Events

What can be done to shift Nordic diets to become healthier and more sustainable? What policies can enable behaviour change among Nordic citizens to adopt better diets? Join us in this Nordic workshop for discussions and insights about measures that can facilitate change in people’s behaviour, as well as structural factors affecting the implementation of sustainable and healthy dietary guidelines. The purpose of this workshop is to provide insights on and discuss measures that can stimulate behavioral change among consumers when it comes to food choices and dietary habits, as well as contribute to implementation of the upcoming Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR2022). Registration is now open. When registering, please indicate whether you will attend physically in Stockholm or online. Register here!

How to use models to make informed policy decisions: Tracking progress towards Fit for 55 and REPowerEU   The goal of the workshop series is to facilitate exchange on the current challenges in relation to the use of modelling tools in each stage of the policy cycle, design, planning and evaluation.  This second policy workshop focuses on the monitoring interface from the perspective of policy makers and modellers. It discusses how such interface could be improved in the future.  Using the new EU Energy Directive as a framing policy, the examples presented and discussed in the workshop will illustrate how counterfactual analyses can support decision making processes on energy taxation and subsidies. The presentations will also shed light on the challenges of multilevel governance structures involving local, national and EU levels, often with disconnected goals and challenges.  The framing policy questions are as follows:   How to use models to make informed policy decisions (decide on what to do and how to do it at various levels)?  How to use models to evaluate policy decisions (monitoring and evaluation)?  Agenda 13:00  Welcoming words from the Integrating Climate into Macroeconomic Modelling (ICMM) Project  13:05     Using models to make informed policy decisions: Overarching comments drawing on Finland’s national climate policy    Magnus Cederlöf (Senior advisor at the Ministry of Environment in Finland; member of the Nordic Working Group on Environment and Economy) 13:20  Trade-off between assessing policy compliance vs providing insights to policy makers:    Case study1: Saving energy or saving effort? Decomposing effect of an energy savings policy  Case study 2: How time affects the quality of new model results and the value of new model results to policy makers differently  Kristoffer Steen Andersen (Danish Energy Agency) 13:50   Short break   13:55   Open Debate   14:25   Wrapping up and practical information  14:30   Meet the expert session  …

A systems approach to green innovation: the case of wood construction Green innovations contribute to implementing the so-called ‘green agenda’ or ‘green transition’. On a broader scale, they are meant to address issues emerging from environmental crisis. But who is driving green innovation processes, and what enables or hinders the green transition? Welcome to the digital seminar and discussion on the 20th of March, 10:00-11:30 CET. This event launches a publication ‘Innovation Dynamics in Wood Construction in Sweden and Finland’ and uses it as a springboard to discuss the complexity around innovation in (green) industry transitions. The discussion will feature different perspectives on green innovations in the wood sector.   Programme Presentation of the historical evolution of innovation policy and its academic debate: Mari Wøien Meijer, Research Fellow, Nordregio. The presentation is available here. Presentation of the case study report: Alberto Giacometti & Hilma Salonen, researchers, Nordregio. The presentation is available here. Commentators: Therese Kreisel, Head of Urban Planning, Skellefteå Municipality Ida Andersson, Senior Lecturer at Örebro University Moderator: Anna Lundgren, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio Discussion: We welcome the audience to participate with their questions to the panel! About the project The research project ‘Systems perspectives on Regional Green Innovation’, investigates the link between agency and innovation and particularly the role of different actors in driving transition processes. During the first stage, we explored key concepts, their application, and theoretical foundations within innovation and policy traditions. The next steps in this project will consist of identifying key learnings to inform policy makers on how to support innovation in green industrial transitions. The project is part of the Nordic Council of Ministers Regional Cooperation programme.

The first 5G matchmaking event of the year takes place on 28 February, at 14-15.30 CET. We focus on smart societies and the health sector through inspiring examples: healthcare in sparsely populated areas, surgery conducted remotely, and cancer screening with the help of 5G technology. There will also be a chance to discuss and share ideas and concerns with other participants. 5G innovation in healthcare Different sectors and industries are deeply impacted by digital transformation and 5G can be seen as an extraordinary opportunity for innovation in healthcare. AI, IoT, telesurgery, augmented reality, and other innovations have the potential to boost the competitiveness of the sector at a global level as well as address several challenges that the Nordic and Baltic health service providers and policymakers are facing nowadays, namely providing universal, equitable, sustainable healthcare services. To get inspired, share ideas and promote collaboration, we invite you to participate in Nordregio’s first matchmaking event on 28 February, “5G for Smart societies – discussing the health sector”. The event takes place online (Zoom). In this first event, we will: • Frame the issue: Share inspirational stories and learnings from the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as other European countries, on the role of 5G in smart societies, especially focusing on healthcare examples. • Provide a platform for discussion and foster networking: Promoting the debate on 5G research and innovation in the healthcare industry, multi-actor collaborations, and overcoming the gap in research-to-practice/industry, pathways to build partnerships, and access to funding. Preliminary agenda, 28 February, at 14-15.30 CET Welcoming words from the Nordic-Baltic 5G Monitoring Tool project 5G research and innovation. Breast Cancer and Surgical Metaverse, an opportunity to 5G in healthcare: The pioneering use of HoloLens goggles to perform breast cancer surgery remotely.  Surgeon Dr Pedro Gouveia (Champalimaud Foundation) Opportunities and…

Service provision is one of the key factors that make rural areas attractive and viable. Nordregio’s new report on the issue, “Service provision and access to services in Nordic rural areas,” aims to create knowledge and inspire actors in and around the Nordic rural areas. We invite you to participate in a workshop on 16 February, where we will present the report results and discuss and develop new policy recommendations.  What: Workshop on service provision and access to services in Nordic rural areasWhen: 16 February, 14-15.30 CETWhere: Online (Zoom link will be sent to participants after registration)  Preliminary agenda 14.00: Introduction and presentation of the report – Ágúst Bogason, Research Fellow at Nordregio14.20: Breakout rooms and time for discussion of the policy recommendations15.15: Wrap up

The Gen Z Agency is a network of 18–25-year-olds in the Nordic countries. The network will launch in February 2023. The project was initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM).

Did you miss an opportunity to join an in-person Nordregio Forum last November? During the past forum, we delved into the green transition topic and what it means for jobs and cities in the Nordic region. But what happened in Hamar does not need to stay only in Hamar. We would like to share inspirational keynotes, discussions and Nordic examples with you! Three steps towards the digital launch: Sign up for a digital launch of Nordregio Forum; On 31 January, check your e-mail inbox just before lunch (Stockholm time); Reserve a few hours to explore Nordic ideas on addressing the green transition challenges in the labour market and the cities. Mismatch in the labour market Nordic labour markets are challenged by a number of trends, of which the ageing population, digitalization, mismatch between competencies available vs needed, and the green transition stick out as perhaps the most important. How can regions adapt to demographic challenges, and rapid social and technological changes in the labour market? How can we achieve regional labour markets that are both sustainable and inclusive? What does the green transition mean to different regional labour markets? During the inspirational keynote, meet Even Aleksander Hagen (Innlandet County Mayor) – the youngest mayor in Norway with a strong vision on how to develop the inclusive and sustainable region of Innlandet. The panel discussion will set the scene on what kind of labour mismatches exist. Why? And what are the potential solutions? A variety of angles are discussed by researchers and practitioners from all around the Nordics, among others Marit Lofnes Mellingen (The Centre of Competence on Rural Development, Norway), Kresten Olesen (RegLab, Denmark), Jukka Teräs (Norrum Oy, Finland) and Jimmy Sand (The Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research/NIKK – Nordic Information on Gender, University of Gothenburg). The research insights session overviews the status quo and potential of Nordic competence mobility by Anna Lundgren and Ágúst Bogason (Nordregio). Nordic Solutions invites you on an inspiring…

Today, approximately 3.4% of the world’s population are international migrants – they have left the country they were born in and settled in a new country. Population growth, increased mobility through rising income in poorer countries, political unrest and climate change are among the factors that are expected to expand the group of people moving from one place to another. The question is, to what extent do these factors affect the motivation to migrate and the choice of destination? The policy workshop aims to gather researchers, policy makers and organisations engaged with the migration topic, to hear about the latest studies on migration drivers and scenarios, as well as contribute to the development of policy recommendations. Nordregio hosts the workshop which is a part of the Horizon 2020 project FUME – Future migration scenarios for Europe. FUME focuses on understanding the patterns, motivations and modalities of migration at multiple geographical scales, from international through regional to the local level, and on imagining possible futures scenarios of migration to Europe: https://futuremigration.eu/about-us/ Registration: Click here to register for the event Venue: Online Date and Time: 13 January 2023, 9:30 – 12:00 CET Length: 2 hours 15 min Preliminary programme INTRODUCTION Åsa Ström Hildestrand, Nordregio – moderator About the FUME projectCarsten Kessler, FUME project lead PART 1 – MIGRATION DRIVERS Considering migration – future migrants’ perspectives. Lessons learned from the case studies in Senegal, Iraq, Tunisia and UkraineKarolina Sobczak-Szelc, Cracow University of Economics Once in Europe – new emerging destinations – case of Poland, results from the survey conducted in CracowJan Brzozowski, Cracow University of Economics  EU policies steering different migration scenarios – Delphi study presentationArkadiusz Wisniowski, University of Manchester Scenarios steering international migration – academic perspectivesDilek Yildiz, IIASA PART 2 – DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FUME Policy recommendationsTimothy Heleniak & Nora Sánchez Gassen, Nordregio Panel discussion: HumMingBird: Sinem Yilmaz, Policy Analyst…

Experiences from three Swedish cities and Nordic research Welcome to join Nordregio and the Nordic Welfare Centre in a discussion about tools to reduce loneliness among older adults. This a timely topic post-Covid-19, which in many ways increased the social isolation among seniors. The point of departure is a new report by Nordregio, showcasing three municipalities using digital tools in elderly care – and what we can learn from their experiences. Many older adults in the Nordics feel lonely and socially isolated. Sometimes even when they live in special homes for the elderly. This has negative effects on their mental and physical health – and was further exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic when social isolation became the order of the day. The use of digital technologies within elderly care has the potential to combat social isolation, for instance, by increasing access to care services and social activities. But, until now, we have limited knowledge of the effectiveness of digital interventions. In a new report, Nordregio investigated the use of digital technologies within home care services and in caring homes in three case study municipalities in Sweden: Huddinge, Eskilstuna, and Storuman. The focus is mainly on challenges, opportunities, and solutions that have emerged during the covid-19 pandemic. The webinar will be held on 7 December 2022, 13:00-14:15 CET on Zoom. Programme 13:00 – 14:15 CET 13.00 Welcome to the programme Moderator Åsa Ström Hildestrand, Head of Communications, Nordregio 13.05 Presentation of the new report – main findings: Reducing loneliness among older adults in times of covid-19 and beyond: Experiences from three Swedish Municipalities (REDLON)Johanna Jokinen, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio   Q&A with moderator and Audience 13.30 Comments on the report findings from the Nordic Welfare Centre and their project Loneliness and Social Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How can we prevent negative feelings…

Welcome to Hamar, Norway on November 23-24 and join us for inspirational talks, policy workshops, study tours and new research insights on timely regional development topics – mismatch in the labour market and communities in the green transition. Changing Labour Markets and Greener Communities: To adapt, or to transform? The Nordic countries are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified labour in many sectors. At the same time, some countries face a long-term unemployment issue driven by the mismatch of skills and available jobs. How can regions adapt to demographic challenges and rapid social and technological changes in the labour market? Re-starting competence mobility might be one of the answers. Mobility, urbanization and climate change are also creating the winds of change for cities: How will cities adapt and evolve to become greener, healthier, and inclusive? More information about the programme and registration will be available from mid-September. Nordregio Forum is the annual meeting place for professionals and policymakers working with regional, rural and urban development in the Nordic countries. It is a forum for exchanging ideas and trends, sharing new knowledge, examples and experiences, and pushing national and regional policy agendas while learning from each other. 

What economic policies and new regulations are needed in the Nordic countries to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, as set out in EU law?

Agenda 2030 for municipalities: Welcome to Nordic matchmaking in Stockholm! We welcome Nordic municipalities to Stockholm 13-14 October to make this the decade of action! Whether you are just getting started or already well on the way with SDG implementation – join us for this two-day event of practical workshops, networking, and matchmaking activities. The aim is to take your SDG work to the next level through peer-to-peer learning! When: Thursday-Friday 13-14 October, 2022 (lunch to lunch) Where: Stockholm, Nordregio's premises Whom: Representatives from municipalities and regions working with Agenda 2030 Price: Free of charge. Travel reimbursements are available for participation in matchmaking activities. Organizers: Nordregio, in collaboration with SKR/ Glokala Sverige, KS, KL, Kuntaliitto and Samband   PROGRAMME 13 October workshops: No PowerPoint marathons but hands-on workshops – bring your laptops! Based on our summer survey, the topics will include: governance and steering, citizen and other stakeholder engagement, indicators and monitoring, climate policies and the SDGs. There is still room for more ideas so let us know in the registration form. The workshops will be followed by social events in the evening, including dinner and inspirational talks. 14 October matchmaking: On the second day, we will continue with in-depth matchmaking activities; This is a unique opportunity for municipalities to build relationships with other Nordic municipalities and enable mutual learning and collaboration. Register for the workshops and matchmaking session by the 26th of September via the link below. There is a limited number of places available, so the “first come – first served” principle applies. Nordregio confirms all registrations within a few days.  If you are not able to join us 13-14 October, but interested in the matchmaking activities which will continue in 2023, please fill in the registration form and tick the suitable box. You may still be able to join the process.    REGISTER: https://www.lyyti.in/Agenda_2030_Workshops_matchmaking_for_Nordic_municipalities_in_Stockholm_3991   Why join the matchmaking?…

How can rural areas benefit from the green transition? Local energy, land-use, and value creation 27 September, 13.00-15.00 CET (webinar) Registration has closed. If you want to join, contact Pipsa Salolammi (at nordregio.org) Rural areas play a vital role in the green transition. That is where most natural resources are located. Still, many communities don’t benefit enough from local green energy solutions. This can reduce the support for the green transition and lead to lost opportunities. So, how could national policies and regional practices address this issue and ensure local gains from local resources? To spur discussion on a Nordic level, The Nordic Thematic group of Green and Inclusive rural regional development welcome you to a webinar on 27 September, @13-15:00 CET on Zoom. Join our Nordic experts for an afternoon about the green transition and its effects on rural areas – focusing on solutions for an inclusive and just transition. WEBINAR PROGRAMME 27 September, at 13-15:00 CEST, Zoom (link will be sent after registration) Moderator Anna Karlsdottir, Senior Research Fellow and project manager at Nordregio gives insights into the latest findings in the discussion paper A Just Green Transition” for rural areas: key concepts and implications in the Nordic Region, and asks speakers to reflect on this and give new perspectives to this topic. Lise Nielson, Senior Advisor, Nordic Energy Research Irene Kuhmonen, Project researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland Ásdís Hlökk Theodórsdóttir, former CEO of the Icelandic planning agency (Skipulagsstofnun) & Adjunct at the University of Iceland. Johanna Liljenfeldt, Senior Lecturer in Energy Transition, Uppsala university (Gotland section) Sweden Steffen Damsgaard, Chair for the joint council of Denmark’s rural districts/Danmarks Landdistrikts fællesråd. This webinar is part of the project A Just Green Transition in Rural Areas with focus on Local benefits from Value creation of renewable…

Online 19 September 10.00-11.30 CET Europe has endured a great deal of complication this past year. As the impacts of COVID-19 linger and the war in Ukraine continues, energy agencies and public authorities within the EU wrestle with how such crises affect the already complex work of tackling energy poverty. In this final event for the Social Green project, partners will reflect on the challenges facing green retrofit policy instruments and exchange knowledge about their current work to combat energy poverty within Spain, Romania, and Croatia. This event is open to policymakers supporting the renovation wave, local and regional authorities/energy agencies working with green retrofits, and all who are interested in improving the situation for energy poor households. Agenda 10:00-10:05  CET    Welcome and introduction, Johannes Lidmo (Social Green Project Coordinator, Nordregio) 10:05-10:15    The Social Green project in summary: Learnings from final report, Lisa Rohrer (Nordregio) 10:15-10:57    Social Green regional partners on their main lessons learned: combatting energy poverty in times of Covid-19 pandemic. Challenges regarding Energy Poverty during the pandemic in South Muntenia region, Andrei Georgescu, (Regional Development Agency South Muntenia, Romania) Recovery Funds, an opportunity to boost the energy renovation process in Extremadura region, Ana Martínez, (Agenex – Extremadura Energy Agency, Spain) Tudor Drambarean, Alba Iulia Municipality (Romania) The role of solar PV in reducing the risk of energy poverty, Ivan Šimić (Regional Energy Agency North, Croatia) 10:57-11:07   Building resilience while combating energy poverty in Europe Dr. Saska Petrova, Senior Lecturer at Department of Geography, University of Manchester  11:07-11:27    Panel discussion with all Social Green partners and external speaker, moderated by Johannes Lidmo (Nordregio) 11:27-11:30    Wrap up This is the final event of the fifth-call activities of the Interreg Europe Social Green project (2021-2022). Register here: https://www.lyyti.in/Combatting_energy_poverty_in_times_of_crisis_4748

On the 15th of September between 13:00 – 14:30 CEST the Integrating Climate into Macroeconomic Modelling (ICMM) project invites experts and practitioners to discuss policy challenges and model capabilities in the Nordic countries. The workshop's goal is to facilitate exchange on the current challenges about the use of modelling tools in each stage of the policy cycle, from policy design and planning to policy evaluation.   The focus will be on: Sharing the preliminary results from the TERM-Nordic model: TERM-Nordic is a computable general equilibrium model designed to explore the effects of climate policies on household finances across the Nordic Region. Knowledge exchange: Learn from the experiences of other countries and share your views on the use and application of existing integrated climate-finance models in policy making. Expanding your network: Meet and exchange ideas with key experts and policy actors in the Nordic Region. Who might benefit? Experts in different research institutions and other organisations linked to model development in each country, and policy officers and planners with competencies in climate policies. What is the format? During the workshop, our project experts will present preliminary results from the TERM-Nordic model. This model is currently under development in the project Ensuring Inclusive Economic Growth in the Transition to a Green Economy (EnIGG), funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and conducted by Nordregio in cooperation with Merit Economics and the University of Victoria. After the workshop follows a 30-minute “Meet the speaker!” session,  where you have the opportunity to chat and discuss more in-depth with one of the speakers. Find more information on the ICMM and  EnIGG projects here. Preliminary agenda All hours indicated in the programme are CEST 13:00 Welcoming words 13:05 Presentation of projects: Integrating Climate into Macroeconomic Modelling (ICMM) & Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG)…

Webinar 31 August 14.00-16.00 CET Insights from research, labour market representatives and civil society  Join the discussion on justice and equality aspects in one of the most significant transformations of our time. In this webinar, the Not Just a Green Transition project (NJUST) invites researchers, policymakers, and experts to discuss with the labour market and civil society representatives what a just green transition entails and how climate policies address the human factor. The focus will be on:    What do we mean when we talk about “a just green transition”?   How do climate policies affect people’s lives – and are the effects similar for everyone?   What are the blind spots of Nordic climate policies?   PROGRAMME 14.00 Opening remarks: Why is just green transition important and timely? Ásta Bjarnadóttir, Iceland's Prime Ministers Office and moderator Åsa Ström Hildestrand 14.10 Key implications of green transition in the Nordic Region, Anna Lundgren, Senior Research Fellow, NJUST project manager, Nordregio 14.15 The social impacts of climate mitigation policies on vulnerable groups in the Nordic Region, Carlos Tapia, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio 14.35 Commentary remarks from national experts in Finland and Iceland – Heta-Elena Heiskanen, Ministry of the Environment in Finland and NJUST steering group member – Ásta Bjarnadóttir, Iceland's Prime Ministers Office, NJUST project steering group chairperson 14.50 Commentary remarks on how green transition impacts people and labour force:   – Magnus Gissler, General Secretary of the Council of Nordic Trade Unions – Markus Äimälä, Director, Labour & Law, Confederation of Finnish Industries – Annika Lyytikäinen, Nordic Youth Council – Jan Davidsen, the chairperson of the Norwegian Pensioners' Association 15.10 Panel with the experts and commentators: Questions from the audience 15.45 Nordregio presents 2 other projects that have synergies with NJUST project: Inclusive economic growth project & A Just Green Transition in rural areas: local benefits from value creation, Nora Sanchez Gassen, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio  15.50  Final remarks, project manager Anna Lundgren, Nordregio   2 NEW REPORTS…

The idea behind the concept of WIiSPA – Welfare Institutes in Sparsely Populated Areas – is that reliable welfare services are a prerequisite for regional development, especially in rural areas. Another goal of the creation of WIiSPAs in the Nordics is to promote the exchange of expertise and experiences between WIiSPAs across the Nordic Region. Since sparsely populated areas often face similar challenges, such a cross-Nordic WIiSPAs network could support the spread of effective solutions – and encourage scale-up. Welcome to learn more and discuss the role of WIiSPAs and how they could collaborate for regional development on 20 June at the webinar launch of our new report, hosted by Nordregio and Nordic Welfare Centre. Webinar programme 20 June, 10:00–11:00 CET, on Zoom 10:00 Welcome to the Webinar, intro to the topic: Åsa Ström Hildestrand, Nordregio, moderator 10:05 Johanna Jokinen, Senior Research Fellow; Nordregio – presents the new report 10:20 Heidi Hodge, PhD candidate, Central Queensland University, Australia – WIiSPA perspectives from Down-Under 10:30 Halldór S. Guðmundsson, Associate Professor in Social Work, Faculty of Social Work, University of Iceland – comments on the report 10:35 Peter Berggren, Medical Doctor focused on health care provision in remote areas of Region Västerbotten, Sweden – comments on the report 10:40 Discussion/Q&A with the audience via Zoom chat function – all speakers 10:55 Bengt Andersson, Senior Advisor Welfare Technology, Nordic Welfare Center – concluding remarks and next steps Read WIiSPA working paper here. About the WIiSPA project The concept of Welfare Institutes in Sparsely Populated Areas (WIiSPA) has been used during the last few years, in close connection to the project Healthcare and Care with Distance-Spanning Solutions (Vård och omsorg på distans, or VOPD). The VOPD project was initiated by the Swedish chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2018. It was led by…

The Nordic countries weathered the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well compared to most other high-income countries, both in terms of public health and economic repercussions. Infection and excess mortality rates were comparatively low in the Nordic Region, except in Sweden, where they relied more on recommendations and guidelines than mandatory measures to contain the spread of the virus. The fall in GDP was also comparatively small and short-lived in all of the countries except Iceland, where tourism plays a more prominent role in the economy. This issue of the Nordic Economic Policy Review surveys the economic repercussions of the pandemic and the health and economic policies introduced to minimise its impact in the Nordic countries. Although national policies were broadly similar, they also differed in many respects. Given that some enjoyed greater success than others, comparing different policies and their effects may yield valuable lessons for the future. We welcome you to the launch of the 2022 issue of Nordic Economic Policy Review on 8 June at the Nordic Culture Point in Helsinki. Here you will hear three of the authors present their articles as well as an expert panel.  PROGRAMME 09.00 – 09.55 Coffee 10.00 – 10.05 Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Mr Aki Lindén 10.05 – 10.10 Harry Flam, professor emeritus and editor 10.10 – 10.25 Torben Andersen, University of Aarhus 10.25 – 10.40 Lars Hultkrantz, School of Business, Örebro University 10.40 – 10.55 Kristiina Huttunen, Aalto University School of Business Questions after each presentation 11.00 – 11.30 Panel: Joakim Sonnegård, Swedish Corona commission; Seppo Honkapohja, Aalto University School of Business; and Heli Koski, ETLA Moderator: Oskar Nordström Skans, professor and co-editor 11.30 – 12.00 Light lunch Where: Nordic Culture Point, Kaisaniemenkatu 9, Helsinki When: 8 June 2022, 10.00 – 11.30 EEST / 9.00 – 10.30 CEST The event will be live-streamed…