Boden Sustainability Center

Important results from the project

The three-pillar model that was developed (and which will be anchored in Living Labs in the next phase of the BSC) and the established coordination framework give Boden tools to shape change rather than passively manage it. In addition to confirming the feasibility, “Swedish Cookie Model” and the three-pillar framework (Education, Business & Innovation) show how smaller municipalities can actively shape industrial change and ensure that the benefits reach all residents.

Expected long term effects

BSC will serve as a coordination center for Boden´s green industrial transition. The center will facilitate resource sharing between schools and be a bridge to industry. Living Labmetodiken will promote community-driven innovation in education and business. By coordinating existing services instead of duplicating them, BSC will help Boden handle the growth of new jobs and new residents expected from industrial investments.

Approach and implementation

The BSC feasibility study was conducted using a mixed methods approach to determine and analyze the conditions for establishing a sustainability center in Boden. The project was led by a steering group, 7 consortium partners, 4 work packages and 4 work streams. The activities also included stakeholder mapping, stakeholder engagement and benchmarking. The implementation was structured around 4 parallel work streams. An independent external evaluation by European Minds validated the results.