Introduction
The Nordic regional development context
The Nordics today rank among the world’s most innovative and competitive regions, endowed with both thriving cities and resource-rich rural areas. Of particular note is the high level of trust demonstrated by the region’s 27 million inhabitants, which offers a good starting point for developing the countries’ respective welfare societies in line with Our Vision 2030.
At the core of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the mantra of ‘leave no one behind’. Achieving this means acknowledging that the SDGs cannot be achieved individually. Rather, cross-sectoral efforts and cooperation between multiple administrative levels, the private sector and civil society are needed.
Nordisk samarbeidsprogram for regional utvikling og planlegging 2021–24 – for et grønt, konkurransedyktig og sosialt bærekraftig Norden (2020):
PolitikNord 2020:713
ISBN 978-92-893-6710-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-92-893-6711-0 (ONLINE)
http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/politiknord2020-713
PolitikNord 2020:713
ISBN 978-92-893-6710-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-92-893-6711-0 (ONLINE)
http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/politiknord2020-713
Against this backdrop, constructive analyses of the Nordics’ diverse communities offer an invaluable resource for those working towards improved living conditions, greater innovation, a successful green transition and inclusive societies. Alongside this, cooperation networks and ongoing exchanges of ideas represent a vital element in cross-border understanding and development. In this way, the creation of Nordic added value becomes possible.
The Nordic countries/autonomous areas have – relative to other regions in the world – similar governance structures, welfare conditions and cultural outlooks, providing a solid basis for the cross-border exchange of knowledge and ideas. Also of relevance is the fact that each of the Nordic countries have tax equalisation systems in place aimed at reducing local and regional inequalities.
Comparable challenges and opportunities can be found across the Nordic region. For example, many rural communities are struggling with declining populations and a lack of younger incomers, while cities are confronted by growing segregation and rising housing prices. In the face of such concerns, investigating the Nordics more broadly throws up an array of potential solutions. Potential avenues include:
- Idea, knowledge and experience exchanges between decision-makers and relevant actors, including across borders.
- Cross-border networks where critical views on challenges, solutions, trends and policy measures can be both solicited and offered.
- Access to comparisons and analyses that provide a broader perspective on a particular community’s performance.
- A diverse collection of inspirational case studies showcasing activities that other regions and communities can learn from.
Over recent years, regional policy in the Nordics has shifted away from equalisation towards competitiveness. Moreover, at a country level, regional policy is often interpreted in different ways.
Tillväxtanalys 2021: Nordisk studie om regionalpolitik och omställningsförmåga. Rapport 2021:05. Sweden.
All these countries make a distinction between ‘small’ regional policy (which reflects regional growth/development policy in the Swedish context) and ‘large’ regional policy (which refers to sector-by-sector policy areas). In many cases, the sector-by-sector policy areas hold the potential for transformational societal effects, impacting regional infrastructure, education and labour markets.
In light of the shared challenges highlighted above, Nordic areas, municipalities and communities seeking innovative ways of enhancing economic growth, social development or environmental sustainability can benefit greatly from looking to their neighbours. It is this idea that forms the seed from which this report grows.
Basis and structure of the report
What can Nordic municipalities and communities learn from contemporaries across the region? How can potentially transformational policies, strategies and initiatives be successfully transferred from one local context to another? Such are the questions underlying this report, which is perhaps best viewed as a ‘recipe book’ of relevant examples from across the Nordics’ five countries and three self-governing regions. In focusing on regional cooperation, the following chapters travel from coast to mountaintop, from city centres to remote settlements, and across borders.
This report arises out of the Nordic Cooperation Programme For Regional Development And Planning 2021–2024 (RCP), which Nordregio was responsible for coordinating. In doing so, Nordregio worked alongside the three thematic groups, the cross-border committees (CBCs) and Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA).
Further details of these partners, as well as maps of the area/countries covered by NORA and by the Nordic cross-border committees, can be found in the chapter The Nordic Regional Cooperation Programme and its participating institutions
The aim of the RCP was to facilitate implementation of the three strategic priorities contained in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Our Vision 2030. As such, it constitutes a key stepping stone towards a green, competitive and socially sustainable Nordic region.
The remainder of the report unfolds as follows. The first part "23 recipes for regional development" consists of 23 short chapters, each of which describes a project or an event conducted as part of the RCP. These projects were carried out variously by Nordregio in conjunction with Nordic regional ministries, by one of the CBCs, or by NORA.
The second part "Story map of inspirational case studies" gives details of the interactive Story map that has been created based on the 113 case studies.
The third part "Regional relevance and Nordic added value" then pulls back to explore the cross-cutting areas of regional relevance that emerged from the 23 recipes, before summarising them in the form of some key takeaways. It then proceeds to supplement this analysis by applying a similar lens to 113 inspirational case studies also conducted as part of the programme. Having done so, this part concludes by expanding on the nature of Nordic value added.
The fourth part "Topic search mapping tool" outlines the tool that encompasses both the 113 cases and the 23 recipes.
Supplementing the above, the fifth part "About the Nordic Cooperation Programme" provides further details on the institutions involved in implementing the RCP.