Here you’ll find further projects and research that will be presented at Nordregio Forum 2026.
Giving Rural Actors Novel data and re-Useable tools to Lead public Action in Rural areas (GRANULAR)
Representing 30% of its population and over 80% of its territory, EU rural areas are facing simultaneous demographic, climate, economic, social and environmental changes. Addressing these issues requires a precise understanding of what rural areas are and what challenges rural communities are facing today.
State of the Nordic Region 2026
State of the Nordic Region is Nordregio’s flagship publication on regional development. Published every two years, the report provides a comprehensive overview of key trends shaping the Nordic countries, regions, and municipalities.
Recognising and supporting psychological resilience: Regional approaches across the Nordic countries
This project explores how Nordic regions can strengthen psychological resilience, understood as the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt to and recover from crises. Recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have highlighted the importance of societal preparedness, not only in practical terms but also for mental well-being. Strengthening psychological resilience requires capacity to respond to acute crises but also to build stable, trust-based communities in everyday life.
Labour market dynamics supporting sustainable competitiveness and development
This research project explores how local conditions and perspectives can help policy makers support sustainable competitiveness and development through labour market dynamics.
Well-functioning labour markets are key for economic growth and international competitiveness, but also for individuals to thrive and for regional businesses development. A high employment rate is also one of the cornerstones of the Nordic welfare model. The Nordic labour markets are however changing at an accelerating pace, driven by the green transition, digitalisation, AI and rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Sustainable Nordic Remote Labour Markets (SUNREM)
SUNREM explores how local labour markets in remote areas of the Nordic Region are impacted by global megatrends like demographic changes, growing tech needs, climate change, and globalisation
Publication: How can Nordic competitiveness benefit from gender equality?
The future competitiveness of the Nordic region will largely depend on how well it manages to develop, utilise and renew its human capital. Productivity, innovation and adaptability depend on the right skills being available, talent being utilised where it is most needed and investments leading to the greatest possible value creation. This publication starts from the premise that several of the mechanisms that influence these factors are also impacted by gender equality. Gender equality is therefore a key issue for the region’s economic efficiency and competitiveness…
Accepting and adapting to change: Civil preparedness at local and regional levels
When crises hit, resilience is tested down to the most local level. What civil preparedness determines is whether everyday life can continue. In the Nordic countries, responsibility for preparedness is shared between national authorities, regions, municipalities, private actors, and citizens. While national frameworks often receive the most attention, preparedness is ultimately realised at the local and regional level, where access to essential services must be maintained in both everyday life and times of crisis.
How Nordic housing and land use systems shape affordable housing development
Access to affordable, good-quality housing is a growing challenge across the Nordic Region. In many places, housing costs rise faster than incomes and competition for rental housing is increasing. Well-located urban land is also becoming scarce….
Nordic sustainable production and regional competitiveness (NORDIC SPARC)
This research project explores how Nordic countries and regions manage green industrialization processes and value chains. It looks at enabling and hampering factors for these processes and how they contribute to local and regional competitiveness…
Sustainable Nordic municipalities and regions
Local-level action is essential to achieving national and global sustainability goals. Yet, municipalities face significant challenges. Various crises and trends—including climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitical tensions, political and demographic shifts, persistent inequalities, and rapid technological change—overlap and unfold at an unprecedented pace. It is crucial to understand how these complex developments might impact municipal sustainability work – both now and in the future. Strengthening the capacity of municipalities to navigate uncertainty, anticipate change, and prepare for future developments is vital to ensuring they remain key drivers of sustainable development.
At home in the Nordics: Strengthening local attractiveness for movers, stayers and returners
Attractiveness is no longer a branding question. It’s a governance challenge.
Across the Nordic Region, demographic change is reshaping local and regional futures. While cities continue to attract young people and skilled workers, many rural and remote areas experience population ageing, gender imbalances and labour shortages. Yet mobility is not a one-way story. People stay, return and relocate for a wide range of social, economic and cultural reasons.