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The roots of Sweden's computing era trace back to the 1930s, amidst rising militarism in Europe. In 1937, Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson established Svenska Aeroplan AktieBolaget (Saab) to ensure Sweden's self-sufficiency in weapons production, particularly in aircraft. During World War II, while Sweden maintained neutrality, Saab thrived, producing military aircraft like the Svenska B-17 dive bomber and later, jet-powered aircraft in the 1950s, such as the Saab 29.
The post-war period saw an interest in electronics, particularly after the declassification of the ENIAC in 1946. The Swedish government recognized the potential benefits of computers for both military and civilian applications, prompting the establishment of the Swedish Board for Computing in 1947.