30 Years of Tech

It all began in 1995

The year Java was born, Windows 95 hit the shelves, and the Internet was still something you could literally hear dial up.
Somewhere in the middle of that digital awakening, a small group of engineers and dreamers decided to start something different. Not a product company. Not a bureaucracy. But a place where technology, creativity, and curiosity could come together to solve real problems – and have fun doing it.

They called it HiQ – short for High Quality. And it wasn’t just a name; it was a promise. A promise to always put people first, to aim for solutions that actually worked, and to never lose the spark that makes innovation possible.

Back then, HiQ was 15–20 people with a wild belief that work should be joyful, and that entrepreneurial spirit should beat hierarchy every time. Those early principles still live on today – the idea that we move faster when we trust people, laugh often, and care deeply about what we build.

From flight decks to fintech

Our first big break came in aviation – helping build and evolve the flight simulators for Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet. It was a project that demanded precision, collaboration, and nerves of steel. And it became a defining moment for HiQ: proving that a small, agile team could take on mission-critical technology at the highest level.

From there, the scope just kept growing. Telecom, finance, mobility, industry, entertainment, public sector – wherever technology could make life smarter or simpler, HiQ found a way in.

Over time, we helped modernize the systems behind Sweden’s entire payment infrastructure, partnered in the creation of Swish – which turned into a national verb – and helped bring digital banking, transport, and energy into the 21st century.

Joy, dogs, and a bit of rock’n’roll

HiQ’s story has never been a straight corporate line. It’s full of quirks, creativity, and a refusal to take ourselves too seriously.

Take Bengan the dog, for instance – the elegant Saluki who starred in our 2000 annual report. Instead of publishing dry financials, HiQ made a comic book. Because why not? Bengan became a symbol of speed, playfulness, and the courage to do things differently – qualities that still define us.

A few years later, we teamed up with rock guitarist Dregen from The Hellacopters to bring his rebellious energy online. One week, building mission-critical systems for banks. The next, translating rock’n’roll attitude into digital design. That mix of seriousness and playfulness became part of HiQ’s DNA – a reminder that creativity fuels technology.

And yes, we’ve taken that energy offshore too. Literally. In 2019, the HiQ Sailing Team smashed the monohull record in the legendary Gotland Runt race – proving once again that teamwork, precision, and a bit of joy can break boundaries, whether in code or on open water.

Building Europe’s Headquarters of Tech

HiQ has always grown by curiosity, not by chance. When new opportunities opened up, we leaned in.

In Finland, our story goes back even further – through Softplan Oy, which later became HiQ Finland. For more than three decades, we’ve helped shape digital experiences for millions of Finns, including the iconic online games for Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gaming company.

Fast-forward to today, and Finland continues to be a powerhouse in digital commerce and public sector transformation – boosted by our acquisitions of Lamia and Ambientia’s public business unit, expanding HiQ’s ability to modernize everything from e-commerce platforms to city portals.

In Germany, the journey took a leap in 2021, when Scandio and anarcon joined the HiQ family. Together, they brought deep expertise in agile methods, Atlassian solutions, and cloud engineering – helping teams all over Europe collaborate smarter and scale faster.

By 2025, Scandio officially became HiQ Germany – marking a milestone in our transformation from Nordic tech leader to a European Tech Champion.

A brand built on code and creativity

In 2024, HiQ launched a new brand platform – summed up in one phrase: Headquarters of Tech. It’s not about buildings or hierarchies, but a mindset – that every HiQ office and every team can be a headquarters for innovation, energy, and action.

The new visual identity brought this to life through the curly brackets { } – a nod to our software roots and a symbol of how we connect people, creativity, and technology. In code, brackets hold things together; in design, they now do the same for our brand.

Because for us, Headquarters of Tech isn’t a slogan. It’s who we are – and how we work.

Staying true to the core

Through all the change, some things have stayed constant.

HiQ has always been about people – their passion, skill, and energy. Our culture isn’t a poster on the wall; it’s a living thing built on four simple values: Results, Responsibility, Joy, and Simplicity.

They guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we show up for our clients. Whether we’re building a new financial infrastructure for Bankgirot, designing an AI-driven service, or helping teams scale with Atlassian, we keep the same focus: create real value, take ownership, make it simple, and enjoy the ride.

Looking ahead

Today, HiQ is home to about 1,500 experts across Sweden, Finland, and Germany. We design, build, and operate tech that powers some of society’s most vital systems – and some of its most joyful experiences.

We’ve seen tech trends come and go, but one truth has held for three decades: it’s not about the tools. It’s about the people who use them – and the purpose they serve.

So here’s to the next 30 years of tech.
To every bold idea, late-night brainstorm, and line of code written with care.
To the clients who trust us, and to every HiQer who keeps the spirit alive.

High Quality was the name we chose in 1995.
Thirty years later, it’s still the best description of what we strive to do – in every project, every relationship, and every day.

Here’s to what’s next!