The Bioeconomy in Lapland and the importance of interregional collaboration across Europe

Lapland´s international connections and cooperation with business life are very important drivers of its vitality (Rissanen 2021). The Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS) provides new knowledge and competence from the Arctic perspective and through strategic choices, we collaborate with various national and international research partners and networks.

In the Future Bioeconomy competence group we consider Lapland’s unique characteristics through the forestry and food production sectors. The focus is on sustainable forestry and logging, food security, natural products, reindeer husbandry, and multiple use of forests where circular economy and digitalisation are cross-cutting themes. Our RDI activities are closely linked to teaching, our strategy, S3, Lapland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (Lapin liitto 2023), and the SDGs, United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations 2025). Through the education and RDI-activities, we build new areas of competence closely together with business and working life strengthening our international connections.