Safe winter roads and hotel development – here are the projects receiving EU funding
Traffic safety, more hotel beds, smart use of resources and increased competence in care. 16 projects in our county will share in over SEK 160 million from EU funds. Region Norrbotten is co-financing several of them.
The European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund support projects across Europe. They will lead to a smarter, greener and more connected EU and an inclusive labour market. In Norrbotten, a wide range of projects will have the chance to contribute.
Norrbotten Region leads the project Strengthened capacity for sustainable business development in Norrbotten in collaboration with the county's municipalities. It will strengthen local work on business development. Last autumn, state support for business development in rural and sparsely populated municipalities was withdrawn. With this project, Region Norrbotten wants to contribute to preserving the capacity and opportunities that have been built up.
“Taking our responsibility”
“Region Norrbotten takes our responsibility for the development of the county's business sector – development that always takes place close to the companies and entrepreneurs, in our municipalities,” says Johannes Sundelin (S), chairman of the regional development committee in Region Norrbotten. He is a member of the structural fund partnership for Upper Norrland.
How can new technology and new methods increase traffic safety in winter? The project WiReTEN-c will seek solutions to problems such as sleet, slippery roads and poor visibility. It will be run by Luleå University of Technology. Within the project AHEAD The Swedish Lapland Visitors Board will be targeting a number of hotels. How can they grow and attract more visitors to the county? Circular Arctic Sweden is about how resources can be used more efficiently to reduce climate impact. LTU leads this project in collaboration with Region Norrbotten.
“Take advantage of the staff that are available”
In Kiruna, 70 percent of the staff in elderly care are untrained. The project VIS Futurum Kiruna aims to increase competence. It concerns skills in healthcare and social care, knowledge of Swedish and the use of digital aids.
– Norrbotten has a major shortage of labor, especially in the welfare professions. It is therefore important to take advantage of the existing staff and improve their skills, says Monica Lejon, Head of Business and Society at Region Norrbotten.
The decisions on which projects are prioritized were made by the Structural Funds Partnership for Upper Norrland on June 10. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development and the Swedish ESF Council make the formal decisions. The managing authority may adjust the amounts.
Here are all ERDF projects in Norrbotten
Here are all ESF+ projects in Norrbotten
Contact
Johannes Sundelin (S)
Chairman of the Regional Development Committee
Phone: 073-046 22 33
johannes.sundelin@norrbotten.se
Monica Lion
Head of Unit Business and Society
Tel: 070-387 37 52
monica.lejon@norrbotten.se
