New innovation centre in Norrbotten
“The Norrbotten Regional Innovation Center will be an important platform for increasing learning between actors within the region, but also for strengthening our partnerships in Europe. Through joint activities and projects, we strengthen the region’s competitiveness,” says Linn Berglund Pantzare, project manager at LTU Business.
The initiative is based on the principles of so-called smart specialisation (S3). It is an EU strategy that has promoted regional cooperation and increased competitiveness over the past decade. In Norrbotten, the focus will be on further developing areas in the basic industry, while investing in growth industries such as space, hydrogen, ICT (information and communication technology) and tourism.
“We will strengthen what we are good at and invest in what we need to get better at. The S3 work is about just that – and the link to the EU, our European added value and international cooperation will be developed with this platform and benefit the companies in Norrbotten,” says Helena Ölund, Chairman of the Regional Development Committee in the Regional Council.
The project is run by LTU Business, a business development company owned by Luleå University of Technology, and is funded by Region Norrbotten, the public authority in Norrbotten.
Lennart Håkansson, North Sweden Business
