In Haparanda, the soft issues took their place in the work on the future of Norrbotten

Attractive living environments, culture and faith in the future were highlighted when the dialogue meeting about Norrbotten's new strategy for smart specialization was held in Haparanda.

How do we create a society where people want to live, survive and stay? That question characterized the dialogue meeting in Haparanda and set the tone for many of the conversations.

The work on Norrbotten's new strategy for smart specialization, S3, is about innovation, business and priorities. But during the day it also became clear that development is not only determined by large investments. At least as important are what people encounter in everyday life: well-being, belonging and identity.

The conversations highlighted the role of culture, the need for more meeting places, and how societies can develop so that everyday life works for more people, not just working life.

More than just growth

A recurring thought during the day was that it is not enough to build new buildings. There must also be things that make people use the places, meet and feel involved in everyday life. Åse Classon from Samforma described it this way:

– We need to understand our challenges from multiple perspectives and be creative in how we address them. It's about starting from the conditions that exist in each local community.

Her reasoning also made it clear that development is not just about resources and structure, but also about people's commitment. Civil society was therefore highlighted as an important part of the work, not as a complement but as a force in building social sustainability and vitality.

– We who live, work and work in a place are an enormous resource. Civil society needs to be seen as a strategic partner, in the same way as the business community, continues Classon.

Åse Classon from Samforma emphasized the role of civil society in building vitality.

A border that binds together

In Haparanda, it also became clear how the border with Finland not only separates countries, but also connects them. With only one bridge between Haparanda and Tornio, cooperation across the border is a natural part of both everyday life and development.

– Here in Haparanda we collaborate a lot with Tornio. It's natural. We have around 9000 inhabitants each, but together we function as a city with just over 30,000 inhabitants. This requires close cooperation where possible, says Thomas Ejdemo, business developer in Haparanda municipality.

The examples raised during the day pointed in the same direction. The discussions ranged from children and young people's faith in the future to the need to develop the tourism industry and cultural and creative industries. Together, they showed how different parts of societal development are interconnected.

Development that is interconnected

At the same time, the larger challenges were always present in the background. Population development, skills supply and the structure of the business sector remain crucial for Norrbotten's future. This means that issues of everyday life, service and context also become part of the strategic development work.

The dialogue meeting in Haparanda was the penultimate in the series. During the summer, it will also be possible to submit input digitally. The thoughts and perspectives that have been received, both during the meetings and through future input, will be taken forward in the continued strategy work.

Text and image: Linda Kvenås