“The relationship with the EU is central” – Markus Odevall, LKAB

The Norrbotten Regional Innovation Center recently hosted its development forum – this time at LKAB’s new innovation hub, Blackbox, in Luleå. The gathering brought together regional, national, and European perspectives on smart specialisation (S3) and innovation, with discussions quickly turning toward Europe’s role in driving the green transition.

Sofie Eriksson, Member of the European Parliament, underlined the need for smaller communities to be included in industrial and climate policy:

“It’s about securing jobs – but also making sure you’re included even if you’re not the biggest. We must stay the course on climate policy. Competing with outdated technologies is not the path forward.”

Niklas Johansson from the North Sweden European Office highlighted shifts in EU research and industrial policy that will affect collaboration between academia and industry:

“Resilience and dual-use are increasingly shaping both EU and national agendas. We’ll see more efforts to strengthen competitiveness and reduce import dependency.”

From LKAB, Markus Odevall, Innovation Strategist, emphasized the need for early engagement in EU policymaking and strong collaboration across industries:

“The relationship with the EU is central. LKAB supplies 80% of the EU’s iron ore, known for its quality and innovation. But we’re also exploring critical metals and new value from by-products.”

He added:

“Being a first mover puts a spotlight on us – it’s both a privilege and a responsibility. We have to transform the planet now, and we can’t cut corners.”

The Norrbotten Regional Innovation Center is a collaboration platform accelerating the region’s competetiveness through interregional European cooperation. Its focus lies on advancing innovation within five key ecosystems identified by Region Norrbotten as strategically important: mining, the hydrogen society, space technology, tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT) – driving joint action toward a smart and climate-neutral society.