Before his literary debut, Mats Berggren worked at Scania for seven years as a metalworker. Full-time writer since 1987. Debut work Orent ackord (Impure Chord) published 1987, since when Mats Berggren has written more than ten books.

His works for young people focus on issues relevant to that age group, such as love, friendship and deceit. Adult works portray contemporary Sweden. Best-known works for young people include Kalsonger med gröna älgar (Underpants with Green Moose, 1991), Blåögd (Blue Eyed, 1999) and Sent ute (Late Out, 2001, written jointly with Bawer Coskun).

For many years, literary critic and author of major literary surveys for Aftonbladet, a Swedish tabloid newspaper, and for Barn & Kultur , a specialist journal on children's books. Has read most of the youth fiction published over the past fifteen years. Runs writing workshops for young people and adults. Member of the Swedish Academy of Children's Books. Past member of the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs' working group on support for children's and youth fiction and comics.

1999 awarded a scholarship for literature by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) in recognition of the importance of active cultural workers and their activities.