Digital technologies as a driver of infrastructure modernization and innovative progress in the context of sustainable development goal 9.

Abstract

The integration of digital technologies into national policies in developed countries supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) by fostering innovation and infrastructure development. This study aims to analyze how digital technologies contribute to SDG 9 through the experience of Scandinavian countries. The methodology combines mixed design and multi-criteria analysis of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) from 2017 to 2024 to compare digitalization policies, institutional frameworks, and outcomes. Structural content analysis of EU digital strategies was conducted, focusing on budget priorities and areas such as information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure, digital skills, artificial intelligence, open data, and cloud technologies. The findings reveal that Finland, Sweden, and Denmark demonstrate significant progress in digital public services, basic digital skills, and ICT workforce development. However, challenges remain in AI implementation and small and medium enterprise (SME) digitalization. Denmark leads in DESI performance, Sweden in innovation, and Finland in accessibility, highlighting the need for context-specific digital strategies.