Research

The ESPON TNCOOP project supports the preparation of the next generation of Interreg transnational cooperation programmes (2028-2034). It aims to strengthen the strategic role, territorial relevance, and long-term impact of transnational cooperation, aligning it with future EU political priorities and funding frameworks. European territorial cooperation is evolving in response to new challenges and expectations. External crises, demographic and economic shifts, the green and digital transitions, and broader geopolitical developments are reshaping regional development across Europe. At the same time, EU policy priorities are placing new demands on cooperation frameworks, calling for greater strategic focus, flexibility, and impact. TNCOOP addresses these needs by providing territorial analysis and operational recommendations for post-2027 programme development. Through the project, a harmonised territorial database will be developed for all 13 transnational programme areas, offering an overview of demographic, socio-economic, environmental, and governance trends. Based on this, TNCOOP will identify cooperation opportunities and emerging policy themes that are most relevant for transnational action, highlighting the added value of cooperation. The project will also propose measures to enhance the programmes’ strategic positioning, thematic focus, and operational performance, making them more place-based and territorially relevant. By offering territorial evidence and targeted recommendations, TNCOOP will contribute to more strategic, place-based, and resilient transnational cooperation across Europe in the post-2027 period.   Tasks within the project include:

Migration and integration are rapidly evolving fields, both in terms of policy development and practical implementation. Providing a clear snapshot of the current landscape—while also capturing ongoing changes— in an accessible format is a valuable resource for practitioners, civil servants, and other experts engaged in this work across the Nordic region.  This study aims to develop an accessible online resource that presents an up-to-date, country-by-country overview of how integration is governed in each Nordic country. It outlines the national governance systems, key actors, and institutional arrangements involved in the integration of migrants and refugees. The overview also includes comparative insights that highlight similarities, differences, and emerging trends across the Nordic region. Data for this study is collected through desktop research, supplemented by expert interviews.  

Local-level action is essential to achieving national and global sustainability goals. Yet, municipalities face significant challenges. Various crises and trends—including climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitical tensions, political and demographic shifts, persistent inequalities, and rapid technological change—overlap and unfold at an unprecedented pace. It is crucial to understand how these complex developments might impact municipal sustainability work – both now and in the future. Strengthening the capacity of municipalities to navigate uncertainty, anticipate change, and prepare for future developments is vital to ensuring they remain key drivers of sustainable development.     The project comprises two distinct but interconnected sub-projects.  1. Advancing the 2030 Agenda and shaping the Post-2030 Agenda  The first sub-project focuses on the final years of the 2030 Agenda and looks ahead to the next global development framework. It explores the needs, priorities, and perspectives of Nordic municipalities as they work toward 2030 and beyond. Key questions include:  The project will be implemented in close collaboration with the Nordic Associations for Local Authorities and Regions.  2. Future-proofing local sustainability work  The second sub-project aims to support municipalities in enhancing their resilience and preparing for future challenges. This will be done by exploring megatrends and their local impacts, as well as sharing effective strategies, concrete tools and experiences for addressing them. Some of the questions to be addressed are:  Outcomes will include research publications, policy briefs and practical insights that can serve as inspiration for civil servants engaged in strategic sustainability work in the Nordic region and beyond. The project will also strengthen knowledge-sharing among Nordic municipalities and contribute local level perspectives to the post-2030 Development Agenda. 

The Northern European Sea Basins project (NESBp) supports the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI) in fostering international cooperation for maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the North Sea basin, with strong collaboration and experience sharing with the Baltic Sea region. The project aligns with the European Green Deal objectives and aims to address the growing challenges that economic sectors face in reaching a sustainable blue economy, including competition for space, sustainability of economic activities, and the cumulative impacts on the environment of spatial planning stressors. The Northern European Sea Basins project focuses on marine and maritime spatial planning in the North Sea emphasising cross-border cooperation to promote long-term environmental and economic resilience. By linking GNSBI with HELCOM-VASAB MSP working group, NESBp fosters knowledge sharing and networking across sea basins to enhance strategic and efficient MSP, building on insights from the eMSP NBSR project and other EU Green Deal initiatives. NESBp aims to align marine and maritime plans, facilitate an ecosystem-based approach in MSP, and encourage integrative, multi-perspective cooperation for sustainable marine and maritime developments. The initiative will contribute to enhancing multi-level governance, strengthening resilience towards climate change and biodiversity loss threats in the transition to a sustainable blue economy. The project wants to:  To achieve this, the project will:  Nordregio plays an important role primarily in the work package “Ocean governance“, led by GNSBI and HELCOM-VASAB, focusing on ecosystem-based MSP, policies for climate neutrality, and knowledge exchange between the Baltic Sea and North Sea. The aim is to establish a governance structure for the GNSBI while enhancing transboundary governance through MSP across the North Sea and Baltic Sea basins. Nordregio will contribute to organising events for cross-basin dialogue, exploring governance scenarios for the Greater North Sea Basin, and facilitating cross-border and cross-sector policy discussions. Key activities also include promoting an…

In times of urbanisation and densification, rules and tools are used to design residential areas that preserve and develop health-promoting outdoor environments. But how do rules safeguard the quality of the outdoor environment? In this project, two rules are studied, WHO’s 300 meters to the nearest green space and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s 25% tree canopy coverage in urban areas and a tool, the green space factor. How the tools and rules are operationalised and applied in practice varies between municipalities. This project will test, evaluate and critically discuss whether and how existing green space rules and tools can help municipalities design health-promoting residential areas. Different methods will be applied:1) Literature study as knowledge base,2) Interviews with practitioners to understand how rules and tools are used in Swedish municipalities,3) Co-creation workshops and scenario setup where the operationalisation of the rules and the tool, and how they affect the design of residential areas, are tested,4) Interviews with residents to understand aspects that promote health and well-being for different users. In close cooperation with national authorities and municipalities, the study will problematise, discuss and spread knowledge about how the rules and tools can be used and developed. In doing so, it will contribute to a debate about planning practice and how it can create living environments that promote human health and well-being.

The Planners’ Forum project aims to address the significant challenges impacting spatial planning in the Baltic Sea region, driven by recent crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. These crises demand innovative, flexible approaches to planning and stronger cooperation across governance levels. Currently, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) lacks a structured, informal platform for land-based spatial planners to exchange best practices, particularly at local and regional levels.  The Planners’ Forum seeks to create an inclusive, informal network for spatial planners across various governance levels to engage in dialogue and mutual learning. This forum will build capacities, foster collaboration, and promote sustainable growth for both cities and rural areas. It aims to enhance the coherence of land-based spatial planning across the BSR, in alignment with EU and regional strategies such as the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) and VASAB’s Long-term Perspective.  Through the forum, the project will identify the specific needs and challenges faced by local and regional planners, ensuring their voices are included in macro-regional policy discussions. By improving multi-level cooperation and integrating local challenges into regional strategies, the Planners’ Forum will contribute to more resilient and sustainable spatial planning across the BSR.  Work Packages:  Partners: The project is led by Nordregio, with key partners including VASAB (Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic Sea), Stockholm University, Academy for Spatial Research and Planning (ARL), and Estonian Association for Spatial Planners. These partners bring extensive expertise in spatial planning across various levels of governance and geographic areas. The partnership spans four countries within the BSR and ensures a balanced representation of both research institutions and practitioners, providing a comprehensive approach to addressing the region’s spatial planning challenges

Migrants’ integration into host societies is a complex process involving economic, social, and civic dimensions. Economic integration means migrants achieve similar labor market outcomes as natives. Social integration involves participation in social life, including language acquisition, social interactions, and community involvement. Civic integration pertains to involvement in the civic and political life of the host country. The current project focuses on social and civic integration, which, despite their importance, are challenging to assess. Social and civic integration is crucial for the cohesion and stability of host societies. Effective social integration creates inclusive communities where diversity is valued, enabling migrants to fully contribute economically, socially, and culturally. This process is bi-directional, requiring adaptation from both migrants and the host society. The EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion emphasizes the importance of achieving comparable social and economic outcomes between migrants and natives. Research on social and civic integration shows varied results. For example, perceived discrimination, a key social cohesion indicator, has risen in the EU over the past decade, and second-generation migrants report higher ethnic discrimination than first-generation migrants. Socially integrated migrants can maximize productivity, contributing to economic growth, and civic integration fosters active citizenship, allowing migrants to influence decisions affecting their lives. Measuring social and civic integration is essential for evidence-based policymaking. Accurate indicators help evaluate the success of integration programs and identify areas for improvement, especially in regions like the Nordic countries with a strong commitment to inclusivity. These measurements also track progress over time and inform public understanding, helping design targeted interventions and enhancing academic research through cross-national comparisons. With their comprehensive welfare states, the Nordic countries offer a strong basis for comparative analysis of migrant integration. Despite shared characteristics, their immigrant integration strategies have diverged significantly, offering valuable insights into migration studies, including those focusing on social…

In today’s digital age, access to technology and digital literacy is critical for full societal participation. Digital proficiency is crucial for both social and economic integration, for tasks like job searching, enrolling in educational opportunities, navigating healthcare systems, and even maintaining connections with family and friends.  While the Nordic countries are renowned for their high levels of digitalisation and high scores in digital competency indexes, certain groups remain excluded. Immigrant women, particularly newcomers, refugees, and those with weaker socio-economic background and limited national language proficiency, often face significant barriers to digital inclusion.   The Nordic countries have experienced substantial growth in their immigrant populations. Research suggests that female immigrants in these regions often face increased health challenges, limited access to healthcare, and lower employment rates compared to native-born residents.  Focus of the project  This research specifically focuses on immigrant women in the Nordic countries. Knowledge gaps persist regarding what the Nordic countries are doing for female immigrants to become digitally included, how these efforts differ between the Nordic countries, and what are the next steps needed to be taken to allow digital inclusion for all Nordic residents. The project focuses on understanding the barriers that prevent these women from fully accessing and engaging in the digital society. These barriers may include limitations in language proficiency or digital literacy, cultural differences in technology use, and unfamiliarity with the digital landscape.   The project will explore the current political landscape and existing initiatives for digital inclusion of immigrant women, as well as analyse user challenges, needs, and solutions. The research project seeks to identify best practices and effective strategies for integrating immigrant women into the digital society. By focusing on this specific population, this research project contributes valuable insights to the broader conversation on digital inclusion in the Nordic countries.  Aim, Research Questions &…

Most children in the Nordic Region grow up in families with stable finances and in safe, nurturing environments. However, some families face significant challenges. In several Nordic countries, the gap between the highest and lowest income groups appears to be widening. When parents are unable to meet their needs over time due to unemployment or insufficient income, it negatively affects their children. A key concern is that the interaction between economic, social, and health challenges within a family can reinforce one another in a detrimental way. Over time, this may increase the risk of children facing marginalisation and social exclusion.  This project, conducted in collaboration with the Nordic Welfare Centre and funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, aims to enhance knowledge about the situation of children growing up in low-income families in the Nordic Region, the implications of this, and potential policy responses to address the issue. The project will result in a report that highlights good practice examples and policies aimed at promoting social mobility and inclusion for children and young people from low-income families. The focus will be on measures that support both the family situation and the children’s opportunities. Furthermore, the report will explore what is known about the experiences of children and young people growing up in low-income households. As part of this work, Nordregio will provide an overview of child poverty (At-Risk-of-Poverty) and material deprivation in the Nordic Region, examining various definitions of poverty and the circumstances of children growing up in different types of families. In addition, the chapter offers an overview of the availability of data on children in low-income families and suggests improvements to support the development of a common framework for monitoring child poverty across the Nordic Region.  Upcoming events: Webinar: Scope and development of the risks of poverty for…

In highly digitized Nordic-Baltic societies, there are still significant geographical differences in terms of connectivity. Is that what you call a digital paradox? The N-B CONNECT project builds on the findings of the “Nordic-Baltic 5G Monitoring Tool" project, expanding its focus to examine broader societal impacts of connectivity.

The Nordic Region is undergoing significant transformations driven by environmental changes, digital transformations, and evolving socio-economic landscapes. As renewable energy from marine sources grows in importance and oceans remain vital for food supply, achieving a sustainable blue economy, in line with the European Green Deal and climate targets, requires careful balancing.  The rapid digital transformation, while offering opportunities, also risks sidelining local knowledge that is crucial for sustainable, inclusive, and coherent blue and green growth. This project, Local Knowledge in Marine Spatial Planning, green transition and digital transformation, aims to support the development of a sustainable ocean economy in the Nordic countries and their North Atlantic neighbours through more inclusive marine spatial planning (MSP) processes. By integrating diverse knowledge sources, the project seeks to contribute to a fair and just green transition, ensuring that local communities and a range of stakeholders are part of the decision-making process.  Inclusive, fair, and sustainable transition in MSP  The primary aim of the project is to promote a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable transition in the marine spatial planning domain, with a particular focus on coastal communities in the North Sea and Atlantic regions. Specifically, the project seeks to:  It will explore mismatches between national data needs and local knowledge requirements, assess challenges and opportunities from the digital transition in MSP, and examine data use, sharing processes, and gaps in knowledge access. This will ensure that local knowledge is effectively integrated into MSP in a digital context.  Integrating knowledge for sustainable coexistence  The project focuses on how to better integrate a diverse range of knowledge into MSP also to support sustainable coexistence at sea. Key questions include:  Methods and outcomes  The project will assess current practices, explore data challenges, and engage with stakeholders through cross-border knowledge exchange. Workshops will bring together regional stakeholders to…

The Nordic and Baltic countries are undergoing a rapid digital transformation, marked by a strong emphasis on digital skills education, new digital product development, and the digitisation of public services. This transformation is driving a growing demand for skilled IT professionals and creating a necessity for all members of society to possess digital competencies.  While digital skills levels across the Nordic-Baltic region are generally above average, disparities still exist. Additionally, the Information and communication technology (ICT) workforce in the region is predominantly male, and underrepresented groups face barriers to entry in the sector. Various initiatives are underway across the Nordic-Baltic region to improve digital skills education and support underrepresented groups, including women, in pursuing careers in ICT.  However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of these initiatives in achieving their goals. This project will analyse the current landscape, delving into the specific barriers faced by underrepresented groups, such as limited access to technology, digital literacy challenges, and lack of tailored resources and support systems. It will also examine the impact of existing digital support initiatives on the quality of life and professional development for underrepresented groups in the Nordic-Baltic region. By comparing and analysing the diverse approaches and experiences of the countries, the project will identify effective strategies for improving digital skills and fostering greater inclusion in the ICT sector.  Digital Inclusion as a transformative power This project seeks to generate new insights and understanding regarding how digital inclusion can significantly enhance the quality of life and facilitate professional development for underrepresented groups across the Nordic-Baltic countries. Recognising the growing importance of digital skills in today’s world, the project seeks to:  The project will include the following activities:   By carrying out these activities, we expect to end the project with:

Regional policy or policies for municipalities can play a key role in enhancing civil preparedness. They are part of implementing efficient solutions for sustainable green transitions, as well as ensuring the provision of food, raw materials, energy, and access to services to citizens, both in stable times and during crises. This project explores how regional policy can best contribute to ensuring civil preparedness and resilience in the Nordic regions. To achieve robust and resilient Nordic regions, structured collaboration between national authorities, regions, municipalities, businesses, and civil society is needed. Cooperation across local, regional – and sometimes also national – borders is essential to ensure security and good living conditions in Nordic cities, towns and sparsely populated rural areas. Analysing and understanding how Nordic countries address civil preparedness within subnational policies can also foster Nordic learning. The project aims to investigate how Nordic regional policy can best contribute to ensuring civil preparedness and robustness in Nordic regions during crisis periods. It will focus especially on policies and good practices addressing food security, energy provision, raw materials, and access to public services. As the regional policies and governance structures in the Nordic countries differ regarding roles and responsibilities, the study will also explore interactions between different governance levels and stakeholders in the managing crisis preparedness. Structured around three key stages, the project will: The findings and insights from the project will be summarised in a policy brief and a collection of local and regional good practices to enhance civil preparedness and resilience across the Nordic regions.

ILLUQ is the Inuvialuktun word for partner and cuts to the heart of this interdisciplinary project. Through a wide partnership it provides an holistic assessment of the impacts of permafrost thaw on the health of humans, animals and ecosystems. Accelerating permafrost thaw in the Arctic drastically changes the ecosystem as a whole, which, in turn, impacts the everyday life of local communities and Indigenous populations. Yet many of the phenomena reported in the scientific literature and media are treated in isolation from other social, economic or cultural processes.   ILLUQ specifically focuses on the impact of climate change on populations living on permafrost in the Arctic. It targets the missing link between studies performed by scientists, engineers and consultants in local communities and solutions with local stake- and rightsholders. It focusing on the long-term implications of decision-making in the context of permafrost thaw, a time frame generally overlooked in existing governance frameworks. As such, ILLUQ will provide the first stake- and rightsholder driven assessment of the impacts of permafrost thaw on pollution, health and ecosystem services in the Arctic.  Work Packages Activities will be articulated around nine interlinked work packages with the first five covering the provisioning, regulating, and cultural elements of ecosystem services, and another summarising and synthesising the knowledge gained. In each of these five first work packages, the work starts with stakeholder engagement to set the stage for participatory research. Each of these work packages concludes with a task focused on One Health impacts related to the specific ecosystem services. Another work package synthesizes the knowledge gained on One Health in the earlier work packages and makes it available to local and European stakeholders. A further one synthesizes the results from participatory research and devises solutions (including nature-based solutions) together with local stake- and rightsholders. The final work…

Nordic countries have set up ambitious climate and energy targets and offshore renewable energy will play a key role in enabling the green transition in the Nordic Region. The European Green Deal underscores at the same time the importance of minimal harm to the environment and the contribution to nature conservation, with for example the EU Biodiversity strategy 2030 including more ambitious targets for protecting marine areas. Furthermore, our seas in the Nordic Region are also an increasingly important resource for food supply.  Offshore renewable energy, not least wind energy, is crucial for the green transition in the Nordic Region but its expansion poses challenges such as conflicts over space. Hence, there is an increasing need for enabling enhanced coexistence with other sectors, not least with blue food sectors such as fishing and aquaculture. Governance frameworks, in particular marine spatial planning, are crucial for managing conflicts, promoting collaboration, and for enabling possibilities for sustainable coexistence at sea.   The Nordic Council of Ministers have initiated several projects to address sustainable marine economy and coexistence issues. The “Green Meets Blue project”, financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (NCM FJLS) and running for two years (2024-2025), aims to contribute to a common knowledge base for the Nordic countries, by contributing with an increased understanding of sustainable coexistence between renewable energy (focusing on offshore wind energy) and marine food sectors (focusing on fisheries and aquaculture).    The project will give better insights on how Nordic countries can effectively tackle potential conflicts between the green and blue sectors, promote synergies and better enable cooperation and collaboration. The project seeks to investigate existing conditions on how trade-offs, conflicts and synergies are managed between these sectors within marine spatial planning frameworks from a governance perspective and in a Nordic context.   Questions…

This project focuses on addressing the declining interest among young people in pursuing careers in the whole food value chain, including agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, and forestry from farm and sea to fork, including related fields like processing, foraging, and hunting across the Nordic Region. Food production constitutes a significant value chain in all Nordic countries, with favourable conditions for agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and further processing. Despite relatively high self-sufficiency influenced by climate conditions, access to marine areas, and suitable agricultural land, the sector faces challenges. There is a noticeable decline in youth interest in pursuing a career in those sectors, leading to fewer producers and an increased average age of 55.3 years in a predominantly male workforce. The project aims to identify innovative solutions to generate interest in careers within food production, covering agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, and other relevant parts of the value chain, from land and sea to table, including veterinary studies, butchery, and fish processing. The research questions focus on the challenges faced when choosing food production as a career path, how to best support existing and upcoming food producers, and what support mechanisms are necessary for fostering innovation and new thinking among new food producers, as well as improving existing support mechanisms. The project will involve a comprehensive approach, including forming a reference group of young people from relevant organisations to ensure youth involvement and validate the project’s findings. The results will be relevant for educational institutions, interest organisations, and policymakers within food production in the Nordic countries, contributing to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by the food production sector, thereby paving the way for new opportunities and inspiring the next generation of food producers. External project consultant – Maija Kāle, Research Consultant at Nordregio, Research Fellow at the Baltic International Centre for Economic…

The “Education and young adults in Nordic rural areas” (EDYNORA) project addresses the crucial role of education in retaining and attracting young people in Nordic rural areas. Although education is vital for rural development, highly skilled individuals frequently migrate to urban areas in pursuit of better opportunities. Urbanization introduces imbalances such as population decline and economic disparities between urban and rural regions. This highlights the need to customize educational opportunities in rural areas to align with the needs of young people and local communities. The educational opportunities in regional centres are crucial for strengthening ties between young adults, regional labour markets, and local communities, potentially influencing young people’s decisions to stay or return to rural areas. EDYNORA investigates the impact of education, particularly higher education and vocational training, on the mobility decisions of youth and young adults. The goal is to enhance understanding and identify innovative approaches that align education with the needs and motivations of rural youth, ultimately strengthening their ties to local labour markets. The research aims to address three key questions: The project implementation involves surveys, gathering statistics, and exploring innovative approaches through focus group interviews and case studies across the Nordic countries and Åland.

ESPON TERRES aims to unpack territorial resilience to support spatial planning and urban development, strengthening the absorptive, adaptive and transformational governance capacities of European regions in the context of long-term multi-crisis trajectories. The project aims to guide the future generation of EU Cohesion and sectoral policies by providing a conceptual and analytical framework for characterising “territorial resilience” as a multi-dimensional and dynamic concept. The notion of territorial resilience developed in ESPON TERRES overcomes current policy paradigms to emphasize a lasting shift towards learning capacities, institutional innovation, cultural norms, and community values. Regional resilience is understood as a capacity not just to absorb and adapt to external shocks (‘bouncing back’ perspective) but also to address the transformational capabilities to deal with and be ready for both present and impending crises (‘bouncing forwards’ approach). These principles contribute to improving the understanding and to unlocking the opportunities implicit in the concept of territorial resilience, overcoming policy and research siloes through fruitful dialogue among researchers (the scientific level), policy-makers (the normative level) and practitioners (the operational level). The specific activities in the ESPON TERRES project are as follows: External project consultant – Maija Kāle, Research Consultant at Nordregio, Research Fellow at the Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studie (BICEPS)

At the heart of Transform-IntegrateNBS is a new "integrative lab" method, tested across six case studies in Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. The method is designed to address complex, interconnected socio-environmental challenges while ensuring the equitable involvement of all relevant governing bodies and societal stakeholders. To overcome the significant challenges facing global envornments our project suggests a comprehensive strategy to implement NbS by studying 1) multiple interconnected challenges, 2) government entities and the stakeholders involved and affected by decision making, and 3) different ways society and individuals can change.

The study aims to provide knowledge on how cross-border cooperation issues have been addressed in the regional development policy in Sweden and Norway, highlighting some key opportunities and challenges. The study is based on a review of key steering documents and qualitative interviews. It will result in recommendations on how cross-border cooperation between Sweden and Norway can be further strengthened. Cross-border cooperation provides important development opportunities for Sweden and Norway. Region Värmland has for a long time prioritized cooperation with Norway. Bilateral cooperation agreements have been signed with the Norwegian neighbouring counties and joint projects have been implemented. Region Värmland and its Norwegian neighbours contribute to maintaining trust and cohesion in the Nordic region by promoting common values such as culture, democracy, equality, inclusion, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression. The study is based on a review of the national steering documents for regional development, as well as qualitative interviews with representatives of relevant actors at the national and regional levels, academia, regional networks and organizations.