Nordregio is an international research institute established by the Nordic Council of Ministers

Senior Research Advisor

Mari Wøien Meijer

Mari is no longer working at Nordregio. For contact or more information please contact nordregio@nordregio.org

Political scientist with expertise in institutional change, governance, innovation, and the green transition. I also have a keen interest in science and technology studies, the applications of structuration theory,  and global political economy.

At Nordregio, I work with a variety of topics within regional development, including innovation, green transition, regional resilience, and digitalisation.

My interest in making sense of complex systems and continuously challenging my own views and perceptions, are fuelled by curiosity, perseverance, and open-mindedness. Much like patiently untangling messy skeins of yarn to eventually make something useful, I hope that my research on untangling complex social and political systems contributes to our understanding of the way things work.

Academic qualifications

MSc Management of Bioeconomy, Innovation and Governance, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Distinction) 2014-2015
MA International Relations with Honours, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2010 – 2014

Languages

Norwegian (native)
English (C2)
Portuguese (B2)
Danish and Swedish

Prior positions

Research Intern at Miljøstiftelsen ZERO, Norway
Intern at GoodFuels B.V., The Netherlands
Intern with the Centre Party, Norway
Keyholder at Le Creuset Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Publications

Moodie, J., Wøien Meijer, M., Salenius, V. & Kull, M (2021) Territorial Governance and Smart Specialisation: Empowering the Sub-National Level in EU Regional Policy. Territory, Politics, Governance. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622671.2021.1905542

Refsgaard, K., Kull, M., Slätmo, E., & Wøien Meijer, M. (2020) Bioeconomy – A driver for regional development in the Nordic Countries. New Biotechnology. 60 (pp. 130-137).

Wøien Meijer, M. (2020) An evaluation of the development and effectiveness of Policy Area Secure 2013-2019: https://cbss.org/publications/an-evaluation-of-the-development-and-effectiveness-of-pa-secure-2013-19/ Council of Baltic Sea States, Stockholm.

Related Research Projects
Finished
Nordic thematic groups 2021-2024 Strengthening the resilience of EU border regions: Mapping risks & crisis Gen Z Agency: Mobilising young people to strengthen Nordic rural areas National support initiatives  Green innovation: Systems perspective and mission-oriented policies (GRINGO) ESPON Covid: Territorial impacts of Covid-19 and policy answers in European regions and cities Food self-sufficiency in Nordic island societies: the current situation and the way forward DigiBEST Nordic study about regional policy Sweden-Norway Cross-Border Mapping Unlocking the potential of silver economy in the Nordic Region Evaluation of the Hedmark-Dalarna border committee Linking innovation and resilience: Synergy effects for regional development GROM – Green transition in the Arctic Regional collaboration on service provision and social innovation Skills Policies – Building Capacities for Innovative and Resilient Nordic Regions Digitalisation in rural and sparsely populated areas – joint Nordic-Baltic learning Adapting European Cities to Population ageing: Policy challenges and best practices Territorial Impact Assessment for Cross-border Cooperation Transport for Regional Integration in Border Regions (TRIBORDER) Enhancing labour opportunities for women in the Nordic countries Regional Economic and Social Resilience Digitalisation as a tool for sustainable Nordic regional development The potential of Smart Specialisation for enhancing innovation and resilience in Nordic regions BSR Stars S3 – Smart specialization in bio-, circular and digital economy in the Baltic Sea Region HIGHER – Better Policy Instruments for High Innovation Projects in the European Regions
Related Publications
Svensk-norskt samarbete: viktiga utmaningar och framtida möjligheter Who drives green innovation in the Nordic Region? A change agency and systems perspective Rooting for the Rural: Changing narratives and creating opportunities for Nordic rural youth Gen Z Agency: Mobilising young people to strengthen Nordic rural areas – What we did and how we did it From Fields to Futures: 40 action points for rural revitalisation Discussion paper: The Systems Perspectives on Green Innovation Selvforsyning af fødevarer i fem nordiske øsamfund Nordic border communities in the time of COVID-19 Unlocking the potential of silver economy in the Nordic Region Closed borders and divided communities: status report and lessons from Covid-19 in cross-border areas TG2 Innovative and Resilient Regions – Roadshow report Policy brief – Public service delivery in the Nordic Region: An exercise in collaborative governance Public service delivery in the Nordic Region: An exercise in collaborative governance The Nordic Thematic Group for Innovative and Resilient Regions 2017–2020 – final report Skills Policies – Building Capacities for Innovative and Resilient Nordic Regions The digital divide: Knowledge and skills The digital revolution in the bioeconomy Digital transformation in the rural manufacturing sector Digitalisation: A blessing or a curse for sustainable tourism? The digital divide: infrastructure Marina, Ole Kristian & Mathias: Championing circular economy through material reuse at Loopfront Meet Lebesby – challenging but attractive place to live Policy Brief: Rural perspectives on digital innovation Rural perspectives on digital innovation: Experiences from small enterprises in the Nordic countries and Latvia Ingrid Vik Lysne: ‘Sewstainability’ – the rise of reuse and redesign Attractive Rural Municipalities in the Nordic countries: Jobs, People and Reasons for Success from 14 Case Studies The value of high-speed trains in intermediate regions Is the coast clear? The role of digitalisation for enabling blue growth in the cross-border region of Svinesund Implementing Smart Specialisation strategies in Nordic regions The status, characteristics and potential of smart specialisation in Nordic Regions Enhanced Labour Market Opportunities for Immigrant Women – Arctic case studies