From One-Person Company to the Statistics Partner of the Future – APNC Sweden Grows Through Quality and AI

From a One-Person Company to a Growing Specialist Firm

APNC Sweden helps researchers and companies transform complex data into reliable results and well-informed decisions. The company provides specialist expertise in biostatistics, bioinformatics, predictive modelling, machine learning and training, serving both academic research and the life science industry.

In 2024, APNC grew from one to seven employees in just six months, based at GoCo Health Innovation City in Mölndal. The following year, the company opened an office at Medicon Village in Lund. At the same time, its customer base has evolved, with an increasing proportion of assignments now coming from pharmaceutical and MedTech companies.

– It is fantastic to see how APNC has developed in such a short time. When I founded the company, I wanted to combine a high level of statistical expertise with close, flexible and long-term collaboration with our customers. That ambition remains unchanged today. Our growth is built on our customers' trust and our success in bringing together talented employees who share our passion for quality and problem-solving, says Aldina Pivodic, founder of APNC Sweden.

The Structure of a Large Company – Within a Small Business

Rather than waiting until the organisation has grown large, APNC has already established functions for HR, finance, data protection and quality assurance, supported by both employees and external specialists. This is a deliberate investment to meet customers' increasing requirements.

– Our customers should be able to expect the same high quality regardless of the assignment or who they work with at APNC. That is why we invested early in clear processes and the right support functions. This allows us to grow without losing the flexibility, accessibility and personal contact that characterise APNC, says Aldina Pivodic.

Quality and Information Security Lay the Foundation for the Future

The need for structure is particularly evident when working with the life science industry, where requirements for documentation, traceability and secure information management are high. This responsibility lies with Annika Wennersten, QA & Operational Support Manager, who has more than 25 years of experience in the MedTech and pharmaceutical industries. She has established the company's Quality Management System (QMS), with standardised working procedures known as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These cover areas including project planning, programming, statistical analysis, data management and regulatory processes.

The next milestone is certification to ISO 27001, the international standard for information security management systems. Preparations, including risk assessments, access controls, secure data transfer, incident management, internal audits and employee training, are in their final stages. The aim is to complete certification in early 2027.

– For us, ISO 27001 is primarily about trust. Our customers should feel confident that we handle their information securely, systematically and responsibly, says Annika Wennersten. But information security cannot be managed by a specialist function alone. It needs to be a natural part of how the entire organisation works.

In-House AI Development Builds on Statistical Expertise

Information security is also a prerequisite for the company's next initiative. APNC is developing and running its own AI models on its own NVIDIA-based infrastructure, aiming to create specialised solutions for statistics and life science. Because the models run internally, sensitive research data never needs to leave the company's controlled environment, and requirements for data protection, access control, risk management and validation are incorporated from the outset.

In the short term, the focus is on streamlining internal workflows and freeing up time for more advanced analysis and problem-solving.

– AI gives us new opportunities to work both smarter and more efficiently. But the real value emerges when the technology is combined with a deep understanding of statistical methods and our customers' research questions. Our goal is to use AI to solve complex problems faster, while ensuring that the results are reviewed and quality-assured by our experts. AI should enhance human expertise, not replace it, says Konstantinos Konstantinou, Statistician and Head of AI Development at APNC.

In the longer term, the technology could also lay the foundation for proprietary products and new customer offerings.

– We see great potential in combining our deep expertise in statistics and life science with the opportunities offered by AI. For us, it is not about developing technology for its own sake, but about creating solutions that deliver real value. Today, we are focusing on tools that strengthen our own work, but in the longer term, we see opportunities to develop our own products. That would represent an exciting new step, complementing our consultancy services with scalable technological solutions, says Aldina Pivodic.

The Next Chapter – From Specialist Expertise to New Opportunities

A quality management system, forthcoming ISO certification and proprietary AI infrastructure – APNC has changed considerably in a short time. Yet the goal remains the same as when Aldina Pivodic founded the company: to be a close and flexible partner, now with the capacity to take on larger and more complex assignments.

– We have come a long way in a short time, but I see this as the beginning of the next chapter. We want to continue attracting talented people, developing our expertise and creating solutions that make a real difference for our customers. Our strength lies in the combination of scientific expertise, quality and curiosity. We are now building on that foundation with new technology and new opportunities. What drives me is that we continually dare to think differently, develop and take on new challenges – without compromising the quality and commitment that have brought us this far.