Small Country, Big Trust

St. Patrick’s Day offers a moment to celebrate Ireland’s heritage and to reflect on the relationships that carry Irish ambition far beyond our shores. In the Nordics, that reflection feels especially fitting. Among societies that prize openness and long term thinking, Ireland has found partners who recognise a familiar mindset. Small Country, Big Trust captures the essence of this connection.

Ireland may be a small country, with a population of 5.48 million people as of 2026, but its global footprint continues to grow. By contrast, the five Nordic countries together represent a regional population of roughly 27 million people across Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. This scale difference reinforces the idea at the heart of this article: a compact nation building deep, strategic relationships with a region five times its size.

Over the past decade, Irish exporters have moved from visitors to trusted contributors across the region. Exports to the Nordics grew by 24% in 2024, reaching €2.1bn. Behind this figure lies something more interesting, a small country building big relationships on a foundation of trust. The Irish community, estimated at 7,750 people across the Nordics, plays an important role in strengthening cultural and business ties. This connection is visible each March: Stockholm hosts one of the region’s established St. Patrick’s Day parades, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland client companies such as Silverback, Kirby Group and Collen Construction, while Gothenburg held its first parade in 2025.
 

A Shared Commitment to the Twin Transition

Ireland and the Nordics share an instinctive way of doing business, but more importantly, they share a strategic direction. Both are actively embracing the “twin transition” the simultaneous shift towards digital transformation and net zero.

For Nordic partners, this transition is inseparable from sustainability reporting and ESG requirements, which form a core part of public and private procurement. Irish companies increasingly recognise this and are aligning with these expectations. By embedding robust ESG practices, transparent sustainability reporting, and low carbon innovation into their operations, Irish firms are not only meeting Nordic standards, they are positioning themselves as trusted partners in the transition.

Whether integrating decarbonisation into high tech construction or placing digital transformation at the centre of enterprise services, Irish companies are helping Nordic organisations deliver on ambitious climate, compliance, and efficiency targets. It is no coincidence that Nordic decision makers increasingly look to Ireland for partners who combine agility, reliability, and a more developed approach to sustainability.

Trust Built Over Time

Trust is not built in a quarter or a single contract. It grows through delivery, transparency, and shared problem solving. Ireland and the Nordic region’s relationship have reached a point where this accumulated trust is clearly visible.

Across the region, Irish companies are taking on more complex, mission critical roles, often as long term partners rather than one off suppliers. A clear illustration of this shift is the growth of Irish high tech construction firms in Sweden. Kirby Group Engineering, for example, began with a single project in Västerås in 2017 and has since evolved into a critical collaboration, delivering multiple data centre builds nationwide and employing more than 700 people. Alongside Kirby, other leading Irish engineering and construction specialists are establishing a strong presence in Sweden, contributing to the country’s position as Europe’s fastest growing data centre market and reinforcing Ireland’s reputation in high value infrastructure delivery.

More Irish management teams are choosing to base senior leaders not only in Nordic capitals but also in regional hubs, particularly in Northern Sweden, where many Irish firms have established project leadership and operations. This reflects a long term commitment to the regions driving Sweden’s industrial transformation. It is a pattern repeated across sectors: Irish firms moving from initial entry to market leadership, sharing expertise with local partners to strengthen the wider ecosystem rather than simply supplying into it. This regional footprint underscores Ireland’s sustained investment in Sweden, the sixth largest export market for Enterprise Ireland.
 

Stepping Up Innovation Together

Irish companies often face a range of challenges when entering or expanding in a new market, from navigating complex regulatory environments to adapting to consensus driven decision making cultures and managing talent and retention. While sectors and technologies evolve, the core opportunity remains constant: Irish companies working closely with Nordic countries to shape a more sustainable, resilient future.

By stepping up to these challenges, Irish firms are bringing fresh perspectives and deep sector expertise to sophisticated Nordic buyers. In practical terms, this means growth on both sides. Irish companies are winning large strategic contracts across areas such as energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and next generation infrastructure. Nordic partners gain access to solutions that can be deployed quickly and scaled internationally. As new technologies emerge, from AI to data infrastructure, the scope for collaboration continues to widen.

Origina is one example of this momentum. The Dublin based company is expanding globally with 350 new high value roles, supported by Enterprise Ireland, and has launched an AI powered predictive security product that helps organisations stay ahead of vulnerabilities. This demonstrates how Irish innovation can deliver fast, scalable, resilience focused solutions that align closely with Nordic digital needs.

Enterprise Ireland Nordics is also amplifying collaboration through major regional events such as Tech Arena 2026, where 12 Irish companies, including Origina, Tines, and Cytidel, showcased their innovative solutions to Scandinavia’s largest gathering of tech leaders. At Slush 2025, a 20 strong Irish delegation leveraged Europe’s top VC forum to deepen partnerships in one of Ireland’s fastest growing export markets.

A St. Patrick’s Day Perspective

St. Patrick’s Day has always been a moment when Ireland looks outward as well as inward. Around the world, buildings light up in green and the Irish diaspora gather to celebrate Irish culture. In the Nordics, it has increasingly become a day to recognise something more: the steady, confident presence of Irish companies helping to deliver shared goals.

This year, as we mark our national day, we also mark the strength of our partnerships across the Nordics. Enterprise Ireland celebrates the Irish companies and diaspora who have built careers and lives in the region, and the Nordic decision makers who have backed Irish innovation. Our mission, creating high value jobs and international growth is achieved only through great collaboration.

Looking Ahead

The opportunities ahead are significant. The 560 Irish companies active across the region are ready to play their part. Nordic partners are ready to collaborate. Enterprise Ireland will continue to support, connect, and champion Irish innovation as this relationship grows.

Small country, big trust. That is Ireland’s story in the Nordics this St. Patrick’s Day.

Author – Callum O’Dwyer, Market Executive