Nine projects ready to take off!

The Arctic Edge project aims to strengthen  supply chain operations in the NPA Region, addressing regional challenges. It will develop and implement  a cloud-based, IoT, and MQTT technology-driven solution for rural manufacturing NPA SMEs, aiming to optimise supply chain processes.

While existing technologies are available, their adoption, especially in SMEs' supply chains, remains limited. Arctic Edge's objective is to enhance efficiency, resilience, and adaptability in SMEs' supply chain operations, fostering a mental shift towards digital adoption.

Project deliverables include a flexible digital architecture for improved internal operations and external supply chain interactions, personalised IoT solutions, comprehensive video content and educational materials.

The project seeks to revolutionise supply chain practices within the NPA region by introducing innovative technologies and promoting their widespread application, particularly among rural manufacturing SMEs.

Interreg NPA countries are facing work absenteeism and early retirement due to poor physical and mental health. Healthcare services that can help employees recover and get back to to work, such as occupational therapy/counselling, are currently under strain, difficult to access, expensive and underfunded.

Tech2Heal aims to attain an enhanced comprehension of the reasons behind both absenteeism and early retirement due to poor wellbeing . A combination of qualitative/quantitative methods, and ubiquitous technology to monitor work-life will be used. Pilots will be implemented to validate solutions. Its ultimate goals are to help employees/self-employees to gain awareness to live healthier for longer; and propose suitable changes to work/health policies.

The vision is to improve access to culturally sensitive and appropriate health and well-being self-management services in rural areas in the NPA region. 

Culturally sensitive and appropriate services refers to services that are designed and implemented with a deep respect for different cultures and their values, beliefs, and customs. These services aim to ensure that individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect, while also addressing their unique needs and preferences.

The project will focus on the following 3 target groups: 
1) Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Ireland since the beginning of the conflict
2) SAMI population in remote and rural settings 
3) Ageing population living independently in remote, rural and isolated Icelandic areas and need to travel to access healthcare services

The common thread is one of marginalisation, disconnection, disempowerment and low levels of trust and understanding.

The Bauhaus Goes North (BGN) project aims to review the state of the art in respect to participatory, sustainable, and inclusive co-design for the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy in the NPA Region. Under the New European Bauhaus (NEB) it removes barriers to accelerate replication of best practice across the NPA Region.

BGN will be delivered via a Living Lab initiative to co-create a Co-Design Playbook; a Replicability Index tool and Annual Best Practice Call to accelerate take-up of replicable solutions.

Contributing to the NEB movement, it proposes and advances participatory, sustainable and inclusive co-design best practices. Four jointly-develped demonstrator projects - a district plan, a  campus and a historic building, a sustainable island development - will illustrate and anchor diverse settings and contexts.

THREADs focuses on a holistic approach to textile waste management as well as educating & innovating at the design & post-consumer phase.

It follows a preparatory project which focused on the challenges faced by the NPA region with regards long transport distances, growing textile consumption & limited textile reuse.

Capitalising on the benefits of working transnationally towards solutions & innovations in each sphere, activities include piloting state of the art technologies, education, awareness raising & skills transfer.

Projected Results:

• Adoption of smart waste collection for resource efficiency & sustainable textile handling practices across borders.
• Increased implementation of circular practices from designers through to consumers ensuring resource sufficiency. 
• Enhanced Social inclusion activities.
• New business model implementation 

Target groups: waste management stakeholders, consumers, designers, craftspeople, educators, disadvantaged groups and social enterprises.

Variable wastewater (WW) management approaches are used in Arctic countries. They differ by the type of systems used and the level of environmental and health protection they provide. Several factors, such as regional climate and geology or the history and culture of a region, can affect the suitability of management solutions.

ArcticSewlutions aims to compile and create information on the type, efficiency, and properties of treatment options in cold and sparsely populated regions. In addition, it will also close the information gap on the occurrence of WW-related emerging contaminants in receiving waters near Arctic settlements.

The goal is to promote the exchange of knowledge and practical experiences on WW management solutions providing regional and local stakeholders with the information needed to assess and change practices if needed.

The project aims for enhanced WW management in changing climate and variable geographic conditions for the resilience and health of communities.

Vibrant regional innovation ecosystems as an attractor for talent and skills is our common need.

In addition to contributing to the competitiveness of our regions, innovation ecosystems create a trickle-down effect benefiting all. Measuring the ability of innovation ecosystems is necessary because it provides useful quantifiable data to understand its current state and identify areas for enhancement. Developed by Region Västerbotten, METRIC is a measurement tool we will develop further.

With the involvement of key stakeholders, indicators for fast demonstrations are selected based on regional relevance and data availability. A systematic process to adapt and transfer METRIC will be part of the action plan for full-scale measurement and communication. Throughout the project, capacity to evaluate innovation ecosystems is going to be built.

The increasing disconnection among communities, scientists, and policymakers poses significant challenges to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. It is vital to bridge these gaps, particularly in rural communities where residents face pressing concerns about environmental degradation, climate change impacts, limited opportunities, and feelings of under-representation.

CAP-SHARE, guided by the Global Biodiversity Framework, aims to jointly develop and implement a model to share capacity for the protection of local biodiversity and sustainable interaction with nature through projects that are community centered and focused on vulnerable stakeholders.

Solutions to build cooperation and share knowledge will be demonstrated, benefiting communities, scientists, and policymakers. CAP-SHARE will build on the complementary ways NPA communities are approaching shared challenges, focusing on intergenerational community empowerment with respect for the diversity of NPA regions.

Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) are large, complex and rare incidents, where one nations search and rescue (SAR) capacity is at risks of being overwhelmed. 

These types of disasters could have large consequences for the NPA region. Success often depends on well coordinated actions and resources from various organizations and stakeholders; regional, national and transnational.

The NAMRO project will develop a handbook for MRO, together with relevant SAR authorities that have a Search and Rescue Region (SRR) responsibility within the NPA area. The handbook seeks to create harmonized guidelines and standardised operations, especially when it comes to receiving and rendering international assistance. The MRO handbook aims to assist SAR authorities in identifying resource needs, knowledge of rescue resources available, and request and reply procedures.

The idea is to promote common terminology, generate consistency, raise awareness, and identify stakeholders for a more efficient response.