171 million in EU funds for projects in the north
The shortage of labor is one of Norrbotten's more urgent challenges. Now the EU is stepping in with support for local projects that want to tackle the problem in different ways. - We all win every time a new person enters the labor market, says Helena Öhlund (S).
It is not only initiatives for an inclusive labor market that will now receive EU funds. Projects in research and innovation as well as growth and competitiveness will also receive many millions of kronor in support. In total, 171 million kronor in EU funds are being distributed to projects in Norrbotten and Västerbotten.
The decision on which projects are prioritized was made by the Structural Funds Partnership for Upper Norrland.
A total of SEK 57,6 million is being allocated from the European Social Fund (ESF+) to projects in education and the labour market in Norrbotten and Västerbotten. One project that is receiving SEK 8,3 million in support is Luleå Municipality's "On the Track". Among other things, it involves making SFI education and adult education more vocationally oriented and strengthening cooperation with the business community.
Photo: Mascot Photo Agency/Johnér Photo Agency
The Lapland Association of Local Authorities' project LEVA aims to shorten the path to healthcare professions for those with previous experience through validation. It will be given 3,9 million kronor to work with.
– Norrbotten has a great need for labor. The unemployed in the county are quite few, but we all win every time a new person enters the labor market. These projects will create new and shorter paths to work, says Helena Öhlund (S), member of the Structural Funds Partnership.
Game technology in other industries
In the area of research and innovation, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is contributing funds to several projects that involve the development of testbeds. Among other things, SEK 4,4 million is going to Intersective Game – a project that aims to use advanced technology from the gaming world in, for example, car testing, mining and the construction industry.
Photo: Mats Engfors/Fotographic for the municipality of Boden.
In Gällivare, the Arctic Food Arena project is receiving just under 4 million kronor for a test bed for large-scale food production using waste heat from LKAB, among others. The projects also include test beds related to music production and entrepreneurship.
– The test beds create space for collaboration on the development of products, services and processes. These projects will strengthen Norrbotten's innovative power, says regional councilor Nils-Olov Lindfors (C).
Luleå University of Technology is receiving 4,8 million kronor for its SMALL project, which aims to create attractive and viable rural areas using digital technology. Among other things, the project will test digital malls, mobile workplaces and a service bus.
One of the smaller projects that receives funding, SEK 320, is a preliminary study on how a Regional Forestry Center can be established in Överkalix.
The money comes from the EU Social Fund (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Here are all the projects that receive ERDF funds.
Here are all the projects that receive ESF+ funding.
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FACTS: The Structural Fund Partnership
The Structural Fund partnerships are intended to facilitate common priorities between regional development policy, labour market policy and EU cohesion policy.
The partnership gives priority to applications for the European Regional Development Fund programme and the European Social Fund programme. The Övre Norrland Structural Fund partnership covers the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Development and the Swedish ESF Council as managing authorities make the formal decisions for each project.
If you have any questions, please contact Monica Lejon, Head of Unit Business and Society: monica.lejon@norrbotten.se