SING, Synergies in the GreenBelt of the North

Project overview

Two sparsely populated regions, one border, and a stubborn question: what happens when Norwegian and Swedish social entrepreneurs stop working alone? SING builds a cross-border learning hub where they can borrow each other's ideas, methods and markets.

Background

Along the Trøndelag–Mid-Norrland border, distance is the default condition: few people, long journeys, thin business networks. Yet on both sides of that border sit social enterprises solving almost identical problems in near-total isolation from each other. KBT Vocational College and Coompanion Jämtland, both working with social entrepreneurship, both convinced the answer is exchange rather than subsidy, set out to connect them, and to make the crossing of the border a competitive advantage rather than an obstacle.

Objectives

• · Build a cross-border learning system: competence programmes designed around shared societal challenges, with material produced in both Norwegian and Swedish
• · Develop a methodology for mutual learning between community entrepreneurs, for locally led development on both sides of the border
• · Build sectoral and cross-sectoral networks among enterprises, with decision makers in the room
• · Develop and validate a digital learning programme for social entrepreneurs, modelled on the Social Enterprise Academy in Sweden and Scotland
• · Improve sustainable growth and competitiveness for small and medium-sized enterprises, and create new jobs in them

Partners

• · Coompanion Jämtland (Sweden)
• · Trøndelag County Council (co-funding)

KBT's role

Norwegian partner delivering education, applied research and dissemination. Project team: Preben Hegland, Karl Johan Johansen, Roger Santokhie and Silje Jørgensen.

Target groups

• · Social entrepreneurs and start-ups in the border region
• · Established small and medium-sized enterprises
• · People from under-represented groups considering starting a business
• · Municipalities, regions and policy makers

Activities

• · "Generatorn" learning programme, first run in spring 2024 with participants from Norway and Sweden
• · Project gatherings in Östersund and Trondheim
• · Development of a joint digital learning programme and teaching material in Norwegian and Swedish
• · Knowledge-raising events bringing enterprises and decision makers together
• · Study visits between Swedish and Norwegian enterprises

Results / expected results

• · A shared learning programme and material available in both languages
• · New business ideas and stronger resilience among enterprises in the border region
• · A cross-border hub for social entrepreneurship learning

Timeline

1. Project start

   January 2024

2. First learning programme, Östersund

   Spring 2024

3. Project gathering in Trondheim

   Autumn 2024

4. Learning programme and material published

   2025

5. Project end

   December 2026