E12 Atlantica Transport project aims at developing cooperation between the actors along the E12 corridor which runs from Finland through Sweden to the Atlantic coast in Norway. Currently, a cross-border traffic stragegy is being drafted. In order to document the process, Edith Andresen, researcher and doctor in business economics, has been engaged to evaluate the process on an ongoing basis.
The Interreg project E12 Atlantica Transport, funded via the Botnia Atlantica programme, will continue until May 2018 and it has three subdomains: Creating an understanding of the transport needs in order to be able to establish a functional transport route along E12 in the east-west direction, developing structures for cross-border transport planning, and presenting future cooperation structures for increased collaboration in the region as well as in adjoining transport corridors.
Currently, the project focuses on work package no. 2, Cross-border strategies. The development of a cross-border traffic strategy, covering three countries, is innovative and has every opportunity to serve as so-called ”best practice” at the European level.
– I am primarily engaged to follow up and evaluate the process and on the basis of my analysis give ongoing feedback to the project and the process leaders. The following step is about creating opportunities for other European cross-border regions to benefit from the experiences gained in this project, Edith explains.
Edith is a lecturer and researcher of business economics and marketing at Mittuniversitetet university in Sundsvall, Sweden. In addition, she runs her own business Processeriet Ab, engaged in business development and process management.
– I have been involved in the ongoing evaluation of more than eleven regional strategic networks and clusters since 2003 and followed up several prioritized networks and clusters in the Province of Västernorrland in Sweden. I have also led five one-year process management programmes, Edith reveals.
She was born and bred in Trondheim, Norway, so the link between Sweden and Norway is a natural one for her.
– I am not yet so familiar with Finland, she adds.
Her task as an evaluator is to take part in the meetings and other activities within the project, to document and analyze and report the findings to the project managements, and to cooperate with the project management and to independently reconnect to the experiences gained in the project in other official contexts.
– Finally, I will give an account on the findings of the ongoing evaluation in the concluding conference of the project, Edith adds.
During the autumn, meetings have been held in Sandnessjöen, Norway and Umeå, Sweden. In November, the working group will meet in Vaasa, Finland. In between, the project team works via web-based conferences and telephone conferences.
– It seems a good process with engaged and competent persons. We are making progress and the target is a sustainable result and a functional collaboration model, Edith concludes.
Text: Anna Sand
Photo: Kvarken Council
E12 Atlantica Transport – The project is a cross-border cooperation between partners in Finland, Sweden and Norway along the E12, focusing on development of a functional multi-modal transport route for goods and passengers, joint strategies for cross-border planning and future cooperation structures.
E12 Atlantica Transport partners
Kvarken Council (Lead part, FI), MidtSkandia (NO), Blå Vägen (SE) Region Västerbotten (SE), Regional Council of Ostrobothnia (FI), Nordland fylkeskommune (NO) Vaasa Regional Development Company VASEK (FI), Umeå Municipality (SE), Vännäs Municipality (SE), Vindeln Municipality (SE), Lycksele Municipality (SE), Storuman Municipality (SE), Infrastruktur i Umeå AB INAB (SE), Rana Utviklingsselskap AS (NO), Rana Municipality (NO), Polarsirkelen Lufthavnutvikling (NO), Port of Mo i Rana (NO), Mo Industripark AS (NO), Alstahaug havnevesen KF (NO), Helgeland Havn IKS (NO)