RUS with the County Administrative Board: "The transition must take into account our specific needs"

Fair transition and cultural heritage were in focus when the County Administrative Board spoke about the future of Norrbotten. “We must ensure that our resources stay here and benefit the people who actually live and work in Norrbotten,” said Marja Sulkki, strategic community planner.

What is needed to strengthen Norrbotten as an attractive place for residents to live and work? That question was in focus when the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten gathered for discussions about the county's development.

Representatives from various departments such as cultural environment, urban planning, sustainable development and the EU program Interreg Aurora participated in the discussions about the new regional development strategy (RUS).

“Collaborate across borders”

Tina Nilsson, program director for Interreg Aurora, emphasized the importance of internationalization for Norrbotten's development.

“In order for us to be able to assert ourselves in the global arena, we must become better at collaborating across borders and taking advantage of our geographical position,” said Tina.

She also highlighted healthcare and cultural life as key areas and emphasized the need to invest more in food production and culture so that the region can compete and grow.

– We need to build a robust and sustainable food sector that not only supplies the region, but can also contribute to Sweden's total self-sufficiency, she added.

Tina also highlighted the importance of attracting more women to the region for more balanced development.

– If we do not invest in creating opportunities and space for women, we will miss out on large parts of our potential, she stated.

Susanne Friberg, Head of the Society Department, Tina Nilsson, Program Director Interreg Aurora and Anna Degerman, Head of Unit Internationalization and Growth.

“Treasure of cultural environments”

Cultural heritage and macho culture were other topics discussed. Kerstin Segerlund, county antiquarian, reminded of the importance of preserving and paying attention to Norrbotten's rich cultural heritage.

“We have a treasure trove of cultural environments that must not be lost in the pursuit of modernization and growth. Cultural heritage is our identity,” said Kerstin.

She highlighted that there is a great need to highlight and preserve cultural environments as part of the region's identity. Kerstin pointed out that cultural environments are often overlooked in modern social construction, despite being crucial to understanding the region's history and culture.

“It's easy to forget our history when we focus on the future, but the two are connected,” she reminded.

“Invisible barrier”

Annika Lindström, head of unit at Community Planning and Cultural Environment, raised the risk of negative developments as a result of macho culture.

– We must become better at identifying and breaking destructive cultural patterns that counteract gender equality and inclusion, said Annika.

She emphasized that it is important to counteract this for a more inclusive environment for all residents.

“Macho culture can be an invisible barrier that hinders both social and economic development, especially for women,” she continued.

Annika Lindström, Head of Community Planning and Cultural Environment.

Just transition

Another discussion concerned just transition. Marja Sulkki, strategic community planner, pointed out that a just transition requires investments in infrastructure to be made in a way that benefits local people.

– We must ensure that our resources stay here and benefit the people who actually live and work in Norrbotten, said Marja.

Marja emphasized the importance of using resources in a way that supports sustainable and equitable development.

“The transition must be fair and take into account the specific needs here in our region,” she added.

“Invest in education”

Education and access to social services were also central topics. An increased proportion of students without a high school diploma after the pandemic was highlighted as a concern. Anna Degerman, Head of the Internationalization and Growth Unit, highlighted the importance of improving the education system by investing in more trained teachers, smaller classes and higher quality schools.

– If we do not make a proper investment in education, we risk losing an entire generation to unemployment and insecurity, warned Anna.
– It is crucial to ensure that the region's young people are well equipped for the future.

At the same time, the importance of access to public services, including mobile coverage and broadband, was discussed. Mats Lindell pointed out that the entire region, from urban areas to sparsely populated areas, must have access to modern means of communication.

“It is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity for participating in modern society,” said Mats. He emphasized that lack of access to 5G and broadband negatively affects the attractiveness of the entire region and can hinder growth and development.

Need for social innovation

Innovative solutions in public services, especially digital tools and new forms of entrepreneurship, were also highlighted as important factors in strengthening the region's competitiveness. Anna Degerman emphasized the need for more social innovations and female leaders in business to broaden the economy and create sustainable growth.

“We need a diversity of ideas and perspectives to meet the challenges of the future,” said Anna.

She pointed out that increased diversity and new ideas can help Norrbotten achieve its goals and become a county at the forefront.

Text & image: Tove Cullhed