Northern Sweden contributes to the EU's competitiveness – don't let research here fall behind

Northern Sweden's sparsely populated regions play an important role in the EU's green transition, digitalization and the pursuit of strategic independence. When the EU is now going to develop a new research program, it should be designed so that we do not risk falling behind. This is the opinion of the political network Europaforum Norra Sverige, of which Region Norrbotten is a part.

Funds from the EU's research programmes have greatly contributed to northern Sweden being an innovative part of Europe. It involves hundreds of millions of kronor that have benefited hundreds of research actors, and which have contributed to great benefit for the EU as a whole. But the next research programme – the tenth in the series, called FP10 – is an opportunity to create greater societal benefit by broadening participation.

Northern Sweden has many small players in research and innovation. Here there are micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises in sparsely populated areas. These players possess valuable expert knowledge that can contribute significantly to research projects and increased competitiveness. However, they risk being excluded due to the large administrative burden that currently follows projects within the research programme. FP10 should therefore simplify administration to make participation more accessible, believes Europaforum Northern Sweden.

“Small businesses should be able to participate”

- It is important for northern Sweden that we continue the innovative development that is currently taking place and that small companies can also participate. This requires both efficiency and simplification. It is important for the EU's competitiveness that we continue to work with research and innovation and receive more resources, says Anders Öberg, regional councilor in Region Norrbotten. He is a rapporteur in the area of ​​Research, Innovation and Business in the Europaforum Northern Sweden.

The chairman of the regional board, Anders Öberg (S), is one of the politicians in the Europaforum Northern Sweden network.

Europaforum Norra Sverige (EFNS) is a network whose purpose is to promote the interests of northern Sweden in the EU arena and in EU issues at the national level. The network's position on the upcoming research program raises concerns that there will in fact be a sharp reduction in funding.

There is concern that the funds that previously went to collaborative projects on global challenges and industrial competitiveness will be lifted out of FP10 and into a newly created competition fund. It is from this pot that the majority of all research in northern Sweden is financed.

- If this pot disappears, hundreds of millions of kronor in funding risk being lost, for hundreds of research actors in Northern Sweden. EFNS believes that this research is too important for Europe's competitiveness to be lifted out of the research program, says Anders Öberg.

Broader view of Arctic research

EFNS sees a need for a number of priorities in the upcoming FP10, which concern the conditions in regions like ours. This includes the need for Arctic research that is not only about climate, polar regions or oceans, but about the needs of the people here.

- Research is needed on increased food self-sufficiency, resilient forestry, energy transition, digital health and welfare services, labor mobility, conflict resolution regarding land use and border security – to name a few important areas, says Anders Öberg.

But if such research is to provide real societal benefit, local and regional actors, who know the needs and conditions here best, need to be given a greater role. The best effect of investments on society is achieved if there is good coordination between funding from the research programme and from cohesion policy funds. For example, a research project can be developed into a product or service with the help of funds from the European Regional Fund. But then good dialogue, simpler rules and broader participation are required, believes Europaforum Norra Sverige.

FACTS: Europaforum Northern Sweden

How do EU strategies, action programs, laws and budgets affect northern Sweden? Europaforum Norra Sverige is a political network between the four northernmost counties in Sweden, where EU issues are analyzed and discussed. The aim is to present northern Sweden's perspective and contribute to EU policy that benefits our part of the European Union.

The work in EFNS is based on common positions. The positions are always adopted after unanimous decisions by representatives of different counties, so-called rapporteurs. The EFNS network operates across party lines to safeguard the interests of northern Sweden.