The Kvarken Council EGTC functions as the sole beneficiary in its EGTC role in two of the funded feasibility studies. This is an option available for the EGTC organizational form, and it allows the Kvarken Council’s members to work together across borders in the project even though the funding and administration are handled entirely by the Council.
Cooperation Structure for Cultural Actors in the Kvarken Region
The first feasibility study to receive funding is called Cultural Platform Kvarken. Its overarching goal is to investigate whether it is possible to establish a cooperation structure that facilitates continuous cultural cooperation in the Kvarken region and brings together stakeholders, consumers, companies, and policymakers across borders, for example in the form of an event platform.
If the need to develop a common structure for cross-border cultural cooperation in the Kvarken region is confirmed, the intention is to draft an application for a larger implementation project.
– Human encounters are essential in cross-border cooperation. We hope that the project will lead to a physical meeting place that strengthens our social and cultural ties in the Kvarken region, says Mr Fredrik Furu, Project Manager for Cultural Platform Kvarken.
Cross-Border University Cooperation
The second feasibility study to receive funding is called Kvarken Unicollab. The need for employees with various niche competencies is expected to increase in the Kvarken region in the future, and this poses significant challenges in terms of retraining existing residents and attracting new ones. Cross-border university cooperation could offer a broader spectrum of academic opportunities.
During the course of the feasibility study, the Kvarken Council – together with Umeå University, Mid Sweden University, the University of Vaasa, Hanken School of Economics, and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences – will map out common goals, conditions, and challenges related to cross-border collaborations. In this way, specific areas in need of increased university cooperation in the Kvarken region can be identified.
– There are currently around 90,000 university, college, and university of applied sciences students in the Kvarken region. By bringing together the Kvarken region’s educational institutions in a cross-border project, there are good opportunities to further strengthen and intensify cooperation, says Ms Veronica Berg, the Kvarken Council’s Development Manager.
Cross-Border Network for the Film Industry
The third feasibility study to receive funding is called Kvarken Film Network. The goal of the feasibility study is to analyze the potential for a cross-border network of key stakeholders within the film and television industry in the Kvarken region. Such a network could serve as a foundation for developing the Kvarken region’s film industry. This feasibility study’s intention is also to draft an application for a larger implementation project.
The Kvarken Council and its partners are satisfied with the decision and thank for the granted funding.
– This is fantastic news! We would like to thank Interreg Aurora for the funding and our partners for initiating the projects. It’s great to see cross-border cooperation in many different areas in the Kvarken region, says Ms Berg.
Summary of the three approved feasibility studies that the Kvarken Council and its partners applied for:
Cultural Platform Kvarken
Budget: The total budget of this project is 40,000 EUR, whereof 26,000 EUR is EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme.
Project partners: Kvarken Council EGTC (main partner, sole beneficiary).
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Kvarken Council EGTC, and Regional Council of Lapland.
Timetable: 1.4.2024–31.12.2024.
Kvarken Unicollab
Budget: The total budget of this project is 39,971 EUR, whereof 25,981 EUR is EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme.
Project partners: Kvarken Council EGTC (main partner, sole beneficiary).
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Kvarken Council EGTC, and Regional Council of Lapland.
Timetable: 1.9.2024–31.5.2025.
Kvarken Film Network
Budget: The total budget of this project is 40,000 EUR, whereof 26,000 EUR is EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme.
Project partners: Kvarken Council EGTC (main partner), Svenska Österbottens förbund för utbildning och kultur, Novia University of Applied Sciences, and Region Västerbotten.
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Regional Council of Lapland, Kvarken Council EGTC, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Svenska Österbottens förbund för utbildning och kultur, and Region Västerbotten.
Timetable: 1.4.2024–31.12.2024.
