Research group Regional Sustainability and Bioeconomy

We explore and study how people, technology, natural resources, business development, and governance together contribute to the development of society.

How can natural resources, people, businesses, technology, and public actors interact to enhance sustainable and resilient societies?

Through research and innovation, we create knowledge-based links between primary industries, local communities, and public governance, providing an evidence base for decisions that strengthen societal resilience, value creation, and sustainable development.

Our expertise

We are an interdisciplinary social science research group with strong expertise in natural resources, bioeconomy, regional development, innovation, and public governance. We have a strong interest in how different actors organize, manage, and develop natural resources and communities in the face of complex challenges related to sustainability, transformation, food security, land use, and demographic change.

Our research areas

• Natural Resources and Bioeconomy
  How do agriculture, forestry, and other bio-based industries contribute to sustainable value creation, food security, and resilient local communities.
• Regions and Local Communities
  We develop knowledge on how local communities and regions can address demographic change, build attractiveness, develop competencies, and strengthen their capacity for transformation.
• Governance, Innovation, and Co-creation
  How can public authorities, businesses, citizens, and research environments collaborate to develop and implement solutions to complex societal challenges.

How we work

We combine systems perspectives and applied research in close collaboration with practitioners. We integrate evaluation research, process-oriented research, and facilitation of co-creation processes.

We develop knowledge, methods, and decision-making tools that contribute to sustainable value creation, societal resilience, and effective management of natural resources on land and at sea.

We work closely with businesses, the public sector, and local communities to develop knowledge that can be translated into decisions, actions, and societal change.

What sets us apart?

Many research environments focus on individual sectors or specific challenges. Our strength lies in analyzing the connections between them. We combine expertise in natural resources, business development, local communities, and public governance. This enables us to understand how sustainable transitions actually take place in practice and what conditions are required for success.

We view the bioeconomy as more than technology and biological resources. It is also about people, local communities, governance, collaboration, and value creation.

Through long-term collaboration with nature-based industries, we have developed extensive experience with complex transition processes where multiple interests and considerations must be balanced.

A strong professional environment

The research group consists of nine researchers holding master's or doctoral degrees in human geography, health sciences, sociology, knowledge and innovation management, forestry, education, business administration, and economics. Our academic breadth enables us to analyze complex challenges from multiple perspectives and connect knowledge on natural resources, business development, local communities, and public governance.

An international network

We collaborate with research institutions, public authorities, and societal actors in Norway and internationally through regional, national, and European research and innovation projects.

The research group participates in national and international research and innovation projects funded by programs such as Horizon Europe, Interreg, the Research Council of Norway, and regional development initiatives. We collaborate with universities, research institutes, public organizations, and businesses across several European countries.

Through these projects, we connect international societal challenges and research agendas with local and regional development processes.

Our researchers also actively participate in professional networks and publish research on topics such as innovation, entrepreneurship, community development, and the bioeconomy.

Some highlights

• We develop knowledge on how natural resources, businesses, local communities, and public actors can interact to create sustainable value creation, food security, preparedness, and resilient societies.
• We have extensive experience with evaluations, process-oriented research, and learning processes that contribute to the development of policies, support instruments, and mission-oriented initiatives at local, regional, national, and European levels.
• We combine strong local and regional roots with extensive national and international research networks and contribute to research and innovation projects funded by programs such as Horizon Europe, Interreg, and the Research Council of Norway.
• We have extensive experience in analyzing land use, natural resources, and stakeholder conflicts, and we develop knowledge that supports balancing value creation, environmental concerns, food production, and societal development.
• We develop and lead Living Labs, pilot areas, and co-creation processes that connect global societal challenges with local needs, resources, and development opportunities.
• We develop knowledge on how public health, quality of life, and social sustainability can be strengthened through collaboration between municipalities, local communities, voluntary organizations, and public services.
• We have extensive experience with co-creation and participatory innovation processes. We study how sustainable transformation occurs in practice and develop knowledge on how citizens, businesses, civil society organizations, and the public sector can collaborate on sustainable solutions to complex societal challenges.

How we can help you

• Analyses and knowledge bases for strategic decision-making
• Sustainable development of local communities and regions
• Natural resource management, the bioeconomy, and food systems
• Evaluation, process-oriented research, and learning processes
• Innovation, co-creation, and transformation across sectors and stakeholder groups
• Public dialogue, participation, and stakeholder management
• Development and implementation of Living Labs, pilot projects, and local innovation arenas
• Connecting international research and innovation agendas with local and regional development processes

Want to work with us?

We are always open to new collaboration opportunities. Contact us to learn more about our research and how we can contribute to sustainable development and value creation. By working with us, you gain access to interdisciplinary research expertise and a strong professional environment with experience in addressing complex societal and innovation challenges.