Regenerative Arena

Purpose and goal

The objective is to enhance the region’s innovation capacity and establish lasting structures that enable the faster translation of research into practical applications, while strengthening a more circular, competitive and resilient industrial sector.

Challenge

Northern Sweden is facing major transformation requirements driven by climate change, geopolitical uncertainty and growing sustainability demands. In Norrbotten and Västerbotten, these challenges are intensified by large geographical distances, low population density and restricted access to testbeds and innovation facilities, making it more difficult for companies to develop and verify new bio-based materials, processes and construction systems.

Regional development strategies identify the bio-based value chain, spanning forestry and raw material provision to materials innovation and industrial construction, as central to the region’s transition and long-term competitiveness. These strategies underline the importance of cross-disciplinary innovation environments, digitalisation, skills development and arenas where research, industry and the public sector can come together.

Solution

The project responds directly to these challenges by establishing an open innovation platform that combines test and demonstration facilities, expert guidance and structured innovation processes. The region is well positioned thanks to its strong stakeholders and established partnerships. A further developed collaboration arena will generate additional value by bringing together expertise, resources and development efforts around shared objectives. The project reduces geographical and capacity-related barriers for SMEs in the forestry, materials and construction sectors and creates a regional framework in which companies can develop, test and implement circular and climate-resilient solutions.

To ensure broad participation, the project will provide access to the test and demonstration facilities in Skellefteå during the project period, including opportunities for prototyping, validation and technical support. Open workshops, training programmes and seminars will ensure that companies can access knowledge, tools and innovation methods even if they are not directly engaged in one of the innovation processes.

Cross-sector collaboration teams form a central element of the project's approach to inclusion. Each team will comprise several companies, a coordinator from RISE and experts selected to match the specific innovation theme. Bringing together businesses of different sizes, capabilities and roles within the value chain creates new connections, shared learning and a deeper understanding of cross-sector development opportunities. This model is especially valuable in a region where companies often operate in relative isolation and collaboration across value chains is limited.

Effect

The project contributes to the implementation of Agenda 2030 by strengthening the conditions for an equitable, sustainable and innovative bio-based industry in Northern Sweden. The goals that this project will primarily address are 5, 10, 9, 11 and 12. The project supports these goals by establishing an open innovation environment for testing, validation and methodology development across the entire bio-based value chain, with a particular focus on sparsely populated areas and the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Funding

The project is co-funded by the European Union, the Municipality of Skelleftea, and Region Västerbotten.