Sweden inspires – highlights from Rovaniemi mining conference
Norrbotten Regional Innovation Center joined regional and international partners in Rovaniemi for the OECD Conference on Mining Regions and Cities. The discussions highlighted how collaboration and open dialogue can unlock sustainable growth in mining regions around the world. Norrbotten exports not only mining products, but also methods for innovation in mining.
Erik Hagenrud, Senior Business Developer at LTU Business, presented Norrbotten’s mines – origins of 90% of iron produced in Europe – along with an innovative approach to finding and funneling innovative SME solutions to challenges in the mining value chain.
“An effective approach to improve innovation support for sustainable mining. Looking forward to start an Interreg Aurora #SISMEproject with him and his organization in September!” – Mervi Kontturi from Business Joensuu, Finland.
Additional highlights and takeaways from the conference
Balancing Interests and Building Real Dialogue
One of the most pressing topics – both on and off stage – was the cumulative effects of land use and how to manage competing interests among local communities, Indigenous peoples, and the green transition.
“Polarization can be effective if it triggers dialogue – but it has to lead to dialogue, not just an exchange of opposing views,” says Erik Hagenrud.
“The willingness and ability to listen, understand, and genuinely seek solutions must be stronger than the urge to keep the polarization alive.”
Learning from Global Examples
Several international speakers shared how collaboration and trust can help mining regions navigate complex challenges.
Meredith Armstrong, City of Greater Sudbury, Canada, highlighted the importance of early, open dialogue to find common ground between actors with conflicting goals.
Nick Cook, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Australia, underlined how innovation and research drive sustainable exploration – and how geology sometimes relies on both science and intuition.
Collaboration as a Driver for Transformation
The Norrbotten Regional Innovation Center is a collaboration platform accelerating smart and sustainable transformation through interregional European cooperation. Its focus is on developing innovation across five key ecosystems identified by Region Norrbotten as strategically important: mining, the hydrogen society, space technology, tourism, and ICT.
Conferences like the OECD Mining Regions and Cities Forum are vital for spreading best practice and fostering new partnerships – showing that genuine dialogue and place-based collaboration are key to success, not only in northern Sweden but across Europe.