Norrbotten's development - how do we see the next four years?
Norrbotten's importance for the future of Sweden and Europe is growing rapidly, both strategically, economically and in terms of security policy. Norrbotten is in the midst of the industrial transformation required to meet the climate crisis. But the challenges and opportunities facing northern Sweden are not just regional – they are national and European.
The EU is now prioritising domestic industry and raw material production – something that Norrbotten's projects directly contribute to. But the global situation has made them both more difficult to implement, and more urgent than ever. Norrbotten is in a situation where industry is changing so quickly that it risks running out of the energy system, housing construction, infrastructure investments and access to labour. The development requires extensive investments that industry cannot handle alone.
We are taking part in the report Industrial Transformation in Norrbotten - for Swedish and European Competitiveness and Resilience, which presents a current picture of the region's development.
We are gathering a knowledgeable panel to comment and discuss based on the report's content. What national decisions will need to be made during this term of office? What incentives will make people move to where the jobs are? Are Sweden's northernmost counties good for anything other than supplying the EU with natural resources?
About Norra Scen Important conditions for the future of Sweden and the EU are being shaped in Norrbotten. With Norra Scen, we have created an arena for discussions about the challenges that are at their peak in northern Sweden, but are both a national and a European concern. Here, perspectives from industry, academia and society meet in the search for the best way forward. Norra Scen is a meeting place where knowledge is deepened, conversations are held and networks are built.
Norra Scen at the Science House is arranged by Luleå University of Technology, LKAB, IVA Nord, Vattenfall, SSAB and Region Norrbotten.