Elin works as a Research Fellow at Nordregio and has a background in human geography and urban and regional planning. Her main research interests lie within spatial governance and rural and regional development – both with a land-based and marine outlook.
Research Fellow
Elin Cedergren
Spatial Story
I have three big global atlases at home which I have had since my early years. One of them is so big that I still cannot hold it properly. My favourite one has a rather modest appearance and a tattered cover, but inside the topography is provided in relief. As a child I could draw my fingers over the pages and feel the peaks and depths of the earth’s surfaces. The atlases did not tell much of how people lived across all these places, but one could certainly fantasize. At 19, newly graduated, my interest in geography had stuck, and my dad suggested I apply to study human geography at university. I did, and here I am, working with place-based perspectives and planning in various projects at Nordregio. These days, the three global atlases are somewhat dusty in my bookshelf. I seem to have swapped to digital means and other readings. But I still like to hover over a satellite map on my phone, thinking about what it is like to be human over there, in that spot.
Publications
Moodie, J. R., Kačkus Tybjerg, J., Jungsberg, L., Chilvers, M., Löfving, L., & Cedergren, E. (2026). Regional Futures Literacy Labs: a community-led approach to just green transition policymaking. European Journal of Spatial Development, 23(3), 140–190. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22643163
Tapia, C., Giacometti, A., Moodie, J., Cedergren, E., & Shaneh, A. (2026). From Mitigation to Transformation: An Evolutionary Perspective on the Just Green Transition. In E. Berisha et al. (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkans and Beyond. Palgrave Macmillan.
Shaneh, A., Moodie, J., Tapia, C., Giacometti, A., & Cedergren, E. (2026). Understanding Territorial Governance Dynamics in the Swedish EU Territorial Just Transition Planning Processes: Lessons for the Western Balkans. In E. Berisha et al. (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkans and Beyond. Palgrave Macmillan.
Cedergren, E., Salonen, H. & Tomren, L. (2025). Rethinking population shrinkage: Smart adaptation for Nordic municipalities and regions. Nordregio Policy Brief 2025:19.
Cedergren, E. & Slätmo, E. Small scale hydropower in Värmland and the initiative DAMM/KRAFT. Story map produced within the Local ownership in transitions towards sustainable energy systems (ELO) project.
Wøien Meijer, M., Cedergren, E. & Guðmundsdóttir, H. (2023). Rooting for the Rural: Changing narratives and creating opportunities for Nordic rural youth. Nordregio Policy Brief 2023:5.
Wøien Meijer, M., Cedergren, E. & Guðmundsdóttir, H. (2023). Gen Z Agency: Mobilising young people to strengthen Nordic rural areas – What we did and how we did it. Nordregio Discussion Paper.
Wøien Meijer, M., Cedergren, E. & Guðmundsdóttir, H. (2023). From Fields to Futures: 40 action points for rural revitalisation. Nordregio Report 2023:13.
Moodie, J.R., Kull, M., Cedergren, E., Giacometti, A., Morf, A., Qvist Eliasen, S., & Schröder, L. (2021) Transboundary marine spatial planning in the Baltic Sea Region: towards a territorial governance approach?. Maritime Studies (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-020-00211-0
Moodie, J., Tapia, C., Löfving, L., Gassen, N.S., Cedergren, E. (2021). Towards a Territorially Just Climate Transition—Assessing the Swedish EU Territorial Just Transition Plan Development Process. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7505. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137505
Cedergren, E., Huynh, D., Kull, M., Moodie, J., Sigurjónsdóttir., H.R., & Wøien Meijer, M. (2021). Public service delivery in the Nordic Region: An exercise in collaborative governance. Nordregio Report 2021: 4. Available at: https://nordregio.org/publications/public-service-delivery-in-the-nordic-region-an-exercise-in-collaborative-governance/
Cedergren, E., Huynh, D., Kull, M., Moodie, J., Sigurjónsdóttir., H.R., & Wøien Meijer, M. (2021). Public service delivery in the Nordic Region: An exercise in collaborative governance. Policy Brief 2021: 2. Available at: https://nordregio.org/publications/public-service-delivery-in-the-nordic-region-an-exercise-in-collaborative-governance-2/
Tapia, C., Cedergren, E., Löfving, L., Moodie, J., & Sanchez-Gassen, N. (2021). Potential territorial impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy in Gotland, Norrbotten, and Västra Götaland. Support to the preparation of Territorial Just Transition Plans in Sweden (REFORM/SC2020/118).
Löfving, L., Lundgren, A., & Cedergren, E. (2021). Utvärdering av processen En Bättre Sits 2018-2020. Nordregio 2021.
Morf, A., Gee, K., Giacometti, A., Cedergren, E., Eliasen Qvist, S., Kull, M., Moodie, J.R. & Luhtala, H. 2020. Stakeholder Involvement in Baltic Sea Marine Spatial Planning – Towards Transformative Participation? Deliverable 2.5 in the BONUS BASMATI project.
Giacometti, A., Morf, A., Gee, K., Kull, M, Luhtala, H., Cedergren, E. (2020). Handbook: Process, Methods and Tools for Stakeholder Involvement in MSP. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: https://nordregio.org/app/uploads/2020/09/BONUS-BASMATI-handbook-digital.pdf
Lundgren, A., Teräs, J., Morf, A., Cedergren, E. (2020) Delutvärdering Marint Gränsforum Skagerrak. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1429257/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Lundgren, A., Teräs, J., Löfving, L., Cedergren, E. (2020) Kompetensförsörjningsbehov inom områdena för Värmlands forsknings- och innovationsstrategi för smart specialisering. Slutrapport. April 2020. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1429254/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Eliasen SQ, Cedergren E, Morf A, Gee K. Lessons learned – Knowledge integration tools for MSP by BONUS BASMATI. BONUS BASMATI Deliverable 2.4, September 2020. Available: https://bonusbasmati.eu/app/uploads/2020/11/BONUS_BASMATI_Del_2_4_knowledge_integration_tools.pdf
Moodie, J., Huynh, D., Cedergren, E., (2020) Strengthening regional resilience through collaborative management: A case study on the fisheries co-management Northern Bohuslän. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: https://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1465522/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Morf, A., Gee, K., Giacometti, A., Cedergren, E., Eliasen, S., Kull, M., Moodie, J., & Luhtala, H. (2020). Stakeholder Involvement in Baltic Sea Marine Spatial Planning – Towards Transformative Participation? Deliverable 2.5 in the BONUS BASMATI project.
Morf, A., (ed) Cedergren, E., Gee, K., Kull, M., Eliasen, S. (2019): Lessons, Stories and Ideas on how to integrate Land Sea Interactions into MSP. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: http://www.panbalticscope.eu/app/uploads/2019/12/LSI-report-Pan-Baltic-Scope.pdf
Cedergren, E., Kull, M., Moodie, J., Morf., A. (2019): Lessons Learned in Cross-border Maritime Spatial Planning – Experiences and insights from Pan Baltic Scope. Nordregio, Stockholm. Available at: http://www.panbalticscope.eu/app/uploads/2019/12/Lessons_learnt_FINAL.pdf
Related Research Projects
Ongoing
Spill-over effects of European capitals of culture on territorial development (SECC) Powering resilience and reducing energy vulnerability Unlocking local benefits from green transitionsFinished
Democratising jUst Sustainability Transitions (DUST) Smart Adaptation to Rural Realities: Approaches and practices in Nordic municipalities and regions En bättre sits – evaluationRelated Publications
Regional Futures Literacy Labs: a community-led approach to just green transition policymaking
Local ownership of sustainable energy
Rethinking population shrinkage: smart adaptation for Nordic municipalities and regions
Lokalt ägandeskap av hållbar energi
Powering up Värmland with water
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
What impact do climate change policies have on Nordic economies, industries, and households?
Service provision and access to services in Nordic rural areas
Discussion paper: A “Just Green Transition” for Rural Areas in the Nordic Region: key concepts and implications
The social impacts of climate mitigation policies on vulnerable groups in the Nordic Region
Just Green Transition – key concepts and implications in the Nordic Region
Selvforsyning af fødevarer i fem nordiske øsamfund
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
Strengthening regional resilience through adaptive collaboration
BONUS BASMATI HANDBOOK: Process, Methods and Tools for Stakeholder Involvement in Maritime Spatial Planning
Marint Gränsforum Skagerrak – delutvärdering
Kompetensbehov för Smart specialisering i Värmland
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