Nordregio and Austurbrú have formalized their growing partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on research and knowledge-sharing in regional, rural, and urban development, planning, and governance.
The agreement cements Austurbrú’s role as a key partner for Nordregio, particularly in relation to projects focused on Eastern Iceland. This partnership builds on discussions held during Austurbrú’s visit to Nordregio’s Stockholm office in April, where Austurbrú’s managing director, Dagmar Ýr Stefánsdóttir, and her team explored the potential for cooperation.
During that visit, Austurbrú presented its regional projects and introduced the unique characteristics of East Iceland, an area comparable in size to Sweden’s Skåne region, but with a more dispersed population. The visit highlighted the alignment between our two organizations’ goals and paved the way for this collaboration.
Under the terms of the MOU, Nordregio and Austurbrú will work together on various research projects, with Austurbrú acting as a bridge for communication, dissemination, and networking within Eastern Iceland. The agreement also provides for the exchange of researchers and students between the two institutions to promote knowledge transfer and regional studies. Additionally, Austurbrú will assist Nordregio with data collection, local expertise, and access to regional institutions and communities in East Iceland.
“We at Austurbrú are thrilled to formalize our cooperation with Nordregio. There is clear harmony between our missions, and we are excited about the possibilities this partnership opens up for collaborative regional research,” said Dagmar Ýr Stefánsdóttir, managing director of Austurbrú.
This MOU strengthens Nordregio’s presence in the North Atlantic region and reinforces both organizations’ commitment to sustainable regional development and governance. Future initiatives may include joint research on rural and urban challenges, with Austurbrú serving as a key contact for Nordregio’s research on scattered settlements in Iceland.
