquires Softplan Oy in Finland. The same year, Telia merges with Sonera to form TeliaSonera. HiQ also enters the HiQ Sailing Team project, with one of the world’s fastest sailing boats, the famous 60 ft. trimaran.

A quarter of all Swedes use the internet on a daily basis. Skype is founded and the first European satellite, Smart, orbits the moon. HiQ West and HiQ Open are merged into one company: HiQ Gothenburg.

Facebook is born, and in Sweden the flat screen TV is named “Christmas present of the year”. HiQ establishes a new subsidiary, HiQ Karlskrona AB, and during the year, HiQ also acquires the company Computer and Audio-Technical Systems AB.

There are now more than 500 fantastic HiQ’ers working at the company. This is also the year Youtube is launched and the year when Nokia 1110 becomes the world’s best-selling mobile phone. In Sweden, a court hands down the first conviction for file sharing.

Twitter is launched and Christer Fuglesang becomes the first Swede in space. The HiQ trimaran achieves an impressive triumph in December, when the HiQ Sailing Team sails around Gotland in the new record time 17 hours and 39 minutes – with an average speed of 21 knots!

The iPhone is released on the US market and the “Quantified Self” concept is launched. HiQ acquires MobilEyes AB, in Moscow.

More than 60 per cent of the world’s population has a ­mobile phone. Spotify is launched and HiQ acquires both Ace Simulation AB and the Finnish HiQ Quality Services Oy.

HiQ helps the Swedish Tax Agency to develop systems that enable Swedes to receive their tax refunds faster. This is also the year when the term “Big Data” starts to catch on.

HiQ is named “Sweden’s best IT consultancy” for the fourth year in a row, by Veckans Affärer. HiQ also acquires the company Frends Technology Oy in Finland. 2010 also sees the launch of Instagram, and the “Christmas present of the year” is a tablet.

HiQ wins an award for “Best IT Project in Finland” together with the client Kuusakoski. On a global view, the number of internet users in the world has now reached 2 billion.

Getswish launches the mobile payment service Swish, with an IT solution developed by HiQ together with Bankgirot. The same year, Netflix comes to the Nordics and Facebook buys Instagram for 1 billion US dollars.

65 per cent of Swedes now surf on their mobiles. In the US, Google sets up the Calico company, with the aim to find ways to stop the aging process. HiQ signs framework agreements with e.g. the Swedish Enforcement Authority and Volvo Cars, and we are also digital partner to the Swedish rock musician Dregen – a perfect example of HiQ’s range.

HiQ is established in both Norrköping and Örebro. The first Swedes are “chipped” with intravenous chip implants, and the market sees the first big wave of smart watches.

HiQ turns 20, and through successful results we show that we are still a young, hungry, and  result-oriented company. For example, HiQ grows in the public sector, where we sign significant framework agreements during the year, with the central purchasing bodies in both Sweden and Finland – Kammarkollegiet and Hansel.

HiQ continues breaking records in results and number of employees. During the year, we acquire the internationally awarded design agency Great Apes in Helsinki. 2016 is also the year when Pokémon Go gets its breakthrough.

Yet another record year for HiQ, both in terms of results and number of employees. We continue simplifying people’s lives by using technology, design and communication and by doing so contribute to a better and more joyful world. 2017 is also the year when we stop talking about digitalisation and instead talk about technical development, or simply development.

Technology development is moving at a faster pace than ever before, and it will never go this slowly again. The year is marked by strong demand, along with a shaky political climate and a strong focus on climate issues – in which HiQ’s work on using technology to create a simpler, more sustainable and more enjoyable world is becoming increasingly important.

We see a world filled with discussions about Brexit, the U.S., China, trade wars and so on. Technology development continues to thunder ahead at lightning speed. HiQ moves to a new head office at Södermalm in Stockholm. HiQ Sailing Team wins Gotland Runt and sets a new race record!

The whole world suddenly stops in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting all parts of the world. Digitalization moves even faster and working remotely becomes a thing for the vast majority. HiQ is acquired by Triton, Lars Stugemo steps down as CEO and Sven Ivar Mörch picks up the baton, leading HiQ into a new beginning in 2021.