FUTURESHAPING TECHNOLOGY
Real-world impact powered by innovation
Ideas in transformative technology are co-developed, tested and scaled here.
Why kista?
Areas of innovation
- Semiconductors and power electronics
- Defence technology
- Wireless and telecommunications
- Cybersecurity
- Nanotechnology
- Artificial intelligence and data science
- Space technology
Hundreds of tech companies
testbeds and labs
tech talents from 90+ countries
top research institutes
universities
A vibrant district
- 8,000 new homes
- Green spaces
- Services
- Restaurants
- Gyms
Kista’s journey
A legacy of disruptive innovation
1000
The Kista Rune Stone
Long before coding and programming languages, messages were carved in stone. The Kista Rune Stone still stands today.
1717
Kista Farm
The main building of Kista Farm is completed, giving the area its name.
1942
A military training area
The military in Stockholm needs to expand its training areas. Kista becomes one of the chosen locations.
1975
A million homes
Kista is part of Sweden’s Million Programme – a major public housing project aimed to provide affordable housing for all Swedes.
1976
First offices
Ericsson set up its first offices in Kista through subsidiaries SRA and Rifa. Everyday life for employees was far from glamorous – balancing on muddy construction sites just to get to work. It was a rough start, but the first step in turning Kista into a leading tech hub.
1977
Royal visit
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia inaugurate Sweden’s largest indoor shopping centre in Kista.
1977
Metro to Kista
The Stockholm subway reaches Kista.
1978
IBM arrives
“The Big Blue” opens its iconic brick building in the pine forest.
1981
Mobile tech goes global
Kista became the birthplace of mobile technology. The world’s first commercial mobile phone system was launched with solutions developed here – putting Sweden at the forefront of a global revolution.
1986
Electrum Foundation
Local business, academia and the public sector came together to create the Electrum Foundation. Their mission was simple: to make Kista a world-leading centre for electronics research.
1987
The Electrum House
A new building unites research, education and business under one roof.
1990’s
From innovation to global impact
Through the 1990s, Kista played a central role in Europe’s digital transformation. From early mobile systems to GSM, the area became synonymous with innovations that shaped how people connect and communicate worldwide.
1991
Ericsson launches GSM
The first digital mobile system in Europe is developed in Kista.
1999
Kista Science City
Kista Science City is founded to make the area a world leader in ICT, based on collaboration between business, academia, and the public sector.
2001
IT University
KTH and Stockholm University open a joint IT university in Kista.
2002
Kista Science Tower
Kista gets the Nordics’ tallest office tower.
2009
Kista Galleria
Seven years after becoming Kista Galleria, the mall is expanding to 59,000 m² with shops, restaurants and cinema.
2011
Victoria Tower
At 117.6 m, the new skyscraper becomes the tallest hotel in Northern Europe.
2018
Self-driving buses
The testing of Sweden’s first self-driving buses in regular traffic takes place in Kista.
Today
A vibrant neighbourhood
Kista is developing with thousands of new homes, a school, green spaces, restaurants and meeting places.
Kista insights
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