From sustainable tourism to space innovation – here are the projects receiving EU funding 

Skävvdo and Space Sweden North are two of twenty projects in our county that will share 160 million SEK in EU funds. Region Norrbotten is co-financing several of the projects. 

Just over SEK 160 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF+) is going to various projects in Norrbotten. These are projects that will contribute to a smarter, greener and more interconnected Europe and a more inclusive labor market. 

In Norrbotten, 20 projects will be able to participate and share the cake. Skävvdo in Arjeplog and Arvidsjaur is about developing an action plan for a sustainable tourism industry. It is about both strengthening local cooperation and developing concrete activities that can attract visitors and benefit local businesses. The project will prioritize local pride, social cohesion and reduced environmental impact.  

Develop community planning

Norrbotten is in the midst of a societal transformation that places great demands on effective social planning. Sometimes several municipalities and authorities are affected. The Digital Co-Planning project is about creating better conditions for dialogue and collaboration. A digital co-planning map will be an important tool. Region Norrbotten will run this project. 

– All development in Norrbotten requires good community planning. If a residential area is to be established, a new road or railway is to be built, a wind farm is to be set up or a hydrogen pipeline is to be laid, extensive planning efforts are required. In this project, we will, among other things, investigate how digitalization and technology solutions such as AI can facilitate planning work, says Monica Lejon, Head of Business and Society at Region Norrbotten.  

Space research and the space industry connected to the Esrange space base outside Kiruna are an important part of the future of Norrbotten. Photo: SSC

“The space industry is important”

How can we strengthen the space industry's innovative power in the long term? The Space Sweden North project will work to include more actors, promote collaboration, create growth and attractiveness, and contribute to the green transition. The goal is to develop the ecosystem around space innovation. 

– The space industry is important for Norrbotten. It brings both a broadened business sector and a broadened labor market. It is an area where we have unique and good conditions to take a place, grow and contribute to the benefit of the EU, says Helena Ölund, chair of the regional development committee in Region Norrbotten. She is also a member of the structural fund partnership for Upper Norrland, which has made decisions on the ERDF and ESF+ projects. 

Tailored support for companies

The E-FEKT project is aimed at companies, primarily food processing companies, that want to become more energy efficient. This will be done through tailored initiatives to support and accelerate the transition to more sustainable and energy-smart operations.  

New industrialization demands an improved transport network. Today's railway system is already under heavy strain. The goal of the Increased Rail Freight Transport project is to upgrade the railway in Luleå Port to meet the needs of the business community. This will make it possible for more and heavier trains to operate in the port.  

Immigration will be required to meet Norrbotten's workforce needs. The project Strengthened Capacity for Immigration will scale up the immigration function in Boden. It involves developing methods, digital services and carrying out activities for immigrants and potential immigrants. This will be done in collaboration with companies, civil society and other actors. 

See all priority ERDF projects
See all priority ESF+ projects 

FACTS: These are the Structural Fund partnerships 

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 Structural Fund Partnership Övre Norrland covers the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten. 

The decisions on which projects are prioritized were made by the Structural Funds Partnership for Upper Norrland on December 12. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and Development and the Swedish ESF Council make the formal decisions for each project. 

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa