This is the second joint Arctic event, this time organised by the Interreg Botnia-Atlantica Programme, in collaboration with Northern Periphery and Arctic, Interreg Nord and the Kolarctic CBC programme. It brings together specially invited projects and experts within the four themes of eHealth, Energy efficiency, Bio-economy and Entrepreneurship to share experiences, find synergies and identify future cooperation possibilities. SECURE is one of the invited projects and it will be represented by our Project Leader Caitriona Strain from the ERNACT network of regions.

The overall objectives of the event are the following ones:

• To disseminate vibrant and integrated information to a wider network of potential collaboration partners representing Arctic stakeholders
• To gather relevant on-going projects and project idea holders and to demonstrate the value-added of their oganisations’ involvement through future cluster projects

On behalf of the NPA, the following projects will be represented: e-Lighthouse, SECURE, Urchin, eCAP, GREBE, Circular Ocean, Creative Momentum, RemoAge, and Recruit & Retain II. It is expected that after the event, a number of cross-programme cluster projects will be initiated.

Background

The European Territorial Cooperation programmes operating within the Arctic have decided to work more closely together. This cross-programme collaboration is encouraged and mandated by the European Commission and the EU High Representative in their Joint Communication a new integrated EU policy for the Arctic, published in April 2016. Ultimately, the collaboration, which is coordinated by the NPA, should provide input for establishing research and investment priorities in the European Arctic.