Welcome to the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) Forum 2024 in Bodø, Norway.   

Date: 12–13th of September 2024

Time: Lunch to lunch

Venue: Thon Hotel Nordlys, Bodø

The NSPA Forum 2024 invites all individuals with a keen interest in the advancement of sparsely populated areas across the Nordic region. Whether you are actively involved in addressing regional challenges, fostering cross-border collaborations, or exploring innovative opportunities for these areas, we encourage you to join us.

Please register here.

Due to high demand, early registration is recommended. A confirmation email will be sent out closer to the forum with additional information to everyone who has registered. 

The participation fee is 1750 NOK per person (Included TVA), which can be payed after the event in the form of an invoice.

Preliminary Program

Wednesday, 11th September:

• Evening: dinner, and cultural activities for early arrivals (registration required)  

Thursday, 12th September: 

• 09:00 - 10:00: Sea eagle safari in a boat/RIB (registration required) 
• 11:30 - 12:30: Lunch 
• 12:15 – 19:00 Program 
• Welcome speech and introduction by Svein M. Eggesvik, County President Nordland 
• Bodø 2024: Presentation of the project and Ung 2024 by Program Manager Henrik S. Dagfinnrud and Project Manager Charlotte Nyheim Eriksen from Bodø 2024
• Oulu 2026: Digital presentation
• Kiruna's work and plan for becoming a European Capital of Culture: Digital presentation by Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä and Emma Johnson, Project Manager, Kiruna Municipality
• Geopolitics, infrastructure, and transport in Arctic Europe by Deputy Military Representative, NATO HQ in Brussels, Arvid Halvorsen
• OECD recommendations and planning of publication by Stefano Barber, OECD, and Jouni Ponnikas, Kainuu / chair of the steering group
• EU and Arctic discussions 
• NSPA Steering Group meeting and NSPA Working Group meeting
• Evening: Dinner and beer tasting at Restaurant Bådin followed by a cultural event. 

Friday, 13th September:

• 09:00 - 10:15: Rebranding NSPA – finalising workshop 
• 10:30 - 11:00: Arctic Race – a possibility for cross-border cooperation in North Nordic by Knut Eirik Dybdahl, Arctic Race Norway
• 11:00 - 11:30: Presentation of Team Nordic Arctic by ProTromsø, Business Oulu and Umeå
• 11:30 - 12:00: Summary, conclusions and take-aways
• 12:00: Lunch and return home 

Attached you can find the full program and details!

Practical Information

Hotel Information: 

We wish to welcome you to stay at Thon Hotel Nordlys, Bodø, Norway. 

Guests can book their own rooms by emailing the hotel and adding the booking code "NSPA Forum 2024" in the reservation. 

Please email your reservation to: lill-heidi.myrvoll@olavthon.no  

Room price per night: 1,325 NOK

Traveling:

The easiest way for international guests to travel to Bodø is by plane to Bodø Airport. Transportation to the city center is possible by public bus or taxi.  

For more information about the city of Bodø go to this website: visitbodø.com. Here you will find information about the European Capital of Culture 2024 and what other activities you can do during your stay!

Do not hesitate to contact us: 

Nils Kristian Sørheim Nilsen, North Norway European office, nils@northnorway.org

Katrine Tønsberg Gaski, North Norway European office, katgas@nfk.no

We look forward to welcoming you to Bodø for the NSPA forum of 2024!