RUS in Kiruna: "Campus is important for managing the supply of skills"
Visions of Kiruna as a student city, better communications and an innovation portal to support new ideas and companies. These were some of the topics discussed when Region Norrbotten visited Kiruna to collect ideas, thoughts and opinions for our new regional development strategy, RUS. But the issue of state compensation for Kiruna's natural resources was also recurring. - The municipality's financial capacity is crucial for the municipality to be able to develop, said municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku (S).
There was no shortage of ideas for the future during the RUS dialogue in Kiruna. But there was also clear frustration over the municipality's financial situation.
Previously, corporate tax was paid directly to the municipality and then Kiruna was a rich municipality that could decide for itself what was needed in the municipality and build preschools, hospitals, public schools and more, said municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku.
– We need to start getting rebates from the state. A 0,5% rebate from LKAB would mean 650 million more for the municipality.
Kiruna's well-paid industrial jobs are driving up wage levels. This has consequences.
– Kiruna will become a net payer to the tax equalization system and will have to pay for things to go well here, said Taaveniku.
Municipal councilor Mats Taaveniku (S) hopes that Kiruna will in the future benefit from the values that come from the municipality.
The municipality has set a goal to grow by 2500 residents by 2030. But it's not easy.
– There is an old cliché that we are a subsidy county. We live in old clichés. We have stereotypical images of Norrbotten, said Johanna Bergström Roos at LTU Business.
Housing is the key
The conversations about the future were largely about measures that are required to be able to grow. A hospital with a maternity ward and surgery is on the wish list. Being a good school municipality. Good communication opportunities. And not least housing. Housing for those who live in Kiruna today, housing for those who are going to move in, student housing, housing for those who live and work in the city temporarily. Everyone needs a roof over their heads. Preferably also attractive housing, if there is going to be any move in.
– When I moved to Kiruna, I was met with Kiruna prices for housing. If you come from outside, it is expensive to enter the housing market. And the housing market for vacant housing is almost non-existent, said Malin Mattsson at Kirunabostäder.
Mats Tyni, Emma Bodin and Malin Mattsson discussed difficulties they encounter in everyday life.
It is expensive to build in Kiruna, partly because building materials have to be transported far and construction workers are housed in contractor housing.
– We are calling for investment support for housing, it needs to be reintroduced. With today's construction prices, we are far above the square meter prices that were previously a limit for receiving support. It is the state's responsibility, said Taaveniku.
Lack of communications
Communications to and from Kiruna are a problem that has effects on several levels. The insufficient capacity of the Malmbanan railway does not only affect industry – it affects the ability to take the train to medical appointments, the tourism industry and commuting.
The sparse air traffic affects both the growth of companies, access to culture and the attractiveness of the municipality. For example, it is difficult to get artists to come to Kiruna as there are few flights and none at all on Saturdays. This is because Kiruna Airport is closed, even if the airlines wish to fly, as it is difficult to find staff.
Workshop participants raised various suggestions for strengthening communication, such as:
- Double track on the Malmbanan railway and re-regulation of the railway, high-speed train Kiruna-Gällivare
- Develop Kiruna Airport. Can we have remote-controlled air traffic control towers? Electric flights?
- Double lane on E10 for good accessibility, important not least for healthcare.
Success factors are good dialogue and cooperation with Gällivare and the state stepping in.
– Double track on the Malmbanan line has been talked about for 30 years. There is a lack of capacity and structure in the organization that manages the railway today, said Mats Taaveniku.
Difficult to get an appointment at the hairdresser or optician
The labor shortage affects Kiruna in a number of ways. The fact that the airport is having difficulty staying open is just one thing. The attractiveness of industrial jobs means that it is difficult to find personnel for service professions and welfare.
– An everyday problem that has arisen recently is that it is difficult to get free appointments at hairdressers or opticians, for example, it is not uncommon for a two-month waiting time for a simple service. This also means that people go to other cities to purchase these services, said Mats Tyni, project manager at Kiruna väkser.
To broaden the labor market and raise the level of education in the municipality, there is a vision called Campus 400 – an idea of Kiruna as a new student city. The municipality envisions an expanded campus with a wide range of education programs where 400 people will graduate each year. This will be done in collaboration with Esrange, LTU and LKAB, and with exchanges with the universities of Tromsø and Rovaniemi. Have both cutting-edge education programs and education for teachers and care staff. The education programs should be so attractive that they drive immigration to the county.
Maria Johansson, Kiruna Municipality, Anders Elenius from Gruvtolvan and Monica Lejon, Norrbotten Region took part in the reports from the various workshop groups.
A campus could also encourage the municipality's young people to invest in higher education. Today, it happens that young people don't even finish high school before they start working. Anders Elenius from the Gruvtolvan trade union pointed out that industrial companies sometimes entice high school students to drop out of school. The lures can be benefits such as cars and phones.
Invest in students and trainees
But the work on skills provision also includes getting better at working with interns and trainees who get jobs after their education, it is an investment for the future. Can you offer a whole package of student housing, cheaper food and ski passes as an offer and incentive to come to Kiruna? After all, the city has something unique to offer.
“In Kiruna you can work in a high-tech company in a mountain environment,” said Philip Påhlsson at Swedish Space Corporation.
Philip Pålsson (left) represented the space industry at the RUS dialogue.
Another working group discussed ways to support entrepreneurship and innovation in the municipality. One proposal was an innovation portal that would create collaboration between companies and universities and, for example, contribute to increased knowledge about how to seek external financing. The idea is that the innovation portal would contribute to a broader business community and labor market, so that more people would stay in the municipality and that more people would dare to take the step to develop their ideas.
Wants to become a cultural capital
Culture also has the potential to broaden the labor market, but it can also increase well-being and thus public health. Kiruna has applied to become the European Capital of Culture and actually receiving that designation is seen as the very foundation for success. Culture needs both enthusiasts and a long-term perspective, was one point of view. It was also highlighted that culture must give all national minorities visibility and space. Success factors are willingness to pay for cultural events and collaboration between culture and business.
– We must get new people to live and work in Kiruna while retaining the current residents, said Mats Tyni.
Other discussion topics included challenges with access to land and incentives for young people to stay in Kiruna. Participants hope for a future with qualified teachers, welcoming working conditions and strong community life in Kiruna in 2040.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa
Photos: Tobias Khan, Tove Cullhed
