20 new projects will make Norrbotten stronger, smarter and more attractive

How do we promote rural digital opportunities, secure expertise in emergency healthcare and strengthen local associations? These are some of the challenges that 20 new projects will tackle – projects that Region Norrbotten wants to help finance to make the county more sustainable, attractive and competitive.

At the meeting on May 19, the Regional Development Committee decided to allocate over SEK 70 million to these initiatives. The projects span several areas – from digital transformation and business development to education and healthcare.

– These are projects that try to solve problems, that strengthen growth or contribute to making the county more attractive, says Johannes Sundelin (S), chairman of the regional development committee.

Strengthened digital development in rural areas

The project “Villages’ Resilient Digital Transformation” aims to strengthen villages and rural areas through better use of digital technology. The goal is to make communities more resilient over time.

By developing simple and sustainable working methods and strengthening local capacity, the project can contribute to better service, increased attractiveness and better preparedness in smaller communities.

The project owner is Luleå University of Technology, in collaboration with Hela Sverige ska leva and the non-profit association Sambruk. The project is also seeking funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

New opportunities for the film industry

The FutureFilm North project is aimed at small companies in the film industry in Norrbotten. The goal is to strengthen the companies' competitiveness and give them better opportunities to grow.

Through support in business development, skills development and increased visibility in the market, companies will be able to develop new ways of working and find more ways to make money. This project also hopes to receive support from the ERDF.

– We want to give both people and companies better tools to develop. It's about everything from functional digital services in everyday life to creating new business opportunities in our creative industries, says Monica Lejon, head of the Business and Society unit at Region Norrbotten.

Luleå University of Technology will run the project in collaboration with Filmpool Nord, of which Region Norrbotten is a partner.

Investing in competence in emergency healthcare

Region Norrbotten is also co-financing the project “Ultrasound Academy for Emergency Physicians in Norrbotten”. The project will provide emergency physicians with structured and certified training in patient-centered ultrasound. The goal is to increase patient safety and provide better decision-making support in healthcare throughout the county.

– The project enables emergency physicians around Norrbotten to train and certify themselves so that we can better diagnose when Norrbotten's residents need it, says Johannes Sundelin, chairman of the regional development committee.

The Norrbotten Region is the project owner. The project is also seeking funding from the European Social Fund (ESF+).

Strengthening associations in Kiruna's villages

The Sparse Rural Power project aims to strengthen civil society in Kiruna through increased collaboration between associations, the municipality and regional actors. With a focus on sparsely populated areas, better conditions are created for long-term and organized local development work.

The initiative is intended to increase participation in societal transformation, contribute to equal living conditions and create better opportunities for a more equal and varied labor market throughout the municipality.

The project is run by Kiruna Municipality. Glesbygdskraft is also seeking support from ESF+.

All 20 projects contribute to the goals of the Norrbotten Strategy 2040. They will, among other things, strengthen the supply of skills, promote lifelong learning and give people equal opportunities regardless of where in the county they live.

Region Norrbotten co-finances the projects on condition that they also receive support from ERDF via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and from ESF+ at the Swedish ESF Council. In addition to the direct co-financing decisions by the committee, four additional projects receive funding following delegation decisions.

Here are all of Region Norrbotten's decisions on co-financed ERDF projects.
Here are all of Region Norrbotten's decisions on co-financed ESF projects.