Apply for project support for the development of local learning centers

To strengthen the infrastructure for lifelong learning, Region Norrbotten is now investing in supporting municipalities' development of local learning centers. 

The initiative is part of the government's mandate to the regions and aims to increase access to education, promote collaboration and strengthen the match with the needs of working life. The projects will contribute to the implementation of the municipalities' strategies and goals as well as to the Norrbotten Strategy 2040.

Support can be sought for projects such as:

• Increases collaboration between employers, industry organizations and education providers to better match education offerings with local and regional labor market needs.
• Develops the Learning Center as an innovation environment, where new social and skills supply solutions can be tested and developed.
• Strengthens the Learning Center's role as a local meeting place, for example through activities that increase recipient capacity and collaboration with other activities.
• Make the Learning Center's function as an operational coordination point for local and regional skills provision work visible.

The projects must be permeated by the principle "We put people and sustainability in focus" and describe how they contribute to economic, social and ecological sustainability.

Who can apply?  

Municipalities in Norrbotten can apply for project support in this call. Projects that describe collaboration with other actors will be prioritized. Several municipalities can apply together for joint development efforts. Each municipality then applies for its actual costs in the same application.

How much support can you apply for? 

Projects can receive a maximum of 80 percent support of actual costs. You can apply for a minimum of SEK 200,000 and a maximum of SEK 800,000 per municipality. Co-financing of at least 20 percent is required from other public or private actors. The project can last a maximum of two years.

Physical investments, regular operations and training within the Local Government Act or government-funded vocational adult education are not eligible for support.

The projects should have a clear start and a clear end, but also a plan for how the work can continue after the end of the project — for example, through long-term financing or by integrating the activities into regular structures.

Two-step application process

• Fill in the form Early project idea
   och submit by April 30, 2026.
  It should also contain a description of the project's support in the relevant committees and municipal management, as well as information about collaborating partners. 
  
  Send the document via email to competence@norrbotten.se no later than April 30, 2026.
  We will reconnect in May 2026. 
• The application is made after feedback on an early project idea via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's e-service. My application Apply by September 30, 2026. 

If you need help planning and implementing the project, we offer methodological support.