Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic

Enhancing research and innovation capacity is vital for SMEs in the NPA area. Innovation and higher value-added processes diversify and expand activities and this capacity is crucial for adaptation. This is also why SMEs should be involved in developing and applying innovations.

Types of action supported:

• Facilitating technology transfer benefitting SMEs, including green technologies
• Facilitating opportunities based on R&I, including smart specialisation strategies

Target groups: Higher education and research, Large entreprises as R&D providers, Business support organisations, National/Regional/Local public authorities, non-profit organisations/social entreprises.

Digitalisation is crucial for addressing challenges in the programme area. It creates links between the public sector, SMEs, and education providers and helps mitigate issues like long distances and access to markets and key services. Digitisation especially benefits remote and peripheral communities, where, for example, it can offer opportunities for remote healthcare and smart mobility.

Types of actions supported:

• Transfer and development of accessible digital solutions to create better conditions for people to live and work in the area.
  This includes technology-driven solutions for public service provision, as well as marketing models and solutions facilitating the use of distance spanning technology to overcome long distances to market.

Target groups: National/Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Infrastructure and (public) service provider, Interest groups including NGOs, Higher education and research, Education/training centre and school, SME, Larger enterprises, Business support organisation, General public (including local communities)

The programme encourages transnational cooperation to enhance the entrepreneurial climate in the NPA area. Building networks and clusters helps tackle the issue of long distances to markets. Overcoming these challenges benefits nontraditional sectors and promotes a dynamic business sector. Economic diversification and resilience are necessary for traditional businesses. Engaging indigenous groups and local communities is also an important part of this objective.

Types of actions:

• Transfer and development of models and solutions for support to SMEs with a particular focus on entrepreneurial skills and sustainable business models.

• Transfer and development of concepts for creating networks and clusters of SMEs and connecting entrepreneurial capacities across regions as well as adapting marketing models for a greater market reach.

Target groups: National/Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Higher education and research, Education/training centre and school, SME, Business support organisation, General public (including local communities)

The cold and extreme climates of the programme area result in high energy needs. To meet these needs, smart energy solutions and storage, including community-based systems for remote areas, are crucial. The region holds significant potential for renewable energy resources. With existing expertise and a willingness to adopt new technologies, the aim is to achieve net energy savings while prioritising biodiversity and habitat preservation.

Types of actions:

• Transfer and development of sustainable renewable energy generation and energy efficiency solutions suitable for cold climates and remote communities.

• Facilitating the use of place-based energy surpluses and development of smart energy management concepts in remote communities.

Target groups: Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Infrastructure and (public) service provider, Interest groups including NGOs, Higher education and research, SMEs, General public (including local communities).

The vulnerability of NPA regions, characterised by sparsely populated coastal, mountain, and island areas, presents significant challenges for climate change mitigation and resilience. To address these challenges, it is essential to involve specialists and local stakeholders with in-depth knowledge of the unique and fragile natural environments.

Types of actions:

• Transfer and development of solutions that facilitate the use of community knowledge and build local capacity for climate change adaptation, risk prevention and disaster resilience in sparsely populated communities.

Target groups: National/Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Infrastructure and (public) service provider, Interest groups including NGOs, Higher education and research, SME, International organisations, EEIG, General public (including local communities).

New solutions and innovations are needed to achieve a circular economy, transform production processes, and change consumer behaviour. This includes addressing territorial challenges in waste management and promoting resource efficiency in various sectors. Remote communities already excel in circular, green, and bio-economy due to their tradition of self-reliance and reusing. Further development in these sectors is crucial due to environmental sensitivity.

Types of actions:

• Facilitating the transfer and development of solutions that promote resource efficiency, end-of-waste, and a better use of by-products in remote, and sparsely populated communities.

• Facilitating the transfer and development of solutions for community planning for the circular economy in remote, and sparsely populated communities.

Target groups: Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Infrastructure and (public) service provider, Interest groups including NGOs, Higher education and research, SMEs, Larger enterprises, Business support organisation, International organisations, EEIG, General public (including local communities)

Communities in the NPA regions have similar challenges. These challenges are more easily overcome if people work together. The goal here is to make it easier for communities to cooperate. This can be achieved by supporting organisational capacity to cooperate within the NPA region, focusing on different themes, such as preparedness, the unique heritage of NPA regions, wellbeing, attracting talent and skills, and engaging young people. The NPA Programme plays an important role in the EU Arctic Policy through regional development and therefore encourages cooperation both between projects and across EU programmes. Another goal of this priority is to bring awareness to new stakeholder groups that are not familiar with transnational cooperation.

Types of action:

• Development and transfer of capacity building concepts to engage stakeholders in cooperation based on local knowledge, supporting them to implement strategies for Northern Periphery and Arctic regions

Target groups: National/Regional/Local public authorities, Sectoral agency, Higher education and research, Education/training centre and school, Interest groups including NGOs,  SME, International organisations, EEIG, General public (including local communities).