Events

The blue and marine sectors play a crucial role in the economies and sustainability efforts of the Nordic countries. To ensure the long-term growth and survival of these sectors, they must become more inclusive and gender equal. Earlier this year, Nordregio launched the pivotal report “Ensuring Gender Equality in the Nordic Blue Economy”. The report covers the big picture, offering statistics on women’s presence in various professions in the sectors. Our research showed that women were underrepresented in general and in decision-making in particular – now and historically. Many fisherwomen experience sexist attitudes and even harassment. It also examines training opportunities and initiatives aimed at increasing gender balance and creating a more inclusive work environment within the blue economy. The report called for several actions, including encouragement of women to go into the sectors and the need for role models, to increase primary data collection and to mitigate and counteract the risk of sexual harassment. How do we turn these insights into action? This webinar brings together representatives from across the Nordics to discuss how we can turn Nordregio’s report findings into concrete actions and promote gender equality in the blue economy. From political decisions to local initiatives and business practices, we aim to combine research with practical experience and policy interventions to show how an equal blue economy can become a reality in the Nordics. Dive into the blue economy with us to engage in meaningful discussions on how we can drive positive change and shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for the blue and marine industries. Programme: Anna Karlsdóttir, Nordregio/University of Iceland presents report “Ensuring Gender Equality in Nordic Blue Economy” Cecilia Österman will present key findings from her research on workplace harassment at sea, and gender equality in Nordic Blue Economies.Panel discussion: Cecilia Österman, Senior Lecturer, Kalmar Maritime…

How is remote work shaping the future of Nordic regions? Join our upcoming webinar together with NIVA. During the webinar we explore the latest findings on remote work and multilocality in the Nordic region, with insights from the final report within our Remote work project, presented by senior researcher Anna Granath Hansson. The webinar will focus on the long-term impacts of remote work trends on Nordic cities, regions, and rural areas, offering perspectives on how these shifts influence mobility, migration patterns, and the attractiveness of towns and rural areas. This session will also address critical questions about the tools and policies Nordic countries are using to support sustainable remote work and how to ensure social, environmental, and financial sustainability in a multilocal world. We will also highlight how remote work affects the work environment and how to create safe, healthy workplaces remotely. Key takeaways from the webinar: The webinar will be held in Zoom, and you will receive more practical information upon registration.

Why are there so few men in nursing, and what can be done to change this? Join us for an engaging webinar on 15 November at 10.00 CET where we will explore the persistent gender imbalance in nursing and examine what steps can be taken to address it.  Currently, less than 15% of nursing graduates are men—a statistic shaped by societal perceptions and gender stereotypes. Despite efforts to promote equality, men face significant challenges when entering and advancing nursing careers. To change this, a cultural shift is needed at all levels of education, alongside more robust diversity plans in workplaces.  This webinar draws on insights from the “Share the Care: Strategies to Increase Diversity in Nursing Education” report, funded by NIKK, and marks the launch of a new report examining gender dynamics in nursing across Finland, Norway, and Iceland. The project’s findings offer a comparative Nordic perspective on gender representation in nursing, recruitment strategies, and provide key recommendations for the future.  Webinar programme & speakers 15 November, 10.00-11.30 CET, Zoom Opening Remarks and Introduction: Debora Pricila Birgier and Maija Kāle, Nordregio The Project “Share the Care“ Gender Equality in Care – Panel Discussion The Future of Men in Care and Health – Closing Statements

How will the green transition reshape key sectors in the Nordic Region? What kind of regional impacts and challenges are there across the Nordics – and how should we address them? This webinar on 3 December (14.00-15.00 CET / Stockholm) focused on the regional impacts, economic opportunities and challenges related to green transition in key sectors in the Nordic countries. The webinar marked the launch a new report that takes stock of the regional economic effects of the green transition in the Nordic Region. The report provides insights into what the green transition means for key sectors in the Nordic countries. The questions addressed include: Webinar speakers and panelists: The online participants had a possibility to get an overview of the green transition’s regional impacts across the Nordics, participate in the discussion, and hear from experts from different Nordic countries about the challenges and opportunities to reduce greenhouse gases and on regional impacts the green transition on employment and economic output. This webinar was a part of our campaign This Fall is Green, which gathers four events with one common goal – to accelerate the green transition in the Nordic Region. Make sure to check out the outcomes and highlights from the other events in the series as well!

The green transition is upon us. But is everyone on board? We all want to ensure that socially at-risk groups aren’t left behind in the transition – but what does that mean in reality? The path towards a just green transition in the Nordic Region can be tricky to navigate. That is why we have developed the “Nordic Toolbox for a Just Green Transition”, collecting four years of research. We invite you to attend the launch! The comprehensive and interactive toolbox offers practical research-based guidance for Nordic policymakers to navigate challenges, listen to those affected, and get inspired. Watch a recording of the webinar to get a collected overview of how policymakers can act to ensure that the green transition is just and fair, and how civil society and socially at-risk groups should be involved to make it a reality. Keynote speech: Åsa Persson, Chair, Swedish Climate Policy Council and Research Director and Deputy Director, SEI Live demo of the toolbox by: Nora Sánchez Gassen, Senior Research Fellow, NordregioLouise Ögland, Communications Advisor, Nordregio Comments by: Eggert Benedikt Guðmundsson, Leader of Sustainable Development in the Prime Minister’s Office, IcelandHeta-Elena Heiskanen, Senior Specialist in Ministry of the Environment in Finland and Secretary General for Climate Change PanelJohan Hall, Investigator for Climate, environment and energy issues, LO/The Swedish Trade Union ConfederationPetra Karjalainen, Co-Chair, The Finnish Agenda2030 Youth Group Moderator: Lisa Pelling, Arena think tank This event is a part of our campaign This Fall is Green, which gathers four events, with one common goal – to accelerate the green transition in the Nordic Region. Read more about This Fall is Green here.

Civil society actors are crucial in bridging the digital divide in the Nordic and Baltic Region. Their work combating digital exclusion for socially at-risk groups with multifaceted needs should not be overlooked. But what does their support look like? What works, and what hinders these organisations? As part of Nordregio’s ongoing research project, “Digital Inclusion in Action,” this webinar explored the important role of Nordic and Baltic civil society actors in ensuring that no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world. As civil society gains traction in digitalisation policies to ensure and promote equal access to the digitalised society, we will explore the unique challenges and success factors of NGOs supporting diverse groups. We have interviewed 20 NGOs across the Nordics and Baltics – during this webinar, we presented results from our research and present the comprehensive overview of their work – launching as digital stories at the webinar. NGO representatives will be present to share firsthand accounts of their work: best practices, and the unique challenges they face, following an interactive panel discussion. Watch a recording of the webinar below. Webinar programme: Throughout the webinar you, our digital audience, will be encouraged to engage with the content: share thoughts, insights, good practices and ask questions. With us to guide us through the interactive webinar, is moderator Annika Östman, Head of Communication at Nordregio. Join us to learn more about: Don’t miss this chance to learn, share, and network about making digital inclusion a reality in the Nordic and Baltic Regions. Explore the Storymap “Bytes and Rights: Civil society’s role in digital inclusion” now.

Join the webinar for a first look into the future of education in the Nordics.

It’s well known that most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) will not be reached without local engagement. The Nordic countries have a long tradition of strong local governance and great potential to be frontrunners in SDG localisation. But what have the Nordic municipalities achieved so far? What works and what worries them? Welcome to the official launch of the first-ever Nordic Voluntary Subnational Review (VSR), showcasing local governments’ efforts to achieve the SDGs. The launch will take place on 9 July, in Conference room 8 at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York. We welcome both those who will be onsite, and those joining online via stream. The Nordic VSR is based on surveys and interviews across all Nordic municipalities. Nordregio and the Local and Regional Government Associations (LRGAs) will present final results, key learnings and inspiring practices on SDG implementation from the Nordic Toolbox. Together, we’ll discuss how to face recurring challenges, including political support, SDG governance, cross-sectoral collaboration, stakeholder and youth engagement, and how to monitor progress.  Programme outline: Welcome and opening words Anna Karin Eneström, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United NationsMerete Fjeld Brattested, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United NationsEeva Furman, Secretary-General of the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentÞórður Ægir Óskarsson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United NationsErik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United NationsModerator: Åsa Ström Hildestrand, Nordregio  Presentation of Nordic VSR: Results and key learnings Nordic Local and Regional Government Associations (LRGAs):Anne Romsaas, Chief Adviser SDG, The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS Kommunesektorens organisasjon)Daniel Sazonov, Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki, The Chair of the AFLA Delegation, The Association of Finnish Local Authorities (AFLA/Kuntaliitto)Emil Broberg, Board member, The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR/SKR) and Councilor, Östergötland Region, SwedenHeiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, President, The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities (Samband…

Welcome to a webinar and report launch that digs into the trends and patterns in young people's climate commitment in the Nordics

The 20th edition of the State of the Nordic Region is out! We shared the report highlights in an online launch on 19 June. A recording is available below. The speakers included: State of the Nordic Region 2024 takes stock of the latest socio-economic trends and developments in demography, labour market and economy in the Nordic countries, regions, municipalities, and cities. We have also included a brand new and revised Regional Potential Index that sheds light on the development potential and performance of regions across the Nordics and helps identify the regions with the strongest growth potential. The report is a source of comparative knowledge and insights. It offers a rich Nordic panorama through a collection of maps, data, figures and analyses that highlight both broader, common trends, as well as local and regional differences. The report is a treasure trove of information for the anyone and everyone interested in learning about the Nordics or getting inspired by the Nordic model, or drawing insights from the diversity of Nordic regions and areas. State of the Nordic Region is a biannual report published and produced by Nordregio. State of the Nordic Region 2024 marks the 20th edition of the report. Building on a rich knowledge base, extensive data sets, statistics, maps and analyses, it takes a closer look the latest trends and developments in the Nordic Region from three perspectives: Demography, Labour Market and Economy. The report gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, along with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland.

The TANGO-W project—which focuses on transformative capacity in energy, food, and water—invites urban planners, sustainability experts, and innovative thinkers to join our enlightening webinar series Urban Transformation Talks. The series features partners from diverse European cities who will share insights and advancements in driving sustainable urban development. Register for one, two, or all three webinars to engage with researchers and practitioners, and learn about new approaches to building resilient, sustainable cities. What is Urban Transformative Capacity and why does it matter for sustainability in your city?Webinar 1# 9 April 10-11 CET Our first webinar in this series covers what is Urban Transformation Capacity—and why it is crucial for sustainability. To become more sustainable, cities need to adapt their capacities to meet the challenges following climate change and learn how to successfully implement new processes and governance models in urban contexts. This calls for a paradigm shift among political, administrative, and research sectors, with a focus on linking food-water-energy policies as part of holistic solutions in cross-sectorial collaboration. In this webinar, you will hear insights from Doris Willhelmer (Austrian Institute of Technology); Maria Lennartsson (Stockholms Stad, Sweden) and Stefan Guggenberger (Klagenfurt Municipality, Austria) Urban Transformative Capacity in practice: Implementing sustainability projectsWebinar 2# 16 April 10-11 CET This webinar will discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing sustainability projects. Insights from practical examples of local urban food production through aquaponics in Norrtälje (Sweden) and a food-waste reduction project with kindergartens in Halden (Norway) provide the context for discussing preconditions of urban transformative capacity. In this webinar, you will hear insights from Anja Wingstedt (Smart Innovation Norway); Kristiina Mustonen (Campus Roslagen, Sweden) and Hilde Marie Wold (Halden Municipality, Norway) Instruments for driving changeWebinar 3# 23 April 10-11 CET This webinar highlights different approaches for driving change towards a sustainable future, shaped by urban…

Welcome to this webinar where you will learn about the first ever Nordic Voluntary Sub-National Review of local governments’ efforts to reach the global sustainability goals and Agenda 2030. The “Nordic VSR” is based on a recent survey sent to all Nordic municipalities and regions. In July, Nordregio together with Nordic Local and Regional Government Associations will present it to a global audience at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York. We will share Nordic learnings and show the world that the local level is leading the way. During the webinar, you will be the first to learn more about the preliminary results and recommendations from the Nordic VSR, followed by comments and discussion with key stakeholders, including Nordic municipalities, youth networks and civil society. As our digital audience, you will be able to interact with the speakers throughout the programme via chat and polls. You will also be encouraged to share your success factors, needs and challenges working with the global goals/Agenda 2030 at the local level. Register to the webinar using the form below. The Nordic VSR is produced by Nordregio and an editorial group consisting of:Local Government Denmark (Kommunernes Landsforening – KL)Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (Kuntaliitto)The Icelandic Association of Local Authorities (Samband)The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner) Programme Tuesday April 9, 13.00-14.30 (CET) 13:00 – Welcome by Moderator (Åsa Hildestrand, Nordregio) Greeting by Anna Calvete Moreno, UCLG World Secretariat Barcelona: the Nordic VSR as a tool to boost SDG localisation globally About the Nordic VSR, intro by Nordregio  – survey and production 13:15 Editorial group presents key recommendations in the Nordic VSR:Eveliina Kiema-Majanen, Kuntaliitto, FinlandAnna G. Björnsdóttir, Samband, IcelandAnne Romsaas, KS, NorwayAnna Eklöf, SKR, Sweden 13:30 Comments by civil society,…

We are proud to present the Nordic urban-rural typology and a new report with it!   This new grid-based Nordic urban-rural typology offers a versatile tool for enhancing spatial planning, policy development and research. Join us as we present how to use it to understand territorial differences, settlement, and population development patterns across the urban-rural continuum.   Improved results and analysis on Nordic level  The typology uses 1×1 km grid data to categorise territories in the Nordic countries, by urban and rural characteristics. It identifies seven types of areas: ranging from densely populated urban centres, to sparsely populated rural areas. By using this typology as an analytical framework, we have studied demographic trends across the Nordic region and conducted localised analysis, presented in the report that will be launched during the event.   Thanks to the statistical data – available on a very detailed level – the urban-rural typology serves as an analytical tool, giving you the possibility to compare population trends and settlement patterns between different types of areas and countries, offering a more detailed spatial analysis than ever.  On 19 March, we invite you to a webinar where we will go into depth on why and how we developed this grid-based Nordic territorial typology and then used this typology to conduct comparative analysis across the Nordic countries.  The webinar will cover:  Possibilities for policy and research   Nordic typology shows that many municipalities are at the same time both urban, intermediate, and rural, and in many cases these different categories seem to be undergoing quite different types of development. The typology itself does not communicate any trends, but offers a framework for informed decision-making in spatial planning and policy formulation across the Nordic Region. Analysis enabled by this tool are crucial for crafting effective policies and strategies, especially in adapting to trends such…

Community sponsorship programmes aim to support integration of refugees into the new community. Originating from Canada, the model has gained increasing interest throughout Europe in recent years. At this webinar, we will hear about recently launched pilot programmes in the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries have a tradition of organizing resettlement of refugees as a state-run and -sponsored scheme, involving municipalities during the reception and integration phase. The societal model is anchored in a system of free access to social welfare, housing, health care and education. Community sponsorship builds on the idea, that local volunteers and organizations can add to government-assisted integration support and play a central role in welcoming refugees. It supports the integration by engaging citizens and local communities in providing emotional, financial, and practical help to newly arrived refugees. The volunteers are committed to foster inclusion and self-sustainability of refugees but do not have to contribute financially. Recently launched pilot programmes in the Nordic countries are designed for quota refugees within the national resettlement programmes, and in the case of Sweden also for spontaneously arrived refugees with residence permits. Read more about community sponsorship at UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries. At this webinar, we aim to raise awareness, share practical experiences, and discuss the Nordic model of community sponsorship. Speakers join us from organisations and municipalities involved in community sponsorship and similar initiatives in the Nordic countries, as well as from a Danish partnership programme Venner Viser Vej. Programme: 13:00 Welcome and introduction to community-based sponsorship in the NordicsErika Löfgren, UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countriesKaisa Kepsu, Integration Norden, Nordic Welfare CentreÅsa Ström Hildestrand, Moderator, Nordregio 13:15 Experiences from the Nordic countriesAnna Gezelius, Danderyd municipality, SwedenSit Elgeel Abdalkreem Abdalrhman Saber, matched newly arrived, Danderyd, SwedenLeigh Neil, welcoming guide, Danderyd, SwedenÞórunn Pálína Jónsdóttir,…

How can the individual benefits of migration translate into societal benefits for the left-behind regions? Watch the recording of PREMIUM_EU’s first annual event on 10 April 2024, for a first look at the project’s methodology and projected research results. This webinar dives deep into the brain-drain that affects most rural regions by looking at the drivers that make people move and the regional characteristics that make people stay. Learn about the “The Human Migration Database” and how to leverage social media in mobility data analysis. We also explore how research-based policies might give left-behind regions a new chance to gain back those brains. Programme 09:30-9:45: Introduction to PREMIUM_EU – Leo van Wissen and Anne Katrine Ebbesen 09:45-10:10: The Human Migration Database – leveraging social media and novel data sources – Maciej J. Danko and Jisu Kim 10:10-10:30: Regional Development – The impact of migration policies – Korrie Melis, Elles Bulder and Peter Meister-Broekema 10:30-10:50: How education links mobility to regional development – Dr. Dilek Yildiz and Leo van Wissen 10:50-11:00: Break 11:00-12:00: Panel discussion – A better future for left-behind regions, fuelled by migration?

On 8 February, a symposium hosted by Nordicom and Nordregio brings together experts from the fields of media scholarship, industry, and policy to discuss critical communication infrastructures in the Nordics. The debate will focus on whether the Nordic states are too reliant on tech giants to sustain the critical communication infrastructures of the welfare state. Three panels will discuss the issue from research, policy and industry perspective. You can tune in for the discussion via a live stream on 8 February (11.00-16.00 CET). A recording of the debate will also be available online afterwards.     Programme 11:00 Welcome 11:15 Keynote – Gateways: Comparing Digital Communication Systems in Nordic Welfare States 12:00 Break 13:00 Research panel: The preparedness of communication infrastructure in the Nordics 13:40 Policy panel: Regulating critical communication infrastructures in the Nordics 14:20 Break 14:40 Industry panel: The future infrastructure for democracy in the Nordics 15:20 Discussion 16:00 Closing   See Nordicom’s website for more information about the symposium. About the symposium The symposium is funded by the research project The Datafication of Communicative Power: Towards an Independent Media Policy for Norway’s Digital Infrastructures, The Research Council of Norway (grant number 314257), led by Professor Helle Sjøvaag at the University of Stavanger, and convened by Nordicom and Nordregio as part of the 2024 Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Nordic countries are facing labour shortages across various sectors. Still many refugees and immigrants experience difficulties in establishing themselves on the labour market. Why are we in this paradoxical situation? At this webinar, the researchers present the findings of a new report on Employers’ perspectives and experiences from hiring immigrants across the Nordic countries.

The pandemic posed a shift in work culture and normalised remote work. With the freedom to turn down the urban office setting, workers are presented opportunities for compatible career and lifestyle choices in rural and small-town settings.  As we navigate this work-life balance renaissance, questions arise:  The shift to remote work has impacted our perception of place and mobility, introducing new needs and challenges. By uncovering how this has changed the work-life balance, planners can use this trend to plan for communities that not only attract but also retain residents.  As this is a moving target, we understand that there may be more questions than answers, so we invite you, as Nordic planners and policymakers, to engage with us in dialogue – to not only observe the change, but to use its opportunities.   Between 10 – 11 CET on 20 February, we presented case studies of Nordic smaller towns and rural areas and their approach to remote work opportunities. Possibilities and uncertainties in working life trends, demographic development and planning was discussed.  Webinar agenda: 

Watch the event recording here or visit our Youtube channel. This was the launch event of a new handbook that provides a toolbox of methods, models, and guidelines for delivering health-promoting green spaces.  The handbook is the culmination of the NORDGREEN project, which develops and implements smart planning and management solutions for well-designed, high-quality green spaces that promote health and well-being.  In this launch event, researchers provided tips about using various methods, models, and guidelines for delivering health-promoting green space, and a panel provided inspiration on some success stories emerging from the Nordic Region.  Programme Presentations:   Panel discussion:   Moderator:Annika Östman, Head of Communications, Nordregio

Digital advancements in the Nordic and Baltic countries have been impressive, but true progress lies in making digital benefits accessible to all. Watch the recording of our webinar from January 30th, introducing two new reports from the Digital Inclusion in Action project. What political initiatives are put in place in the Nordic and Baltic region to combat digital exclusion? How are the Nordic and Baltic countries keeping track on the national development? And how is the Nordic and Baltic approach both aligning, both also differentiating from the European DESI approach? The political ambitions regarding digital inclusion in the region have increased exponentially with more than 20 new policies and strategies being published in just over two years – and more are under way. In this recorded webinar we take the pulse on the digital inclusion landscape in the Nordic and Baltic countries, with the launch of our two publications: Watch the recording to learn more about the synergies and differences in the political initiatives and monitoring practices taken to combat digital exclusion in the Nordic and Baltic region! The event was co-organised by Nordregio and Digital Europe. Agenda:

Renewable energy projects, with their considerable demand on land use, are rapidly changing the Nordic rural landscapes. At the same time, many people living in the impact area of new instalments feel that national green transition policies put a disproportionately heavy toll on rural people. The resulting sense of powerlessness leads to a heavy resistance that is difficult to solve when a project is already underway. How can we ensure that national and local policymakers recognise the potency of rural actors and engage them in a meaningful manner? How could they create policies that help harness the potential of green transitions instead of dumping them on rural areas in a top-down manner? Welcome to our webinar and discussion on 11 December at 14-15.30 CET! This event presents the policy recommendations drawn from the report Can local value creation induce a sense of justice during green transitions? and discusses them in the context of examples from other Nordic regions. The discussion will focus on concrete steps that both rural actors and national and regional policymakers can take to ensure a more just energy transition in the future. We will tap into the viewpoints of both research and local action groups. Programme Discussants: Panel discussion: We welcome the audience to participate with their questions to the panel! The research project A Just Green Transition in rural areas: local benefits from value creation has analysed the possible benefits and barriers in the context of six case studies in rural regions in Denmark, Finland, and Norway. The project is part of the Nordic Council of Ministers’s Thematic Group for Green and Inclusive Rural Development in the Nordics.

ARENA is a space designed to be a hub for knowledge exchange on green, innovative, and resilient regions among key experts in the various fields of research, policy, and practice in the Nordic countries and beyond. This session aims at sparking a debate on what the role of the regional authority is, or should be, in spearheading major transformations. In recent years, the ‘mission-oriented policy approach’ has gained significant attention in political and academic discourse. This new policy approach means pulling resources and science together in a new way to address some of today’s grand societal challenges and to promote transformative change. However, this has sparked a debate about the risks connected to directionality. This is particularly clear in innovation policy, whether such directionality is narrowing the scope of innovation, and whether it introduces place-blind, top-down approaches. To disentangle this debate, speakers will be invited to, first, take a step back and guide us through the functions that regional authorities play in national government systems before delving into what arguably is the emerging position of regions as ‘drivers of change’. Afterwards, there will be a panel discussion and an opportunity for the audience to participate. Speakers: Moderator: We welcome the audience to participate in the discussion with their questions and comments to the panel!

Did you know that people in the Nordics buy more clothes than the rest of the world and our consumption has gone up during the last 20 years? It’s time to check our shopping habits and spin towards more sustainable choices. Join us for an evening where we find a new direction through an interactive mending workshop and keynotes to deepen our understanding of fast fashion’s destructive impacts on our planet and its people! Escaping Fast Fashion: How you can act for change from The Nordic House on Vimeo. Textile production generates 1.2 billion tons of CO2e annually, outdoing emissions from international flights and shipping. However, we continue to buy too many clothes, as many as 40 garments per year! Join us the night before Black Friday, on 23 November in Reykjavik or online to explore sustainable fashion alternatives. Under the guidance of Icelandic textile artist Ýrúrarí and with inspiration from the Nordic Council Environment Prize Winner 2023, we’ll breathe new life into our old clothes and uncover ways to break up with fast fashion. It is possible to participate both physically and online, and participation is free, but you need to sign up on the event page. Program highlights: The event is organized by The Nordic House in Reykjavik, the Nordic Council Environment Prize, and the project Youth for Sustainable Living, led by Nordregio. Funder: The Nordic Council of Ministers

First report in the project: Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG) Ever wondered how climate policies might impact your cost of living? Watch the recorded webinar, our watch it via our YouTube channel. In this webinar, we presented our recently launched report: “What impact do climate change policies have on Nordic economies, industries, and households?” Guided by our moderator Kirsi Heikel, Senior Advisor at Miltton, we are shedding light on the intricate interplay between climate mitigation efforts and the everyday costs of living in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.  Whether you’re a climate activist, a policymaker, or just curious about the future, this event will reveal the newest insights on how climate policies impact all of us economically. Presentations by: Panelists:

Our fourth 5G matchmaking event will take place on the 20th of September, from 14-15.30 CET. The spotlight will be on media and broadcasting.  Join us for an exciting event where we delve into the game-changing potential of 5G technology in the media and broadcast industry. 5G opens up a world of possibilities for content creators and broadcasters, offering faster, more immersive, and more personalised experiences to viewers. Our speakers: Join us on September 20th to gain valuable insights from industry experts, network with like-minded professionals, and showcase your own specific 5G matchmaking needs! After the keynote speeches, we will move on to breakout rooms and discuss:

Join us and develop the understanding of how climate policies intersect with sociodemographic dynamics.  

Join this webinar series that will explore the multifaceted realm of urban agriculture. Delve into the intersections of innovation and legislation, culture, and education and science, and discover how they collectively shape the future of urban farming. Whether you are an urban agriculture enthusiast, policy-maker, community leader, educator, or simply curious about the future of our cities, these webinars offer a unique opportunity to gain insights, share experiences, and contribute to the ongoing transformation of urban agriculture. We look forward to your presence at these enlightening events as we collectively cultivate a sustainable and vibrant urban future. Webinar 1: “Cultivating Change: The Future of Urban Agriculture in the Nexus of Innovation and Legislation” When: Jun 8, 2023 11:00 AM Riga/Helsinki Register in advance for this webinar: https://ej.uz/f3bu In this webinar, we will unravel the transformative power of innovation and legislation in urban agriculture. Explore cutting-edge technologies, practices, and policies that are revolutionizing urban farming. Gain insights into how innovation maximizes food production, enhances sustainability, and ensures resilience. Discover the crucial role of legislation in creating an enabling environment for urban agriculture to flourish. Join us to be part of the conversation shaping the future of our cities through urban farming. Webinar 2: “Cultivating Community: The Future of Urban Agriculture in Connection with Culture” When: Jun 8, 2023 02:00 PM Riga/Helsinki Register in advance for this webinar: https://ej.uz/c52y Join us for an inspiring webinar that explores the profound relationship between urban agriculture, culture, and community-building. Discover how urban agriculture can strengthen community ties, celebrate cultural diversity, and foster social cohesion. Learn about the transformative power of community gardens, rooftop farms, and urban farming projects in promoting healthy lifestyles, preserving cultural heritage, and connecting people with nature. Be part of this conversation as we cultivate vibrant communities through the lens of culture and urban…

Welcome to the final NORDINFRA seminar where Nordregio will present the latest studies.

Our third 5G matchmaking event will take place on the 16th of June, from 14-15.30 CET. The spotlight will be on 5G in industry! The Nordic-Baltic 5G Monitoring tool project aims to contribute to the development of a more integrated, connected, and inclusive Nordic Region by developing and maintaining an evidence-based analytical tool to monitor the rollout of 5G in the countries and independent territories of the Nordic-Baltic Region.   In 2023, Nordregio will host five matchmaking events that will offer possibilities for actors to share experiences and build new partnerships focusing on different topics. The aim is to inform key stakeholders about what is going on in the 5G/6G landscape and to facilitate connections between Nordic-Baltic actors to initiate or enhance regional cooperation. What do the events offer?• Showcasing what’s happening in the Nordic-Baltic mobile technology landscape, presenting 5G potential and promise in different topics.• Enabling a platform for discussion: A community for sharing experiences.• Fostering network creation: Promoting or enhancing cross-national cooperation.

The second 5G matchmaking event takes place on the 20th of April, at 14-15.30 CET. We focus on smart societies and the transport and mobility sector through inspiring examples: cross-border mobility and automation in logistics.  5G enables a more connected transport sector Effective transport and mobility are essential in building smarter societies. 5G has significant potential to revolutionize how we travel and transport goods. 5G connectivity enables connected and autonomous vehicles and can improve logistics efficiency. 5G can also make roads safer and more environmentally friendly while saving costs.  During our second 5G matchmaking event, we will again: 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 mobility and transport examples. Provide a platform for discussion and foster networking: Promoting the debate on 5G research and innovation in the transport and mobility vertical, multi-actor collaborations, and overcoming the gap in research-to-practice/industry. We encourage you to submit ideas for your own 5-min pitch (see more in the registration). This allows you to bring forward your own specific 5G matchmaking needs as well as current challenges and questions. What: Second 5G matchmaking event with a focus on transport and mobilityWhen: 20 April at 14-15.30 CETWhere: Online (a Zoom link will be sent to all participants after registration)Why: To gain new insights, get inspired, share ideas, and network  Our keynote speakers: Anna Schieben, 5G Living Lab Consortium Leader at Institute of Transportation Systems, German Aerospace Centre (DLR): Mobility Use Cases of the 5G Living Lab in the Mobility Region Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Elina Lidere, 5G Innovation Lead at Latvijas Mobilais Telefons SIA: 5G Routes: Testbed for Cross-border Mobility in Europe Petri Kalske, Head of Industrial Solutions at Unikie: Data Driven Optimization and Automation in Ports & Logistics In 2023, Nordregio…

Youth engagement has become a priority issue for local decision-makers who strive to create more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant communities, in line with the global Agenda 2030. But how can municipalities reach and engage youth? How can youth have real influence over decisions that concern them? How do you set expectations right and follow up in an inclusive way? Many Nordic municipalities have developed practical tools, event formats, and processes that ensure systematic engagement and follow-up. Learn more about these examples, and ask your questions during the webinar with the following featured municipalities and NGO’s: The event is part of Nordregio’s peer-to-peer learning project to support the implementation of Agenda 2030 at the local level across the Nordics. The project is financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

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

Did you miss our latest and final webinar in the series? Watch our recording of it above. NORDGREEN – Smart Planning for Healthy and Green Nordic Cities project invites Nordic city planners and developers, architects, healthcare sector representatives and governance enthusiasts to join Friday morning webinar series CITY TALK 1-2-3 where four cities share learning on: CITY TALKS 1-2-3 CITY TALK 1: Engaging youth in planning – Espoo broke all records with an online tool10 February 2023, 9.00-10.00 CET (+1h in FI)Aalto University, City of Espoo, Nordregio This webinar shares how the city of Espoo gathered over 6,000 respondents of which over 2,000 were children and youth. This led to over 70,000 map markings via PPGIS surveys making this the largest citizen survey ever made in Finland. How did Espoo manage to work with schools and activate the youth? In this webinar, Espoo shares its success factors, which lie mainly in the process and smart collaboration. CITY TALK 2: How to use and connect green space and health indicators in city planning28 April 2023, 9.00-10.00 CET (+1h in FI)Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, City of Täby, Nordregio Local authorities need knowledge, tools, and indicators in order to develop and manage green spaces in a way that can effectively promote health and well-being for the urban dweller. During this city talk, the researchers and planners share their experiences and discuss the use and applicability of objective and perceived green space and health indicators for planning purposes. CITY TALK 3: How can green space improve health? Stavanger explores new design methods22 September 2023,  9.00-10.00 CET (+1h FI)Nordregio, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU, The City of Stavanger In this webinar, researchers present evidence and evidence-based models for green space design – What kind of health-promoting aspects does green space planning…

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…

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:    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 WILL BE RELEASED AT THE EVENT The webinar will be based on a new literature overview Green Transition – key concepts and implications in the Nordic region and a knowledge overview on climate mitigation policies The social impacts of climate mitigation policies on vulnerable…

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…

Hvordan kan en øget selvforsyning af fødevarer bidrage til at skabe mere bæredygtige og resiliente fødevaresystemer? Det spørgsmål har Nordregio, Norsk institutt for bioøkonomi (NIBIO) og Búnaðarstovan på Færøerne undersøgt i projektet “Selvforsyning af fødevarer i nordiske øsamfund” i de fem nordiske øsamfund Bornholm, Færøerne, Grønland, Island og Åland. På webinaret vil vi præsentere resultaterne fra projektet som har fokuseret på at udregne selvforsyningsgraden og dækningsgraden for de fem samfund, at beskrive udfordringer og muligheder ved en øget selvforsyningsgrad, fremtage gode eksempler fra hvert øsamfund, og belyse hvilke potentielle konsekvenser for bæredygtigheden af de lokale fødevaresystemer som øget selvforsyning kan have. Siden projektets afslutning har dette spørgsmål fået fornyet relevans og fokus i den offentlige debat som en konsekvens af krigen i Ukraine. Projektet er initieret af småsamfundsgruppen under den nordiske arbejdsgruppe for cirkulær økonomi og udført med finansiering fra Nordisk Ministerråd. Webinaret finder sted torsdag 5. maj fra 10:30-11:30 CET i Zoom og afholdes på skandinavisk. PROGRAM 10.30    Velkommen 10.35    Præsentation af projektets resultater v/ Louise Ormstrup Vestergård, Research Fellow, Nordregio Lars Johan Rustad, Afdelingsleder, Landbruksøkonomisk analyse, NIBIO Tróndur Gilli Leivsson, Direktør, Landbrugsstyrelsen på Færøerne 11.00    Paneldiskussion med udgangspunkt i projektets resultater inkl. tid til spørgsmål             fra deltagerne. Paneldeltagere:  Anna Guðrún Edvardsdóttir, forsker, Hólar Universitet i Island Sue Holmström, Direktør, Ålands Producentförbund Katrine Høst, landskabsforvalter, Bornholms Regionskommune 11.30    Tak for nu Læs publikationen: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-528/# Se webinaret (optagelse): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_qB4vPbtA  

OPEN TG ARENA: Remote work – What does it mean for people, places and planning? 10 May, 14.00-15.30 CET, online (register via link on the side) Nordregio launches a new report about the implications of increased remote work for regional development and planning in cities, regions and rural areas? Nordic experts join the event and give an overview of the urban exodus in Stockholm and remote work patterns in Finland.  PROGRAMME 10 May, 14.00-15.30 CET Part 1: Launching the report Remote work: Effects on Nordic people, places and planning – Nordic knowledge overview by Linda Randall, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio Followed by commentary remarks from Paula Mikkola, representative of the cross-border committees and the Nordic thematic group for Green and Inclusive Rural Development Part 2: Practical implications – Changes in the mobility patterns in the Nordics Urban exodus in Covid times: Who moves out of the inner city of Stockholm and where do they go?  Louisa Vogiazides, Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Human Geography at the Stockholm University Uncovering multi-locality and remote work patterns in Finland: Where do people actually spend their time? Kati Pitkänen, PhD, docent, Senior researcher, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE Followed by commentary remarks from Nanna Bay Sønderbæk, representative of the Danish Ministry of Interior and housing, and the Nordic thematic group Green and Inclusive Urban Development in the Nordics, Open discussion and you can use the chat function to ask questions!

Efforts toward socially inclusive and green development have become cornerstones of regional and urban policy throughout the Nordic Region. This is reflected in a wide range of national strategies, frameworks, funding schemes and action plans to promote cross-cutting sustainability objectives, but how are these operationalised at the local level? In this webinar, we bring together national, regional, and local representatives to exchange knowledge about ongoing initiatives, practices, and discuss how multilevel governance cooperation can be enhanced within and across the Nordic countries. When: 20 April, 12.30-14.15 CET Where: Zoom Programme 12:30 – WelcomeIntroduction of the Nordic Cooperation & the Nordic Thematic Group for Green and Inclusive Urban Development.Current projects in the programme will be presented:– National support initiatives– Planning for socially mixed and inclusive neighbourhoodsMats Stjernberg, Johannes Lidmo and Diana N. Huynh, Nordregio 12.45 – Green development in the Nordic countriesThree examples of national-level green initiatives:– Klimasats, Miljødirektoraktet (Norwegian Environment Agency), NO– DK2020, Concito, DK– Klimatklivet, Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency), SE 13:05 – Inclusive development in the Nordic countries  Two examples of national-level initiatives on enhancing social inclusion and sustainability:– Områdesatsningene, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, NO– Lähiöohjelma, Ministry of the Environment, FI  13:20 – Q&A 13:35 – Other initiatives for sustainable citiesTwo additional initiatives will present how municipalities work across areas to promote socially inclusive and green development at the local levl– Borgarlína, Transport for the Capital Area, IS– Prosjekt tettstedspakke, Transportøkonomisk institutt (Norwegian Centre for Transport Research), NO  13.50 – Panel discussionKey questions:   – What role does the national level take in supporting sustainable urban development?– What lessons can be drawn from ongoing multilevel cooperation across the Nordic countries?– How can increased Nordic collaboration strengthen vertical and horizontal integration of policies in practice at the local level? The panel will also include representatives from: –  Association of Finnish Municipalities (Kuntaliitto), FI– Vejle municipality…

What do we know about the diversity of the Nordic senior population in terms of health, activity and societal participation? New Nordic research shows that older adults are a diverse group and that their possibilities to live an active and healthy life depends on many different background variables. Welcome to join us at Nordregio´s and the Nordic Welfare Centre´s webinar Grasping the diversity among older adults. In this webinar, researchers from Nordregio will present the results of two new studies: Indicators for Active and Healthy Ageing in the Nordic Region. Possibilities and Challenges. Active and Healthy Ageing – heterogenous perspectives and Nordic indicators. The webinar will be held on 6 April 2022, 13.00–14.30 CET on the platform Zoom. Following the presentations, Nordic municipalities, responsible ministries, researchers, and seniors’ organisations have been invited to comment on the findings and discuss the possibilities and challenges for active and healthy ageing in the Nordics. Programme 13:00 – 14:30 CET 12.45 – 13.00   Virtual meeting room opens  13.00 – 13.05  WelcomeModerator Åsa Hildestrand, Head of Communications, NordregioAila Määttä, Project Manager, Nordic Welfare CentreMats Stjernberg, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio     13.05 – 13.20   Presentation of the report “Indicators for Active and Healthy Ageing in the Nordic Region. Possibilities and Challenges”Alex Cuadrado, Junior Research Fellow, Nordregio  13.20 – 13. 30  Comments and follow-upsSonja Hansen, European Project Officer at the Health and Assisted Living Technology Department in Aarhus municipality, DenmarkKristoffer Lundberg, Deputy Director, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden 13.30 – 13.45  Presentation of the report “Active and Healthy Ageing: Heterogenous perspectives and Nordic indicators”Diana Huynh, Research Fellow, Nordregio 13.45 – 13.55  Comments and follow-upsMikaela von Bonsdorff, Associate Professor, University of Jyväskylä, FinlandMarianne Laxén, Gender Equality Expert (retired), Nordic Older People´s Organisation (NOPO) 13.55 – 14.25  Panel discussion and questions from the audiencePanellists:  Finn Kamper-Jørgensen, Danish Council of Elders, DenmarkEmma Matsson, Development Leader, Age-friendly City of Gothenburg, SwedenAina…

How to use public procurement for more sustainable municipalities? The third of Nordregio’s three Localising Agenda 2030 webinars took place on 2 March 2022, watch the recording below! The Nordic countries enjoy high living standards, but also stand out in global rankings as over-consumers of natural resources. To reach Agenda 2030 targets, our production and consumption patterns must change, moving from linear approaches to circular flows. With several billion spent on public procurement each year across the Nordic region, procurement is a powerful tool to leverage sustainability at a large scale. A recent report from the Nordic Council of Ministers has highlighted public procurement as ‘the missing multiplier’. While identified as an individual target (SDG 12.7), public procurement can impact all SDGs and 82% of the targets. In this webinar, we will learn from some municipalities who changed their procurement processes – and discuss gains and pitfalls along the way towards increased circularity and local produce. Programme13:00 – 14:30 CET 13:00 Welcome greeting  13:05 Setting the scene: How to use public procurement for more sustainable Nordic municipalities? 13:10 Keynote speech #1 Nanna Krog-Meyer, Director of Economy, Gladsaxe municipality, Denmark 13:30 Keynote speech #2 Eveliina Varis, Senior Advisor on Sustainability, Vantaa municipality, Finland 13:50 Panel discussion with keynote speakers and experts, followed by a Q&A with the audience!• Tobias Jobring, National Agency for Public Procurement, Sweden• Salla Koivusalo, KEINO – competence centre for sustainable and innovative public procurement, Finland• Ida Laustsen, Innovative Procurements, Norway 14:25 Final remarks The Localising Agenda 2030 webinars gather local officials and civil society networks across the Nordics that work actively with the SDGs – in leadership, indicator development, and the shift towards sustainable public procurement. The Nordic Council of Ministers funds the series to strengthen collaboration between Nordic municipalities and inspire further learning and action towards the 2030…

Developing meaningful indicators to measure local SDG progress The second of Nordregio’s three Localising Agenda 2030 webinars will take place on 16 February 2022, 13:00 – 14:30 CET. WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE WEBINAR! Measuring the progress and impact of local Agenda 2030 efforts remains a challenge for many Nordic municipalities since indicators and data are not always available locally. Nevertheless, many municipalities have established meaningful, localised indicators that correspond with city strategies towards Agenda 2030. There is also growing momentum around Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), which we will learn more about in this knowledge-sharing webinar. We are excited to have experienced municipalities offering their best practices on developing and applying indicator sets. The challenges of developing comprehensive methodologies, working across departments, and coordinating with fellow Nordic municipalities to report on common targets is another area that will be addressed during the session. Welcome to join the discussion and share your tools and learnings! Programme13:00 – 14:30 CET 13:00 Welcome greeting  13:05 Setting the scene: Developing meaningful indicators and strengthening the Nordic collaboration. 13:10 Keynote speech #1 Helen Wiklund, Helsingborg, Sweden 13:30 Keynote speech #2 Dr. Ville Taajamaa, SDG Manager, Mayors office, City of Espoo 13:50 Panel discussion with keynote speakers ando Óttar Freyr Gíslason, Icelandic Association of Local Authorities – Samband, Icelando Geir Graff, Asker municipality, Norway followed by a Q&A with the audience! 14:25 Final remarks FIND MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTER FOR THE THIRD WEBINAR! 2 March 2022: The missing multiplier: How to use public procurement for more sustainable municipalities?  The Localising Agenda 2030 webinars gather local officials and civil society networks across the Nordics that work actively with the SDGs – in leadership, indicator development, and the shift towards sustainable public procurement. The Nordic Council of Ministers funds the series to strengthen collaboration between Nordic municipalities and inspire…

How to integrate SDGs and navigate goal conflicts at the local level Watch the recording! Nordic front-runners in SDG achievement usually have two things in common: bold leadership and a steering process encompassing the goals. As one municipality has suggested, integration of the SDGs into the city strategy, financial planning, and practical operations are vital. We are kicking off this new series of Agenda 2030 webinars with a knowledge-sharing session on how to develop leadership, integrate the goals of Agenda 2030 into local planning and budgeting tools, and turn goal conflicts into synergies for a more sustainable future. Welcome to join the discussion and share your tools and learnings! Programme 13:00 – 14:30 CET 13:00 Welcome greeting  13:05 Setting the scene: Why bold leadership is key to the successful implementation of SDGs. 13:10 Keynote speech #1 Mats Johansson, Coordinator, Finspång municipality, SwedenStrategic plan of Finspång municipality, including SDGs, for 2021 – 2023 13:30 Keynote speech #2 Arne Ingebrigtsen, Chief Municipal Officer, Kristiansund, NorwayHandlingsprogram 2022-2025 13:50 Panel discussion with representatives from Nordic municipalities: Ville Taajamaa, Espoo, Finland and Auður Finnbogadóttir, Kópavogsbær, Iceland, and a Q&A with the audience! 14:25 Final remarks REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS ENDED! FIND MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION FOR THE UPCOMING WEBINARS! 16 February 2022: What’s in a Voluntary Local Review? Developing meaningful indicators to measure local SDG progress 2 March 2022: The missing multiplier: How to use public procurement for more sustainable Nordic municipalities?  The Localising Agenda 2030 webinars welcome local officials and civil society networks across the Nordics that work actively with the SDGs – in leadership, indicator development, and the shift towards sustainable public procurement. The Nordic Council of Ministers funds the series to strengthen collaboration between Nordic municipalities and inspire further learning and action towards the 2030 goals.  Discover previous webinar series, publications and more of our work with the Agenda…

When we think of “peripheral” areas, we often tend to bring up their disadvantages compared to more urbanised places. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has overturned such thinking. In times of crisis, peripheries became a refuge for maintaining health, wellbeing, strengthening community ties and local economies. The discussion “Redefining peripherality” gathers scholars from the Nordic and North Atlantic regions to challenge the dominant paradigm through the experience of rural areas in the Northern Periphery and the Arctic – during the pandemic and after. Moderator: Ágúst Bogason, Research Fellow at Nordregio Guest speakers: Liam Glynn, practising GP (community doctor) in an Irish village of just over 250 people, and also Professor of General Practice, School of Medicine at Limerick University, Ireland, and lead partner for the CovidWatch-EU-NPA project Anna Karlsdóttir, Senior Research Fellow at Nordregio, Head of the Nordic Thematic Group on Green Inclusive Rural Regional Development Theona Morrison & Thomas Fisher, Directors of CoDeL, the lead partner for the Northern Periphery & Arctic Covid-19 Economics Impact project. Both are long-term residents of Uist (remote Scottish islands in the Outer Hebrides). Theona is Acting Chair of Scottish Rural Action. Thomas is former Director for Enterprising Communities, New Economics Foundation, London.   The discussion is supported by the Nordic Talks Podcast series: https://www.nordictalks.com/ More information about the project “COVID-19 Economic Impacts & Recovery in the Northern Periphery & Arctic”: http://codel.scot/covid-19-economic-impacts-recovery-in-the-northern-periphery-arctic

Stopping environmental degradation through innovative production and consumption patterns has never been as high on the agenda as it is now. Much attention is drawn to youth who are breaking old habits and introducing new ways to accelerate the green transition. But what has their journey been like? What are the challenges and opportunities to develop such ideas further? BeUBio project invites youth, policy makers, and funders interested in developing, advancing, and supporting circular and bioeconomy businesses to join a panel discussion on “Youth journey towards a sustainable economy”. In the discussion, we will showcase inspiring youth-led bioeconomy business examples across the Baltic Sea Region and discuss challenges and opportunities in developing the circular economy businesses. Policy makers/funders will also present existing support mechanisms for initiating and maintaining such initiatives. Tentative agenda: Welcome, About BeUBio project Panel discussion with representatives from youth, a local authority and youth entrepreneurship education programme Discussion with audience Key messages from panelists Panelists: Ole Kristian Vingdal and Mathias Wahl, software developers and co-founders, and Marina Skanche, Advisor of Circular Economy, Loopfront – a Norwegian company offering construction companies and organisations a simpler way to track and reuse building materials furniture, and inventory. Jonas Ignatavičius, CEO of Nando – a Lithuanian company, supplying chemical raw substances for various sectors, including the food industry, manufacturing of cosmetics, household chemicals, pharmacy, paints and vanish, and metal processing. Sara Jervfors, Head of Diet Unit Södertälje and Gnesta Municipality, project leader of MatLust – an initiative fostering healthy and sustainable food industry in the Stockholm region, Sweden. Mari Laakso-Suutari, Project coordinator at Junior Achievement Finland. About the project The BeUBio project aims to promote youth involvement across the Baltic Sea Region for transition to a bio-based economy, and create synergies with other actors and initiatives addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In the BeUBio platform you can find stories of young…

Smart Planning for Healthy and Green Nordic Cities: Citizen engagement & participation bringing technology, people, and nature together How are human wellbeing and access to green spaces co-created and integrated into city planning? And how can investment in and by cities jointly support multiple urban objectives to be liveable, equitable, resilient and contribute positively to regional and global sustainability? In this EU Green Week roundtable event, we share our ongoing work across the NORDGREEN and SMARTer Greener Cities projects funded by NordForsk. We will discuss what it means to engage citizens in systems-oriented approaches to green planning processes and the implications for multi-level governance across the Nordics and Europe more broadly. The session also brings forth experiences and perspectives from researchers, practitioners and city representatives working to leverage the potential to improve sustainable places, health and well-being for people and local communities. REGISTER HERE.  

Citizen engagement & participation bringing technology, people, and nature together Join us for EU Green Week event on the 4th of June and find out how human wellbeing and access to green spaces are co-created and integrated into city planning, how investment in and by cities can jointly support multiple urban objectives to be liveable, equitable, resilient and contribute positively to regional and global sustainability. In this event, Nordregio Senior Research Advisor Ryan Weber, Junior Research Fellow Diana N. Huynh and partners from Smarter Greener Cities as well as Aalto University will share ongoing work across the NORDGREEN and SMARTer Greener Cities projects funded by NordForsk. We will discuss what it means to engage citizens in systems-oriented approaches to green planning processes and the implications for multi-level governance across the Nordics and Europe more broadly. The session also will bring forth experiences and perspectives from researchers, practitioners and city representatives working to leverage the potential to improve sustainable places, health and well-being for people and local communities. Watch the recording of the webinar on Nordregio’s Youtube channel.

Join us on 11 May for the webinar launch of the new report to find out more and join the discussion. The media picture and the political argumentation in for example Denmark, claim that the spread of infection and excess mortality in vulnerable housing areas is due to a lack of language skills and cultural differences between immigrant groups and the majority population. A new report from the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordregio points to several underlying factors that have caused the high level of infection and mortality in areas with a large proportion of foreign-born. Rather than language difficulties and cultural background, structural factors and inequality have come into play. These factors make it difficult and, in some cases, impossible for residents to follow the guidelines. On 11 May 2021, 13:00 – 14:30 CET, Nordregio researchers Sandra Oliveira e Costa and Hjördís Rut Sigurjónsdóttir will present their findings during a webinar. Representatives from segregated areas in the Nordic countries will comment on the report and share their pandemic experiences. Followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with representatives from Nordic authorities responsible for counteracting housing segregation. Contact person: Helena Lagercrantz, Communications Generalist/Project Manager Find the program at the Nordic Integration website here. Recording from 11 May webinar will soon be available on Nordregio’s youtube channel.

Regional and national actors in skills supply are gathering digitally to share information, news, experiences and have a dialogue with colleagues from all over Sweden. Nordregio’s Senior Research Fellow Anna Lundgren will share the results of a recently conducted study. On the second day of the digital conference, Anna Lundgren will provide a Nordic and European outlook on skills supply system and how to secure it for future. The study on skills policies has been commissioned by the Nordic Thematic Group for Innovative and Resilient Regions 2017-2020. The Competence Supply Days event is organised by Tillväxtverket.

For the first time ever, cross-border statistics for all Nordic countries has been produced, shedding new light on mobility across borders in the Nordic countries. How far are we from being the most integrated region in the world, one of the main goals of Nordic Cooperation? And how much do we know about the movements of people within the Nordic Region? Nordic Council of Ministers invites you to a discussion about current mobility patterns and statistics cooperation in the Nordics. Nordregio’s new Director, Rolf Elmér will join the program in the panel on the need for better cross-border statistics in the Nordics. Among the speakers, you will also find  Paula Mikkola, Nordkalottrådet and Elsie Hellström, Svinesundskomitéen, sharing reflections on Nordic mobility in cross-border regions. Paula and Elsie have been active members of the Nordic Thematic Groups for Rural Development and Innovative and Resilient Regions that Nordregio has been coordinating for the past four years. 

On the 26th of January, we launched the book Green Visions: Greenspace Planning and Design in Nordic Cities. Selected authors and acclaimed landscape architects from around the Nordic Region came together to critically discuss the role of planning and design of public greenspace, both for today and for the future of Nordic sustainable cities. The launch was recorded and is available through the link below. Watch the launch Nordic cities are renowned for promoting accessibility to greenspace, both in terms of preserving natural landscapes as well as establishing green public space within highly developed areas. At the same time, multiple pressures threaten our access to urban green and recreative spaces. Increasing liberal planning approaches are further commodifying land, and even lasting good practices are under development pressure. Ethnic and economic segregation has also led to significant intra-urban spatial disparities in terms of access to high-quality green and recreation space. Green Visions explores and evaluates the historical pathways, contemporary development, and future outlook for planning, design, and policy-making of green and recreational cities in the Nordic Region. Landscape architects, planners, policymakers, and active citizens will learn from practitioners who share decades of knowledge regarding the aesthetics, functionality, and significance of urban greenspaces throughout Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Readers within the Nordic Region and abroad will find an in-depth exploration of urban greenspace that will inspire and incite curiosity over the future of urban greenspaces. As cities navigate contemporary urban challenges and prepare for uncertain futures with regards to climate change, urban densification, and social inequities, the insights from the book act as review and vision for sustainable urban planning and design. The book is published by renown publisher Arvinus + Orfeus. Programme: Presentations by Karsten Jørgensen, Thorbjörn Andersson, Stig L. Andersson and Ranja Hautamäki. Panel discussion with Monica von…

2020 has been a tough year for tourism and we are yet to witness the full regional and national impacts across the world. This year also provides an opportunity to take a step back and ponder what kind of tourism is sustainable in the long run? Has the business been financially, socially, and environmentally beneficial for the region? How do we handle the tourism paradox? The fourth session of Nordregio Forum 2020 dives into these questions and more, and you can register already today!   Check the recordings and links here In this fourth and final session on the 3rd of February, our researchers will focus on regional plans for sustainable tourism, how to measure impact, and the challenges ahead. We will also hear directly from some Nordic regions how they survived the shock, so far? Which are the new trends, tools and strategies to support local tourism, innovation and resilience, post-Covid?  The full programme, information about speakers and more is available on the Forum website: www.nordregioevents.org/programme The recordings from the first three sessions are available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrur_rLAN0p6f6oeiw6Dlag

On 17 November, Nordic Council of Ministers invites you to join a digital summit to discuss a green recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the series of six debates, politicians, organizations, representatives from the public and private sectors and entrepreneurs from the Nordic region will identify the strengths and weaknesses in the Nordic model. Among other topics, Nordregio will share  Nordic perspectives on green transition. The discussions will focus on various aspects of the role that the Nordics will play in the global, post-corona, green recovery. How can we achieve a just green transition in times of recession? Is the Nordic welfare model equipped for this brave new future without leaving anyone behind? What implications will the green transition have for the educational system? Are the Nordic countries prepared for a green future with a different job market that requires new skill sets? These are just some of the complex questions we will be asking. Nordregio’s Senior Research Fellow Anna Lundgren will participate in the session “The Nordic welfare state: Green, inclusive and excellent?”. Watch the discussion at 17:00 (GMT +1). The summit will be broadcasted live from the Nordic capital. See the full programme here: https://www.norden.org/sv/choosing-green

Join us on the 26 October for a webinar about Scottish and Nordic perspectives on the common objective of repopulating rural and remote areas hosted by Scottish Government. This session will offer Scottish and Nordic perspectives on the common objective of repopulating rural and remote areas, identifying similarities, divergences and opportunities for mutual learning. Discussions will focus on approaches to making rural and remote communities attractive places to move to, live, work and bring up families, to ensure sustainable populations, facilitate inclusive economic growth and support wellbeing. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be multifaceted from a population and migration perspective, with higher mortality rates of an ageing population and international and internal migration flows already impacted in the short-term. Moderator: Jane Craigie – Director, Rural Youth Project Speakers: Fiona Hyslop – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Karen Refsgaard – Research Director, Nordregio Timothy Heleniak – Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio Jane Atterton – Manager, Rural Policy Centre, Scotland’s Rural College Martin Shields – Isle of Kerrera Development Trust This event is part of the Scottish Government’s Arctic Connections webinar series. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rural-and-thriving-scottish-and-nordic-lessons-on-reversing-depopulation-tickets-124069853271?aff=erelpanelorg

Cross-border regions across the Nordics and beyond are facing challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the web conference “Strengthening cross-border communities: Lessons from Covid-19”, representatives from European and Nordic institutions will discuss the short- and long-term impacts of Covid-19 in cross-border regions. The results of recent studies in the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund regions will be presented and refined during the conference – with your help. Cross-border activities came dramatically to a halt in the spring of 2020 as a result of measures adopted to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. On a macro level, the interruption of flows of people and goods added significant stress on every aspect of community life, as well as challenging the supply and accessibility to key goods and services. Bi-national communities, used to a borderless daily life, suddenly experienced hard borders. These communities were divided by inward-looking national measures put in place without considering the nature of border communities.  Collaboration across borders is being tested, but also the resilience and viability of cross-border community living. This highlights the need for raising more awareness of the consequences and risks of hard borders for these communities, and what instruments may be developed to ensure the long-term resilience of cross-border regions. Web conference With this web conference, Nordregio together with the Bothnian Arc and Svinesund cross-border committees aim to stimulate learning among stakeholders from across Nordic border regions, and open up for a discussion on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in a short- and long term perspective. We will share results from research conducted on behalf of the Nordic Thematic Group of Innovative and Resilient Regions – including a not yet published report on Covid-19 implications where we seek your input on the conclusions. Guests speakers Among others, the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)…

Nordic Housing Markets and Policies: Nordic Economic Policy Review 2021 Welcome to the digital peer-review seminars on Nordic Economic Policy Review 2021. Housing expenditure is by far the largest expenditure in a typical Nordic household, and housing plays a central role in social welfare. Recent decades have seen dramatic developments and changes in Nordic housing markets with rapid increases in building costs, price bubbles, lack of affordable and social housing, and deregulations of the rental markets. The 2021 issue of the Nordic Economic Policy Review deals with these issues, based on academic research by prominent Nordic researchers. On October 20th and 21st, the first drafts will be presented and commented by professionals from both academia and the public sector. Register here: Tuesday 20th Wednesday 21st Programme Tuesday 20th of October (14.00 – 16.30 CEST) 14.00-14.10 Introduction by Harry Flam and Peter Englund, Editors 14.15-14.35 Cost and productivity in housing construction, Mats Bergman, Södertörn University, and Sten Nyberg, Stockholm University 14.40-15.00 Discussants: Hans Lind, Royal Institute of Technology and Michael Cocozza, Botrygg 15.00-15.20 Housing price bubbles in Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen, André Kallåk Anundsen, OsloMet 15.25-15.45 Discussants: John Duca, Oberlin College and Sverre Mæhlum, Bank of Norway 15.50-16.10 Social housing: affordability and integration, Essi Eerola, VATT Institute for Economic Research 16.15-16.35 Discussants: Matz Dahlberg, Uppsala University, and Peter Stephensen, Danish Research Institute for Economic Analysis and Modelling 16.35 – 17.00 Time for questions from participants and conclusions Programme Wednesday 21st of October (10.30 – 12.45 CEST) 10.30 – 10.40 Introduction by Harry Flam and Peter Englund, Editors 10.45-11.05 Buy to let and housing prices, Erlend Eide B󠅿ø, Statistics Norway 11.10 – 11.30 Discussants: Kasper Kragh-Sørensen, University of Oslo, and Marius Hagen, Bank of Norway 11.35-11.55 Efficiency and equity: taxation of housing, Niku Määttänen, ETLA 12.00 – 12.20 Discussants: Peter Birch Sørensen, University of Copenhagen and Niels Kleis…

See the presentation from the webinar! In case you missed the webinar, watch the recording below. Join us online on the 28 October for a conversation about patterns of traffic between borders in the Nordic Region! AGENDA Moderator: Ryan Weber (Senior Research Advisor, Nordregio) 10:00 – 10:05 – Opening words: Ryan Weber & Alf S. Johansen (Senior planner at the Värmland-Östfold Border Council) 10:05 – 10:15 – High-Speed Train between Oslo and Stockholm– Julien Grunfelder (Senior Researcher at Nordregio) 10:15 – 10:25 – Kvarken Ferry link between Vaasa and Umeå – Mats Stjernberg (Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio) 10:25 – 10:35 – Rail Accessibility in the Great Copenhagen region – Diana N. Huynh (Junior Research Fellow, Nordregio) 10:35 – 11:00 – Round table discussion with an introduction by Luciane Aguiar Borges (Senior Researcher Fellow at Nordregio) Thomas S. Nielsen, Senior Consultant at The Danish Road Directorate Björn Hasselgren, Senior Advisor at the Swedish Transport Administration Marko Mäenpää, Transport System Specialist from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom (TBC) Register here:  https://www.lyyti.in/CROSSBORDER_TRAFFIC_FLOWS_IN_THE_NORDIC_REGION_4546

One more NordMap workshop for this fall! Due to high demand on the workshop 2, we will host one more workshop introducing and summarizing the web mapping tool. You will get a change to be introduced to NordMap in a nutshell and get familiar with the tool in 30min. If you missed any of our previous two workshops or just want to refresh your learning, please join our third workshop here: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/Online_Workshop_NordMap_2_1296 During the workshop we will show you how to: Find the statistics and infographics for regions Create maps and share them with others Find similar regions and municipalities Use time series to see change over time Play around with map colours or design map in favoured spectrum You will also have a chance to get answers to your questions.  

Is our region ranking high or low on employment? How do I compare with other Nordic regions and countries? Has the situation changed in the past 10 years? With NordMap-webmapping tool all this is easy to do, just join our next workshop and we will show you how within 30min! During the workshop we will show you how to: Find similar regions and municipalities Use time series to see change over time Play around with map colours or Design map in favoured spectrum Due to high demand on the workshop 1, we will limit the amount of participants to this workshop vol2 to ensure interactivity and learning by doing together with our experts. You will also have a chance to go through the content from workshop 1 by signing up to this one. This workshop is full. Please sign up for the last one this fall on 24th September here: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/Online_Workshop_NordMap_2_1296

Ålands landskapsregering inbjuder till ett webbseminarium på onsdagen den 9 sep 2020 kl. 14.00-16.00. Länken till webbseminarium kommer att delas till registrerade deltagare via e-mail. Vilka ekonomiska och sociala konsekvenser har Covid-19 på Åland? Hur skall vi återhämta oss – speciellt med tanke på kapitalförsörjning och kompetensförsörjning? Vad kan LBU-programmet och strukturfondsprogrammet 2014–2020, och de kommande EU- programmen 2021 – 2027 tillföra för Åland?   Program: (Moderatorer Elin Slätmo & Jukka Teräs) 14.00 Introduktion och välkomnande (med kort introduktion till LBU-programmet och strukturfondsprogrammet) – Sölve Högman & Susanne Strand, Ålands landskapsregerin 14.15 Åland under/efter covid-19 – perspektiv från banksektorn, Peter Wiklöf, Ålandsbanken 14.35 Ålands ekonomi och arbetsmarknad i september 2020 med tanke på covid-19, Jouko Kinnunen, ÅSUB 14.50-15.00 Frågor & Svar 15.00 Skills & Competence, Nordisk jämförelse, Anna Lundgren, Nordregio 15.15 Panel: Hur skall Åland ut ur Covid-19 krisen? Hur kan LBU- och strukturfondsprogrammen bidra till återhämtning? Modererat av Elin Slätmo & Jukka Teräs – med inledande diskussion: Victoria Sundberg, CIO Cirio Advokatbyrå AB & Caroline Lepistö, VD/CEO Åland Hotels 15.50 Sammanfattning av eftermiddagen – Linnea Johansson, Ålands landskapsregering  Anmälan om deltagande senast den 8 september, 2020 till:  vaida.razaityte@nordregio.org  

NordMap is easy and free to use web-mapping tool. Are you studying or working with regional development and planning? Or perhaps just interested in regional and municipal differences when it comes to ageing, employment figures or the economy in the Nordic Region? All topics related to State of the Nordic Region are included in NordMap and data continuously updated. NordMap is easy to use and you don’t need any previous mapping experience. We are happy to show you online in a workshop 27 August at 9am, it only takes about 30min! Sign up here: https://www.lyyti.in/Online_Workshop_NORDMAP_5794

Sami language competence is a sought-after skill in the regional labour markets. Sami-related occupations can be found in traditional occupations such as reindeer husbandry and Sami handicrafts, but also in tourism and in creative industries. But are there enough Sami teachers? And how do Sami education institutions meet the labour market opportunities? A new Nordregio report investigates these questions and the results are discussed in a webinar together with Sami youth representatives Juhán Niila Stålka, board member of the youth association Sáminuorra, and Arla Magga, the Sami Parliament in Finland, author of a report on cross-border education and the coordinator of an ongoing project on remote Sami language education. “We didn’t really learn anything about our own culture in school. I started learning about it at university. Now that I have the language, there is so much I can do, for example translations, interpretation, write education material. (…) I have a friend who teaches Sami language remotely while living abroad. Modern technology makes this possible.” (Youth, F, FI) Lise Smed Olsen from Oxford Research and Linnea Löfving will present the results of the study which was commissioned by The Nordic Thematic Group on Sustainable Rural Development 2017-2020. The report will be published in mid-June and it will be available at the thematic group website nordregioprojects.org/rural, Nordregio’s website as well as directly sent to all webinar participants. A link to the event will be sent to all participants a day before, but registration is needed here: https://www.lyyti.in/Samiwebinar

Most advanced economies face large future fiscal challenges because of an ageing population. This applies also to the Nordics where generous welfare systems are likely to aggravate the problems. Serious attempts are made in all Nordic countries to analyse the long-run sustainability of fiscal policy. The countries have strict fiscal frameworks in order to guarantee responsible fiscal policy. An important objective is to secure fiscal room of manoeuvre in crises like the current one. All Nordic countries except Norway have established independent fiscal councils to monitor fiscal policy. In the webinar, a new report, commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and written by Lars Calmfors, will be presented and discussed. The report reviews and compares the fiscal frameworks in the Nordic countries. It analyses the methods for judging fiscal sustainability and evaluates the sustainability analyses made by ministries of finance and other institutions. The aim of the report is that the various Nordic countries should be able to learn from each other in this field. Sign up here Programme 9.30-9.35 Introduction: Harry Flam, Fiscal Policy Council and Stockholm University (moderator) 9.35-9.40 Background to the project: Anders Hedberg, Nordic Council of Ministers 9.40-10.10 Presentation of the report: Lars Calmfors, Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Stockholm University 10.10-10.50 Panel discussion: A Nordic Perspective on fiscal frameworks and fiscal sustainability: Carl-Johan Dalgaard, Danish Economic Councils and University of Copenhagen; Yngvar Dyvi, Norwegian Ministry of Finance; Jouko Vilmunen, Finnish Economic Policy Council and University of Turku; Lars Calmfors, Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Stockholm University 10.50-11.30 Panel discussion: The fiscal framework and fiscal sustainability in Sweden: Göran Hjelm, National Institute of Economic Research; Pär Österholm, Swedish Fiscal Policy Council and Örebro University; Lars Calmfors, Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Stockholm University Sign up here 

What makes a rural region thrive? Nordregio discovered 14 stories from the regions where the population and employment are growing along with satisfaction and pride to belong. The usual narrative for the rural regions tends to be the opposite. Join the webinar to hear more from the regions and researchers what these municipalities and regions did differently. You will also get an opportunity to interact with the authors and other speakers: Karen Refsgaard & Michael Kull, Nordregio Dennis Holm, mayor of Vágur, Faroe Islands Toni K. Laine, mayor of Inari, Finland Camilla Nissen, The Danish Business Authority, Denmark POSTPONED (new date not set yet)  Webinar: Attractive rural municipalities in the Nordic countries: Jobs, people and reasons for success from 14 case studies.  

Digitalisation is often described as a global megatrend and is set to transform all elements of our economy, government and society. But what exactly does that mean at the local level? What are the implications for communities, businesses? What challenges are on the horizon? What are the opportunities and how can we make the most of these? And how should policymakers respond? Throughout March, Nordregio researchers will be joined by practitioners and experts in the field to explore these questions from a rural perspective. Join us for the webinar series here: https://www.lyyti.in/ruraldigitalization March 10, 13:00 (Swedish time) – Webinar 1: The digital divide March 17, 13:00 (Swedish time) – Webinar 2: Manufacturing/Industry March 24, 13:00 (Swedish time) – Webinar 3: Bioeconomy March 31, 13:00 (Swedish time) – Webinar 4: Sustainable tourism Webinar 1: The digital divide Rural and sparsely populated areas are often painted as lagging behind their urban counterparts when it comes to digitalisation. This situation is often referred to as “the digital divide” and relates to both the availability of digital infrastructure and the use of digital technologies among the population. This webinar will explore the digital divide from a critical perspective, highlighting examples of how it is being overcome in different parts of the Nordic-Baltic Region. We will here from Tommy Nilsson (Byanätsforum, Sweden) about how communities across Sweden are mobilising to get connected; Regina Westas Stedt (Vingåker Municipality, Sweden) will talk about what it means to be a “smart” rural municipality; and Aiga Irmeja (Latvian IT Cluster, Latvia) will share an example of how a rural community in Latvia is upskilling in order to tackle local challenges through digital means.   Webinar 2: Digitalisation in the manufacturing industry We are at the beginning of what is commonly termed the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where digitalisation is gaining solid…

Welcome to the State of the Nordic Region 2020 thematic webinar about Labour Markets in the Nordic countries. You will get an introduction to the maps and the development in the Nordic countries with a possibility to interact with the authors. The report gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. State of the Nordic Region 2020 is published by the Nordic Council of Ministers and produced by Nordregio, an international research center for regional development and planning established by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The workshop takes place on the 3th of March at 11-12 am, 2020. Registration: Sign-up to webinar on Labour Market in the Nordics, based on State of the Nordic Region 2020.  

Welcome to the State of the Nordic Region 2020 thematic webinar about Carbon Neutrality in the Nordic countries. You will get an introduction to the maps and the development in the Nordic countries with a possibility to interact with the authors. The report gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. State of the Nordic Region 2020 is published by the Nordic Council of Ministers and produced by Nordregio, an international research center for regional development and planning established by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The workshop takes place on the 25th of February at 11-12 am, 2020. Registration: Sign-up to webinar on Carbon Neutrality in the Nordics, based on State of the Nordic Region 2020.  

Welcome to the State of the Nordic Region 2020 thematic webinar about the Economy in the Nordic countries. You will get an introduction to the maps and the development in the Nordic countries with a possibility to interact with the authors. The report gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. State of the Nordic Region 2020 is published by the Nordic Council of Ministers and produced by Nordregio, an international research center for regional development and planning established by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The workshop takes place on the 19th of February at 11-12 am, 2020. Registration: Sign-up to webinar on Economy in the Nordics, based on State of the Nordic Region 2020.  

Welcome to the State of the Nordic Region 2020 thematic webinar about Demography in the Nordic countries. You will get an introduction to the maps and the development in the Nordic countries with a possibility to interact with the authors. The report gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world’s most integrated region, comprised of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. State of the Nordic Region 2020 is published by the Nordic Council of Ministers and produced by Nordregio, an international research center for regional development and planning established by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The workshop takes place on the 12th of February at 11-12 am, 2020. Registration: Sign-up to webinar on Demography in the Nordics, based on State of the Nordic Region 2020.  

The State of the Nordic Region 2020 will be launched on February 4 in Copenhagen in connection to the meeting of the Nordic Co-operation Ministers that same day. The launch is hosted by the Danish Minister for Nordic Co-operation Mogens Jensen and includes a panel discussion on the future of the Nordics. After the launch, Nordregio hosts as webinar to give a more in-depth presentation of the publication. It is Tuesday, February 4, from 14.00-15.00. Read more about the publication and the launch here. Sign up for thematic webinar series based on the report:  DEMOGRAPHY, 12 February 11-12 am, Sign up here ECONOMY, 19 February 11-12 am, Sign up here CARBON NEUTRALITY, 25 February 11-12 am, Sign up here LABOUR MARKET, 3 March 11-12 am, Sign up here

  This webinar gives you the opportunity to participate in the workshop for the Public Space in the Green and Recreative City project, where authors from all Nordic countries will present their draft articles which will later be published as a book. Each chapter will also hear two discussants – one academic and one practitioner. We will stream the presentations (9.20 – 13.55) as well as the conclusions at the end of the day (15.10 – 16.00). You will be able to ask questions both written and orally as you prefer and thus partake in the discussions following the presentations. The aim of this project is to bring forward new planning and design visions for the green and recreative city, and thereby contribute to the development of sustainable Nordic cities. This project will analyse, discuss and develop new visionary knowledge on the preservation and design of public green spaces and recreational spaces for Nordic cities. It will include national expert reviews of current planning and design practices as well as workshops both scrutinising the current situation and developing future visions of the green and recreational city. Join the webinar through this link: https://nordregio.adobeconnect.com/webinar/ DETAILED Programme green visions. PROGRAMME 09.20 – 09.40 Introduction and overview of the day CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN THE PLANNING, POLICY AND DESIGN 09.40 – 10.25 Denmark: Stig Andersson, Founder of SLA & Professor, Copenhagen University 10.25 – 11.10 Norway: Karsten Jorgensen, Professor, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) 11.10 – 11.40 BREAK 11.40 – 12.25 Iceland: Anna María Bogadóttir, Founder of Úrbanistan & Assistant Professor, Iceland University of the Arts 12.25 – 13.10  Finland: Ranja Hautamäki, Associate Professor, Aalto University 13.10 – 13.55 Sweden: Thorbjörn Andersson, Professor, SLU & Landscape Architect – SWECO Architects 15.30-16.00 Panel re-cap from the parallel sessions Sign up here!   For technical questions regarding…

Welcome to a webinar built on the on-going research project “Urban-rural flows of seasonal tourists: Planning challenges and strategies”. In this project we investigate the impact of second homes and seasonal tourism in Nordic municipalities that has a large amount of second homes. Which challenges does this bring, and which strategies do the municipalities use to cope with this large inflow of people who spend time in the municipalities as tourists or second home owners? To shed light on these questions we have conducted case studies in five Nordic municipalities. The webinar will take place Thursday the 12 September 2019 from 12-14 CEST. What will you get from your participation? Be presented to the latest research within the field Get valuable experiences from Nordic municipalities Have the possibility to give feedback to an ongoing research study and give your input Possibility to get connected with people from across the Nordic region who work in municipalities and regions with the same difficulties and challenges Practicalities A webinar is an easy way to gather people who work within the same field and face similar challenges. All you need to have is a computer. Prior to the webinar we will send you the link to enter the platform and more detailed information about how to use the platform. Register here! Registration is open until the 9th of September. The presentation from the webinar can be found here.