40 years of innovation – stories from Linköping Science Park
Ulf Stern, Co-founder of IFS (Industrial and Financial Systems), has a professional journey rooted in Linköping Science Park. Stern, along with co-founder Bengt Nilsson, conceived the idea for the company while pursuing their engineering degrees in Linköping, with the operation initially launching from the student corridor at Ryds allé 11.
The company officially began as a full-fledged IT entity in 1983. Their early professional work, however, involved a group called the “Fixer Group” providing essential services, such as scaffolding and equipment setup, during nuclear power plant overhauls, particularly after the Three Mile Island incident around 1979-1980. This demanding work, which required proximity and a strong customer focus, established core values that continue to define the company.
The defining moment came when colleague Johan Linder introduced them to relational database technology and the American company Oracle, shifting their focus from industrial maintenance toward computer power and software development. The founders aimed to build a company outside the structures of major corporations like Saab and Ericsson. Their success against global competitors like SAP hinged on prioritizing simplicity and user-friendliness in their software design.
IFS built a culture based on unwavering customer commitment and adaptability. Ulf Stern notes that this dedication goes beyond simple marketing claims:
“Today there’s not a company that doesn’t say they’re customer-focused. But what we mean by providing service is having so much focus on customers that you drop absolutely everything you’re doing if that’s what it takes to help them.”
IFS, which now employs over 6,000 people and operates globally, maintains its headquarters in Linköping. The development environment in Mjärdevi supported their growth by offering active skills exchange and establishing a profile as a center for high-tech innovation. This willingness to embrace different decisions and unite varied ideas across the organization has ensured the company’s continuous growth since the dawn of the IT age.
This text is part of the article series based on Linköping Science Park’s 40-year book, which is available here
