The event, opened by Mikael Janson, Director of the North Sweden European Office, and moderated by Stefano Barbieri from OECD, was held in a form of an interactive live SWOT analysis, where the audience was invited to discuss the topic together with our speakers. The speakers, Jussi Rämet, Region Mayor at Council of Oulu Region, Rickard Carstedt, Chair of the Regional Development Board in Region Västerbotten, Gøril Johansen, CEO of ProTromsø, and Andrew Rae, Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands, were first asked to present their insights on the digital and green future in the sparsely populated areas. After each part of the SWOT analysis, the audience took part in the event by sharing their views and identifying themes for further discussion on the topic through a Mentimeter.

The interlinked nature of the challenges faced by the regions

When talking about the threats and weaknesses, several themes were identified from connectivity and infrastructure to geopolitics and climate change. As new emerging security issues are raising concerns, Gøril Johansen drew attention to an important point by reminding that the climate crisis has not disappeared in the changed geopolitical landscape. Facing several challenges which all require attention, the sparsely populated areas will thus need to continue responding these in parallel.  

In his presentation, Jussi Rämet also mentioned the growing lack of skilled labour in the regions. This was further supported by Gøril Johansen and Rickard Carstedt, who both named demographic decline as a significant challenge. As Nils Kristian Sørheim Nilsen, Director of the North Norway European Office, summarised it, the lack of people results in several other interlinked challenges, including the lack of competence and skills as well as the lack of investment capital.

Another example of this are the connectivity issues, which Andrew Rae raised as the biggest challenge in the sparsely populated areas. However, a decarbonised and well-connected transport network has a fundamental role not only for the people. Sørheim Nilsen emphasised the significance of connectivity also in terms of accessing the vast natural resources of remote areas as well as for dual use of infrastructure through military mobility, further highlighted by the recent NATO-memberships of Finland and Sweden.

Holding the keys for success

Access to renewable energy, clean nature with vast resources, huge investment potential for green transition, safe and secure societies with a high quality of life – these were just a few of the topics mentioned while talking about the strengths and opportunities of the sparsely populated areas. Johansen also highlighted the strong local expertise of the people living in these areas as well as the importance of effective bridging between knowledge and business. She called for an increased courage for larger investments and new projects, for instance in the field of hydrogen, as well as the importance to participate young people in the green transition.

The discussion showed how the sparsely populated areas already have multiple qualities which make them good places to live. However, to build up on these existing strengths, the regions need to consider additional ways to encourage people to stay in these areas – and thereby contributing to their success. This is the case especially with skilled female workers, as mentioned by Johansen. Here, Andrew Rae emphasised the importance of further narrowing the gender gap in different fields of study – a development where there have already been positive improvements.

Rickard Carstedt emphasised the role of cross-border collaboration as a great opportunity for the regions. However, unlocking the full potential of digital and green transition can be more than a regional success story. Rämet reminded the participants about these wider benefits by describing how digital and green transition is important not only for the regions, but also for the whole EU through additional value creation. He continued by stressing that this transition must also be fair and inclusive. According to the event moderator Barbieri, the crucial question here is how the disparities can be reduced at the same time while building a green and digital future in the regions.

The key takeaways and the way forward

With a forward-looking approach, the event also sought to identify future focus areas as well as the required actions for successful green and digital transition in the sparsely populated areas. Several points were raised both by the speakers and the audience. Both Rämet and Carstedt highlighted the importance of cohesion policy as a central tool to tackle the challenges sparsely populated areas are facing. In addition, a stable regulatory framework is needed to attract green investments, as noted by Rämet. Other important tools for future success recognised by the event participants included cross-border collaboration as well as enhanced East-West connectivity, including digital and transport infrastructure. The Mentimeter results also highlighted the necessity of a bottom-up approach. As Gøril Johansen put it, it is important to speak with the people, not about the people.

From left in the article photo: Rickard Carstedt, Mikael Janson, Stefano Barbieri, Jussi Rämet, Gøril Johansen and Andrew Rae