Photo: Anne Katrine Ebbesen, Nordregio
Spreading the word and increasing Nordic added value
Across the programme period 2021-2024 and along with the goals set out in the beginning - to produce new knowledge, to be a hub for knowledge exchange and to contribute to the Nordic vision – a lot of outreach activities and engaging with stakeholders from policy and academia have been conducted.
Among sharing results at the annual Nordregio Forum, the researchers have also engaged in arena webinars, roadshows to meet with stakeholders in the Nordic countries and participated in academic conferences. In total this includes more than 100 events to share and discuss research results and engaging policy discussions across the Nordics during the period.
Meetings between the researchers and the thematic group four times a year (two digital and two physical meetings) have contributed to building a network where knowledge has been shared and new perspectives based on the research results have been discussed. With first-hand knowledge about regional development in their respective countries, regions and cross-border regions, the members of the thematic groups have given valuable input to the research projects and guidance on topics of interest to explore as well as suggestions for case studies. The added value has hence been reciprocal – both for researchers and policy makers.
Photo: TGC meeting in Luleå, 2024
Taking part of Nordregio research results increases my knowledge about what is going on in regional development in the other Nordic countries and adds to my work at the Ministry. The digital webinars which include both presentations of research results and panel discussions with external experts adding new perspectives, facilitates a more in-dept understanding.
- Örjan Hag, national representative Sweden
Through taking part of timely research from Nordregio and by learning from peers and from best practice across the Nordics, we can add value not only to the Nordic cooperation, but also to Nordic competitiveness. The value of exchange of information and building networks by also meeting in person should not be underestimated.”
- Katarina Fellman, representative Åland
The work has aimed to contribute to the Nordic vision of becoming the most integrated and sustainable region in the world, but also more specifically to reaching the goals in the regional cooperation programme (especially goal 6, 7 and 10, but also goal 1, 3 and 5). The Nordic added value consists not only of learning from peers and best practice across the Nordics which is important as such, but also of advancing the common Nordic agenda and building networks for a stronger Nordic Region.