Norrbotten in Europe’s New Strategic Geography
When Region Norrbotten brought together representatives from industry, academia and public institutions at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) in Stockholm, the message was clear: what is happening in northern Sweden is part of Europe’s response to questions of competitiveness, security and strategic autonomy.
The Arctic and Space at the Centre
The geopolitical situation has shifted Europe’s focus northwards. Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO membership, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the growing strategic importance of the Arctic have transformed northern Sweden into a strategic border region – not a periphery.
At the same time, space has become critical societal infrastructure. Communication, navigation, climate monitoring and defence all depend on space-based systems. In Norrbotten, a concentrated ecosystem has developed around Esrange Space Center, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), EISCAT and Luleå University of Technology (LTU). From 2026, satellite launches are planned at Esrange – a concrete contribution to the EU’s strategic autonomy.
“Esrange is now a security policy asset, not merely a national concern,” stated Tobias Billström and Peter Hultqvist from the stage – a formulation that captures the shift: space has moved from being a technological interest to a strategic necessity.
This development aligns with the region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), where space is identified as a strength linked to both innovation and industrial scaling.
“Europe Has Three Pillars – But They Must Work Together”
Sylvia Schwaag Serger (IVA) placed the discussion within a broader European framework. Europe has several strong pillars, but compared to the United States and China, they need to be better connected – from research and innovation to industrial scaling and geopolitical capacity. Europe’s distinctive model combines capitalism, sustainability and democracy to create competitive advantage.
“We should talk more about northern Sweden’s unique strengths, such as space.” – Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Director General, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
This perspective highlights that regional capacity-building, testbeds, innovation support systems, business development structures and strong collaboration between academia and industry are essential to strengthening Europe’s implementation capacity.
Norra Scen: Where Peace and Preparedness Meet
The event was part of the seminar series Norra Scen (northern stage), where Region Norrbotten, together with IVA Nord, LKAB, LTU, SSAB and Vattenfall, is building a platform for dialogue on issues that are particularly acute in the north – but relevant for all of Sweden and the EU.
The focus is on building regional societies that function in both peace and crisis: robust infrastructure, secure energy supply, skills provision and attractive living environments. Here, industrial transformation, security policy and EU budget priorities converge in a shared reality. It is clear that concerns exist regarding how the EU will balance climate ambitions and growth objectives in the coming period, even though both remain high priorities.
Dag Avango from LTU emphasised how the Arctic perspective is gaining ground within academia as well, including through initiatives linked to total defence and the role of universities in regions characterised by vast geographies and relatively small populations.
The EU Long-Term Budget: Simplification or Centralisation?
Underlying the discussion is a decisive budget question: how the EU intends to organise and govern its investments after 2027.
Region Norrbotten has pointed out that the European Commission’s proposal (presented on 16 July 2025) introduces a new budget structure with merged funds and increased governance through national plans – and that earmarked funding for the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) risks being weakened.
Mikael Jansson (North Sweden European Office) described the tension as involving “double values”:
- On the one hand, the EU must remain strong in terms of soft power – something particularly important for northern Sweden, not least for long-term cooperation and stability.
- On the other hand, there is a growing perception that Europe is falling behind, increasing pressure for centralisation and faster, more concentrated investments.
At the same time, new opportunities emerge. As global risks increase, investors seek to diversify their portfolios, which may make more European regions attractive for strategic value chains. However, he also warned of a potential “state aid race” and the risk that complex regions may be overlooked if policy instruments become too blunt.
From Jupiter to Kiruna – But Who Owns the Value Chain?
One of the most tangible arguments for the importance of space came, paradoxically, from the most visionary examples.
Olle Norberg described the pride in Sweden contributing components to a satellite on its way to Jupiter, and how astronauts such as Jessica Meir contribute to public engagement and legitimacy. At the same time, a strategic vulnerability was highlighted: without an independent launch capability and without full control over the value chain, leadership becomes fragile.
This is a core issue for both EU competitiveness and regional development in northern Sweden: how to move from research and test environments to industrial scale, commercialisation and resilient supply capability. One conclusion was clear – collaboration is not merely desirable; in many cases it is necessary to achieve scale.
A New Space Race – and an Opportunity to Scale Up
The discussion raised a direct question: are we entering a new space race?
The answer was pragmatic rather than cinematic. Space can provide transformative solutions – depending on the level of ambition and investment – not only for defence, but for broader societal development. Applications to space-related education programmes are increasing. As Olle Norberg from IRF remarked with a smile: “Those who like space, really like space.”
Perhaps this is where the EU budget debate ultimately needs to land: at the intersection of technology, place and people. If space is indeed “extremely important for society,” then Europe’s investments must reflect where the infrastructure and capabilities actually exist.