PROMAS
See projects financed by Kolarctic CBC 2014-2020 Programme.
Our projects
Showing 41 project(s)
EXcavator Pro in Ecologicial ResToration (EXPERT KO5008)
Programme funding: 41 150 Total budget: 66 300
Duration: 01.12.2021 - 30.11.2022
Short description of the project
Excavators are needed for the restoration of streams and wetlands and the removal of migratory barriers. However, machine operators’ lack of knowledge about ecological restoration, can affect the quality of the work and make it even more expensive if it must be re-done.
The “EXcavator Pro in Ecological ResToration” project will result in a complete educational material in Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian as well as a program for the course, which will contribute to increased ecological enlightenment and knowledge of ecological restoration. The project plans to build a partnership between the countries and organisations in the Barents region by having eco-educational activities. It creates a platform for the countries to continue with nature restoration projects also after the project has ended.
The best practices in the field of ecological restoration will be shared and taught in practical workshops. The exchange of experience will increase the quality of the restoration work in the Barents region and inspire stakeholders to do more ecological measures. The project will make restoration more cost-effective when all involved have the same level of knowledge.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27799/EXcavator-Pro-in-Ecologicial-EN/
Environmental Safety and Sustainability of Wind Energy Projects at Remote Territories of Arctic Region (SafeWind KO5135)
Programme funding: 69875 Total budget: 99750
Duration: 21.06.2021 - 30.06.2022
Short description of the project
Development of the Arctic zone is leading to increasing demand for up-to-date and sustainable energy supply systems. Modernization of energy-supply grids, local energy generating infrastructure, and expanding the usage of renewable sources of energy, are responding to the modern trends. Wind power plays an important role in the development of energy supply systems in remote territories, and the increasing number of wind power farms will have an increasing impact on the environment.
SafeWind project’s objective is to address the abovementioned trends by finding cross-border, common approaches for minimising wind farms’ negative environmental impact in the future. The project will develop recommendations on optimizing Environmental Impact Assessment requirements for wind power generation and distribution at remote and hard-to-reach territories along the international transport corridors Northern Axis, Barents Link and further along the Northern Sea Route. The project is aiming at mutual learning and unification of the requirements and approaches to the EIA process in the participating regions in Norway, the European Union and Russia, where preliminary EIAs will be carried out. By comparative analysis of the assessment processes, the project will compile and promote a jointly developed list of common requirements for the wind power farm EIA in both on-shore and off-shore areas of the Barents/Euro-Arctic region.
The project works in close cooperation with Kolarctic Project Northern Axis – Barents Link (NABL KO4159)
Website: keep.eu/projects/27798/Environmental-Safety-and-Sus-EN/
Capacity Building for Black Carbon mitigation efforts: a roadmap for cross-border activities (KO5106 CB4BC)
Programme funding: 45 000 € Total budget: 100 000 €
Duration: 22.02.2021 - 28.02.2022
Short description of the project
In climate change science and mitigation policy making, the role of black carbon has been growing. It is estimated that by the total climate forcing, black carbon is now the second most important human emission type after carbon dioxide. Black carbon has an important role in the climate system with several direct, semi-direct and indirect effects. It absorbs solar radiation, influences cloud processes, and increases the melting of snow and ice. In addition to climate concerns, black carbon as an air pollutant has considerable human health effects causing morbidity and premature mortality.
Arctic nations are responsible for about a third of the Arctic warming caused by black carbon, even though they produce only about 10% of global human black carbon emissions. Most black carbon particles do not travel far from their source, so emissions produced closest to the Arctic tend to have the greatest impact.
The central aim of the project was to construct a Black Carbon mitigation roadmap for decision-makers in three regions. An important objective of the roadmap was to strengthen the regions through a transfer of the gathered knowledge, experiences, and circumstances. There is a need for cross-border co-operation and implementation of best practices and best available technologies. Leader of this project was Lapland University of Applied Sciences (LUAS) and partners were the Kola Science Center (KSC) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Arctic University of Norway (UiT).
Website: keep.eu/projects/27796/Capacity-Building-for-Black--EN/
Aurora Borealis monitoring system for tourism business needs (KO5029 Aurora)
Programme funding: 45 000 € Total budget: 60 000 €
Duration: 01.03.2021 - 28.02.2022
Short description of the project
Arctic tourism is becoming more and more attractive among visitors. They are expecting unusual experience by seeing the natural phenomena typical for the Arctic area such as the Aurora Borealis. In fact, such tourism has a seasonal character and depends on weather conditions. In case tourists could not obtain expected feelings, the tourist agencies faced consumers’ disappointment and decline in service satisfaction. Therefore, applying scientific resources for the development of Arctic tourism is important.
The project is planning to help tourism-related SMEs to broaden and improving their services on the basis of the latest scientific findings. This problem has been identified by survey analysis of tourists, tour-guides and representatives of tourism agencies.The overall goal of the project is to draw attention to the Arctic nature and to research such a unique phenomenon as Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights). The project will promote growth of tourist sector, resulting in increase of tourists, higher revenue in the local economy and a better employment rate in the tourist sphere. Along that nature reserves situated in the area will have an opportunity to widen number of their services and develop new education programs for school children and local people who are interested in nature.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27795/Aurora-Borealis-monitoring-s-EN/
New Natural Kolarctic Product SME Assistance (KO5094)
Programme funding: 44 990 € Total budget: 99 022 €
Duration: 01.02.2021 - 31.01.2022
Short description of the project
Project aims to develop a better understanding of the real needs and priorities of SMEs in the Kolarctic region with respect to development of New Natural Kolarctic Products (NNKPs) with assistance from research institutes and academic institutions. The target group are SMEs, and they will be invited to present success stories, priorities and needs and problems that they have encountered in the development, approval and marketing of natural products based on local raw material resources.
Organizations will also receive an overview of the existing R&D institutions in the Kolarctic region which have academic knowledge, laboratory capacities, and innovative technologies which could be used for development, testing and production of NNKPs from the natural resources of Kolarctic. Our intention is to organize effective interactions between these two types of organizations in the form of interactive web-resource and face-to-face contacts allowing meeting the needs and capacities of both ends.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27803/New-Natural-Kolarctic-Produc-EN/
Industrial tourism: Developing New Destinations in the Arctic (KO5055 ITinA)
Programme funding: 57 428 € Total budget: 75 113 €
Duration: 01.01. - 31.12.2021
Short description of the project
Micro-project ITinA targeted to enhance a new brand: Industrial tourism in the Arctic, based on the rich heritage of the Arctic regions, through building an international network and enhancing the development of the new innovative tourism services. The focus was on small and medium enterprises at partners’ implementation region in Finland, Sweden and Russia.
It requires understanding and international cooperation to profiling the new industrial tourism destinations. ITinA project intended to develop the industrial tourism conception in the Arctic and apply its potential capacity.
The partner network selected a number of industrial themes to be developed that bring the regions identity, history and industry expertise to the area. Specific emphasis was given to support structures, associations and businesses in the fields of circular economy, responsible industry, cultural heritage and food industry.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27802/Industrial-tourism-Developin-EN/
Drone safety monitoring systems for Arctic mining (KO5080 DROSAMO)
Programme funding: 38 395 € Total budget: 48 883 €
Duration: 01.02.2021 - 31.01.2022
Short description of the project
The project deals with safety ensuring of the mining industry workers. Though modern industry is quite developed, accidents, health problems, and sudden challenging situations still occur. These situations can also increase the load on natural environment (negatively affect the state of groundwaters etc.), influence the health of local inhabitants and disturb production while it takes a long time to study what has been happening and how wide is the effect.
The drone technology can give an added value to solve this problem. Since DROSAMO is a micro-project, the upper level aim was to create a concrete base in terms of drone research, understanding the market industrial needs, idea development plans for drones based on the needs, and preliminary drone demonstrations and simulations (To become early adopters of the technology). This concrete base findings acted as a future roadmap for the DROSAMO project towards taking the next leap in providing novel drone technologies and solutions for complex industrial challenges in mines and further to make further steps in the form of a funding application(s) securing larger findings (and thus creating a stable focus of activities for realizing this vision).
Website: keep.eu/projects/27797/Drone-safety-monitoring-syst-EN/
Treasures from the Northern Nature (KO5100 TreNat)
Programme funding: 59 853 € Total budget: 79 837 €
Duration: 01.01. - 31.12.2021
Short description of the project
Northern natural sustainable resources include a wide range of goods of biological origin. To Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) belong e.g. edible berries and nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, spices and condiments, aromatic plants, game, fibers (used in construction, furniture, clothing or utensils), resins, gums, plant and animal products used for medical, cosmetic or cultural purposes. Thanks to the wide and free access to forests there is a practically unlimited possibility to pick berries, mushrooms and herbs for everyone. Availability of reindeer and game meat has always been an important contribution to food security in the Barents region.
The main objective of Treasures from the Northern Nature (TreNat) project is to widen cooperation between SMEs, educational and research institutions as well as consulting organizations working in the field of natural sustainable resources. Such cooperation will increase general awereness and interest towards Non-Timber Forest Products, their use by stakeholders and businesses. The project will also drow attention to cultural and health aspects of NTFPs in the region. This will improve networking of NTFP stakeholders and create new networks for planning and preparation of further joint activities across borders.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27807/Treasures-from-the-Northern--EN/
Nitrogen compound removal processes (KO5021 NITRGONE)
Programme funding: 89 412 € Total budget: 99 346 €
Duration: 15.12.2020 - 30.11.2021
Short description of the project
Project objective is to provide information on means of reducing emissions of nitrogen compounds to the environment. This information is directed to businesses and authorities with responsibility for reducing environmental impacts. Nitrogen compounds (such as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite) form an important part of the nutrient cycle for plant growth. Significant advances in food production were made with the development of technologies to ‘fix’ nitrogen from air and make it available to plants in the form of nitrogen compounds in mineral fertilizers. However, the leakage of nitrogen compounds into waterways can lead to environmental problems such as eutrophication. In addition, microbial action can result in some of the nitrogen being emitted as nitrous oxide, which has a Greenhouse gas effect 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Hence, there is a need to concentrate on reduction of nitrogen compound emissions to the environment.
The main NITRGONE project outputs will be a web-based information resource for businesses and local authorities on nitrogen compound emissions as well as results from experimental testing of technologies to remove or reduce nitrogen compounds from specific sources.
Website: nitrgone.eu
Remediation strategies for ultra-low sulfur fuel oil in winter conditions (KO5133 RemULSFO)
Programme funding: 70 000 € Total budget: 100 000 €
Duration: 09.12.2020 - 30.11.2021
Short description of the project
The introduction of sulfur emission control areas (SECA) and the new regulations MARPOL2020, which set the limits for sulfur content in fuel oils, has led to the use of higher quality fuel oils with very low sulfur content. This new type of hybrid fuel oil, ultralow-sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) is being used increasingly both within and outside SECA. They tend to be rich in waxes and have high pour point which affect the dispersibility of the oils at low temperature and presents challenge for removing them from marine environment in cold winter. Knowledge about the new oil type - its behavior in cold marine environment, the potential risks in oil spill response as well as suitable remediation strategies, is still lacking.
The countries in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (BEAR) which also include Russia, Norway and Finland, share common challenges related to SECA and ULSFO since they have intensive maritime activities and integrated shipping routes. But differences in climate and marine environment may not allow the use of the same remediation strategies for oil spills. Knowledge from different climates and marine environments are required to develop suitable remediation strategies for ULSFO.
The project was aimed at building an international network for joint knowledge exchange on ultralow-sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO), investigating the behavior of the spilled ULSFO under marine sub-arctic and Arctic winter conditions, identifying the potential risks for oil spill response, and testing the effectiveness of chemical dispersant in enhancing the biodegradation process of ULSFO.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27805/Remediation-strategies-for-u-EN/
GREEN ICE CAMERA (KO5101 GIC)
Programme funding: 77 000 € Total budget: 100 000 €
Duration: 11.11.2020 - 31.10.2021
Short description of the project
The Barents region has become an attractive destination for film recordings, partly because of the exotic beauty and natural wealth of the region, and because climate change is changing this landscape dramatically.
One major challenge produced by increased film production is the increased pressure on the unique natural environments of the region. In order to preserve natural ecosystems and the communities that depend on them, a higher standard for sustainability in film productions needs to be established and disseminated.
Green Ice Camera is a project between Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway to collectively create protocols for sustainable media production and a database of creative companies in the region, to promote creative collaboration online, and to make it easier to hire local crew members. Protocols will be developed in working groups established locally in each country. Workshops with both industry practitioners and sustainability experts will ensure that these protocols are both realistic and create impacts. Projects, following the protocols can obtain a certificate and receive an award at a Green Screen festival in Kirkenes in September 2021. Criteria will include carbon emissions, pollution, ecological disruption (damage to landscape, vegetation, and stress on wildlife), and community inclusion.
Arctic Layered Intrusions as a Source of Critical Metals for Green Economy (KO5125 ARLIN)
Programme funding: 69 996 € Total budget: 99 993 €
Duration: 25.11.2020 - 30.11.2021
Short description of the project
The aim of the micro project was to plan a larger, collaboration project, which will conduct a detailed study of mafic layered intrusions in the Arctic region for the genetic models and exploration strategy of the mineral deposits. The project has refined the existing ore-genetic models that can be used to reduce the environmental impact and costs of exploration and mining.
Special emphasis was placed on combining the resources, experience, knowledge and technological capabilities of leading research, academic and industrial institutions of the European Arctic (Finland, Norway and Russia), as well as on attracting young researchers and students to studies of layered intrusions and related mineralizations.
The study of mafic layered intrusions contributes to the adaptation of this and future generations to the climate change, its mitigation and raising awareness of the local population and industrial decision-makers on the possibilities of environmental protection during exploration and mining.
Website: keep.eu/projects/27793/Arctic-Layered-Intrusions-as-EN/
Conserving our Atlantic salmon as a sustainable resource for people in the North (KO4178 CoASal)
Programme funding: 824 118 € Total budget: 1 146 619 €
Duration: 01.01.2020 - 30.09.2022
Short description of the project
The Atlantic salmon is an amazing creature. Its birth and growth in streams and rivers of the Barents Sea area, its transformation from a freshwater fish to a seawater fish with all the physiological changes that are involved, its migration across thousands of kilometers from the feeding grounds to coastal areas and its accurate return to the river and even the riffle where it was born to breed and re-start its life cycle - all these attributes capture human imagination. While new fishery regulation measures are implemented to maintain conservation limits and to harvest salmon stocks sustainably, more and more wild salmon populations become threatened, most likely because of multiple factors, including global climate change, intensive development of salmon aquaculture industry, introductions of foreign fish species and habitat destruction. Another major threats, where knowledge status is poor are transmission of various pathogens from farmed to wild salmon and outbreaks of “dormant” diseases due to increase of river and sea temperatures. Changes in climate will especially affect the Arctic areas, where the anticipated temperature increase is the largest one. Global warming will have an effect on salmon in all stages of its life-cycle, both in the freshwater and in the sea.
The CoASal project will document and examine the effects of the new sea salmon fishery regulations, study the growing threats Atlantic salmon populations face today with climate change, growing cage culture industry and emerging diseases. The project raises awareness and knowledge on the unique and joint Atlantic salmon resource in the Barents region, enhances cooperation between local fishermen, decision makers and research institutions in Norway, Finland, Russia and Sweden.
Disruptive Information Technologies for Barents Euro-Arctic Region (KO4096 DIT4BEARs)
Programme funding: 879 269 € Total budget: 1 155 328 €
Duration: 13.01.2020 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
The purpose of the project DIT4BEARS is to develop innovative technologies in transport and communication systems and to distribute them through a Living Laboratory in Disruptive Information Technologies (Living Lab DIT4BEARs). As soon as the project includes partners from Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden with their specific core expertise, several use cases led by project partners from each participating country will be implemented within the project. Each use case will utilize Disruptive Information Technologies for solving particular problems in the Barents Euro-Arctic region:
• SmartID: development of identity management system on the basis of blockchain technologies;
• SmartWaste: development of citizen-centric platform for running municipal services (such as waste management);
• SmartRoad: use of disruptive technologies for winter road maintenance in the Kolarctic region;
• ConnectedDeer: development of digital platform inspired by Internet of Things to ensure the safety of reindeers on roads.
The project will also run activities related to monitoring of the best practices, trainings and business cooperation, consulting and advisory services, as well as technical assistance for development of Disruptive Information Technologies (DIT), development of guidelines, self-assessment tools and other methodological materials. The Living Lab DIT4BEARs created during the project will be also used after project’s termination as a platform for further research in DIT.
Website: dit4bears.org/
Cross-border innovations in Arctic aquaculture (KO4058 ARCTAQUA)
Programme funding: 2 088 701 € Total budget: 3 255 582 €
Duration: 04.12.2019 - 30.11.2022
Short description of the project
Most of the population in the Arctic regions concentrates near coastal areas or close to lakes, and one of the historically most lucrative activities in these regions have been fisheries. This sector includes a number of jobs not only in fisheries but also in related businesses, such as retailing, suppliers and processers. To develop in a sustainable way, Arctic aquaculture needs to expand and implement environmentally friendly farming and feeding practices. SMEs alone cannot make all the needed innovation work and need support from research partners to implement new practices under commercial conditions.
ARCTAQUA project will contribute to an expansion of an economic, ethical and environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry in the Arctic region. The project aims at solving major production bottlenecks for a more resource efficient fish farming with high economic value. In alternative to most of marine farming projects focused on Atlantic salmon, ARCTAQUA deals with other fish species (whitefish, nelma, wolfish, Arctic char). These species have a high economic value and have proved to be suitable for farming in the Arctic region. The strength of ARCTAQUA lies in gathered, complementary scientific expertise within the consortium and in close collaboration with SMEs from Russia, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Website: blogg.nord.no/arctaqua/
ArcticSkills (KO4035)
Programme funding: 711 831 € Total budget: 1 084 910 €
Duration: 01.01.2020 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
Access to sufficient and adequate vocational competence is a long term and fundamental problem for the sparsely populated Northern regions. Businesses and enterprises, and their organizations, have been monitoring this problem for a long time, and addressed it to political authorities in various forms. The link between low recruitment, graduation rate and lack of labour force, is self-evident, and rooted in the low status and popularity of vocational skills among young people. Cooperation between colleges, enterprises, labour market organizations and career advisers is needed to meet this challenge.
ArcticSkills project aims at improvement of the current situation and increase of visibility, status and pride for vocational education in the cross-border areas between Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. The project partners share a strong belief that a competition in vocational skills between students and apprentices can contribute to increase the status of vocational education. Project activities range from international competitions and conferences to cross-border exchange of students and apprentices, practice in enterprises and signing of cooperation agreements between business companies and educational institutions. By using the competition as a platform for dialogue between businesses, schools and politicians, the project intends to reach its goals.
Website: arcticskills.com/
Northern Axis – Barents Link (KO4159 NABL)
Programme funding: 1 031 412 € Total budget: 1 246 904 €
Duration: 04.11.2019 - 31.05.2022
Short description of the project
The main objective of the NABL project is to improve cross-border mobility and east-west transport corridors in the Kolarctic region. Currently, the east-west transport networks and their continuations to Northern Sea Route are either non-existing, non-continuous or not in proper condition. This goes to road, railway, airborne transport, which hindrances regional development in the area. The project activities will increase understanding and define economic viability of several transport initiatives aimed at development of east-west transport networks. The project will produce joint evaluation instruments and infrastructure solutions, necessary for harmonized development of transport corridors. Involvement of relevant decision makers and organizations responsible for maintenance and development of transport links ensures sustainability of project results and their use in construction and operation of roads. Better transport links between neighbor regions will be beneficial both for their residents, business companies, regional authorities and also for tourists coming to the Kolarctic region.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24994/Northern-Axis-Barents-Link-EN/
DeConcrete: Eco-efficient Arctic Technologies Cooperation (KO4068 DeConcrete)
Programme funding: 820 313 € Total budget: 1 178 125 €
Duration: 15.10.2019 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
Concrete is a second most consumed artificial material in the building industry. The building sector keeps high speeds of development in the North. However, construction faces certain problems connected to re-using large volumes of reinforced concrete wastes and search for optimal technological and economic methods for their recycling. Of special concern are also environmental issues, such as eco-efficient approach to waste handling and contamination (dust) reducing.
DeConcrete project is implemented by consortium of relevant universities with strong support from industrial companies (e.g. Norwegian Cold Concrete Cluster with 34 member organizations) and regional authorities. The overall aim of the project is to enhance cross-border Arctic Technologies Cooperation between industry, academia and R&D communities for the growth of circular economy in the Kolarctic region. This will be achieved by joint activities: comparison of existing demolition practices, case studies and laboratory testing of new demolition techniques, development of waste management strategy and recommendations for the most eco-efficient approaches to reuse and recycling of construction materials (concrete), dissemination of project results among business companies and other stakeholders.
Website: en.uit.no/project/deconcrete
From Idea to Printing of Metal Products (KO4012 I2P)
Programme funding: 654 461 € Total budget: 1 011 564 €
Duration: 01.10.2019 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
3D-printing is ranked by recognized international experts among the ten most important future technologies in industrial production. In short, this technology can be described as follows: the laser beam scans the programmed shape of a future product to melt the metal powder and to gradually grow the new product, layer by layer. During the last years 3D-printing, also called additive manufacturing (AM) became strongly implemented in certain regions and by certain companies while others are still very reluctant, including the Kolarctic area. 3D-printing is far more than just substituting one manufacturing technique by another. AM offers to skip a number of manufacturing steps, new opportunities for design and function of products, very efficient production in terms of low costs and low environmental impact. Although additive manufacturing offers high potential, it is hard to unlock it, particularly for SMEs, because AM requires knowledge and skills for more complex, sophisticated changes, which are difficult to acquire.
I2P project faces this challenge and offers a substantial initiative to enhance the skills and resources in 3D-printing of metal products. The project will enhance awareness on opportunities and limitations of this promising technology among industrial enterprises. Consequently, I2P will be a starting point for development of new business ideas applicable for small and medium-sized enterprises. It will also make input into growth of business, employment rate and attractiveness of the Kolarctic region.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24988/From-Idea-to-Printing-of-Me-EN/
Reconstruction of the road Kaamanen-Kirkenes (KO3001 ROKK)
Programme funding: 4 089 871 € Total budget: 5 000 000 €
Duration: 01.03.2019 - 28.02.2022
Short description of the project
Roads that go through borders between countries are not just roads, they are bridges between cultures. And these bridges must be maintained in a good condition, which is the goal of the project “Reconstruction of the road Kaamanen-Kirkenes”.
The road between Kaamanen and Neiden has a high risk of accidents, wildlife and reindeer collisions, road closings and high emissions of greenhouse gases. These conditions contribute to the decreased potential for both transport and people-to-people connections and cooperation in the Northern Barents area.
This project contributes to deeper cooperation between the road authorities of Norway, Finland and Russia. Project's main output is an improved road, which is being utilized by all road users. Moreover, the exchanged know-how of road designing and construction will be implemented by each partner in their further activities. The project has a clear cross border effect as a better road makes it easier to move between the countries of the Barents region. Business, transport companies, consumers and producers in Russia, Sweden, Norway and Finland all benefit from a road with higher standard, better safety, better accessibility, and shorter travelling time.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24997/Reconstruction-of-the-road--EN/
Arctic Coast Bioremediation (KO1001 ACBR)
Programme funding: 1 258 920 € Total budget: 1 398 799 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 31.10.2021
Short description of the project
The risk of oil spills has become a real threat due to the expansion of the oil and gas industry and transportation activities in the Arctic. Spills in the vicinity of the coast are the most dangerous, as their effects can last for years and even decades.
The most promising method of remediation of oil-polluted coastal zones is a biotechnological approach based on natural self-recovery processes in the environment. The biotechnology that was created within the project is based on three components: oil-degrading microorganisms, sorbents and plants which will allow to restore the vegetation in the oil-polluted territories.
Raja-Jooseppi BCP development and reconstruction; traffic arrangements, buildings and technology (KO3002 Raja-Jooseppi)
Programme funding: 10 305 000 € Total budget: 11 450 000 €
Duration: 01.03.2019 - 30.06.2022
Short description of the project
When we talk about cross border checkpoints, we should not only mention the speed of border crossing and comfort of the travelers, but also the staff and their working conditions.
Current BCP building and traffic areas do not meet Finnish Customs or Border Guards requirements for customer services and controls. Finnish Customs need new facilities and equipment to control growing cargo traffic. In order to ensure more fluent border crossing procedures and improve capacity of Raja-Jooseppi BCP, the project includes new customs/border control building, new traffic management arrangements including lane check area with roof structure, lane check facilities (booths) and facilities for further measures (second line) as well as all border control technology for border checks, border surveillance and customs control.
The objective of the project is a smoother border crossing between Russia and Finland/EU. This will strengthen and sustain local and regional economic development in the Kolarctic area. Final beneficiaries are inhabitants of Northern Finland and Northwest Russia.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24998/Raja-Jooseppi-BCP-developme-EN/
Barents Region Initiative for Developing Growth and Employability (KO1013 BRIDGE)
Programme funding: 1 145 101 € Total budget: 1 272 333 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 30.06.2022
Short description of the project
The project BRIDGE will enhance employability of university graduates; help to overcome a gap between requirements of SME and students’ competence level. BRIDGE provide firms with opportunity for becoming acquainted with future employees, students for meeting potential employers. Crossborder tourism, critical income source in peripheries, will be main field of action. BRIDGE relies on supporting international knowledge mobility. Existing partnership of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) serves partnership building with SME.
Overall objective is support of youth employment and economic growth by building a joint education platform of Higher Education Institutions and SME’s. International groups of last-year students will write pre-graduation theses for firms, solving tasks in product/service innovation, customer development, market entry. Student competencies span Business and Tourism Management, Information Technology, Law, Language and Intercultural communication. As home country ambassadors, students help solving cross-border business communication problems.
Website: kolarcticbridge.com/
General Furnishing and Surface Infrastructure Development of the Kola-Verhnetulomskiy-BCP Lotta Road (KO3000 LOTTA)
Programme funding: 3 825 000 € Total budget: 4 500 000 €
Duration: 01.11.2018 - 31.10.2021
Short description of the project
Roads are the basis of everyday mobility for large scale business, SMEs and population. Roads connecting territories of neighboring countries are especially important for development of cross-border cooperation, so, their low-quality can be a serious barrier for international mobility.
The car road “Kola-Verhnetulomskiy-BCP Lotta” is the shortest distance from the Russian port city Murmansk to the North of Finland (Inari municipality). The project “General Furnishing and Surface Infrastructure Development of the Kola-Verhnetulomskiy-BCP Lotta Road” has significantly improved transport, economic, tourist and cultural links between neighboring countries by creating equally comfortable and safe conditions for road traffic on both sides of the Russian-Finnish border through investments into road infrastructure (guarding rails, information signs, parking places, etc.). Project activities also have a positive impact on the lives of people living in municipalities along the route.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24996/General-Furnishing-and-Surf-EN/
Salmonid Fish and Freshwater Pearl Mussel– Riverine Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia (KO1017 SALMUS)
Programme funding: 1 776 752 € Total budget: 2 125 815 €
Duration: 01.03.2019 - 31.08.2022
Short description of the project
Healthy cross-border water ecosystems are a prerequisite for ecologically and economically sustainable life in the Program area. The overall objective of this project is to enhance cooperation and to harmonize common practices for assessing status of streams and rivers with a special emphasis on freshwater pearl mussel and salmonid fish. This is achieved by improving the knowledge-base of freshwater pearl mussel populations and by creating new approaches for conservation practices in the river ecosystems of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia. The main target group of the project are authorities responsible for the management of aquatic ecosystems. In addition, public awareness of biodiversity and its importance is raised in the Program area.
Website: www.metsa.fi/salmus
Adapting management of Barents forests to future climate and economy conditions (KO4040 IMPRESS)
Programme funding: 722 318 € Total budget: 985 420 €
Duration: 20.09.2019 - 30.09.2022
Short description of the project
IMPRESS project addresses the need to combine economic activities in timber industry and long-term values associated with forest ecosystems, such as preservation of biodiversity and carbon storage. Differences among project partner countries in economic and geographic settings call for careful consideration and analysis of existing and emerging forest management practices.
IMPRESS project facilitates introduction of sustainable management approaches into commercial forestry operations across the Barents region. To reach this goal, project partners will:
- identify knowledge gaps limiting use of the most efficient forest management practices,
- organize workshops for Russian, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish stakeholders to find out their expectations and demands,
- develop training courses and video-guidelines for forester managers,
- synchronize interregional forest management and climate resilience strategies.
In addition to it, demonstration areas will be established to showcase sustainable forestry management solutions. Project results will be spread through a web-based platform, where detailed information on sustainable forest management in high latitudes will be available for interested stakeholders and general public.
IMPRESS will also pay special attention to cooperation with other forestry initiatives in the Barents region. Such collaboration will enhance joint capitalization and promotion of knowledge and activities aimed at maintenance of valuable northern landscapes.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24990/Adapting-management-of-Bare-EN/
Barents Region Transport and Logistics (KO1029 BRTL)
Programme funding: 1492426 Total budget: 1 343 183,00 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 30.04.2022
Short description of the project
Decisions of transport and logistics made in Barents Regions have too often been based on national plans only. National transport strategies have been made and Regional Transport Plans implemented being not so much aware of the neighbouring regions´ (countries´) strategies/ plans in this field.
The process of carrying out a joint strategy-level document for the transport of the Barents Region in the state level (Joint Barents Transport Plan, JBTP) started during in 2012 and the document has been updated during the recent years. Now it is time to implement the strategy in the regional level.
The project shall facilitate the platform where the authorities responsible for of co-ordinating of the regional development in the Barents Region can agree upon implementation of the Joint Barents Transport Plan. The target groups are the regional authorities of the Barents Region who are responsible for regional development and especially transport and logistics questions. The beneficiaries are people of the project area who are now suffering from timely non-accessible and other ways limited border crossings and transport networks and who will benefit of improved opportunities of fluent mobility of people, goods and knowledge. As well, the beneficiaries are the transport modes serving the Barents Region and business benefiting of the lower transport costs, which makes their products more competitive in the World market.
Specific objective of the project:
• Better awareness of situation of the main transport corridors in Barents Region.
• Increased level of knowledge of the World transport market and impacts on the Barents Region.
• Better understanding “Green Transport” concept and its meaning to Barents Region.
• Better understanding of current/planned, public/private ITS projects relevant to the Barents region, an implemented ICT based tools supporting the cross-border co-operation
• Increased awareness and common understanding of future transport cross-border cooperation through “Action Plan" of the Barents region transport.
Website: www.kainuunliitto.fi/en/barents-region-transport-and-logistics-brtl
Supporting Environmental Economic and Social Impacts of Mining Activity (KO1030 SEESIMA)
Programme funding: 1 473 709 € Total budget: 1 637 455 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 31.12.2021
Short description of the project
The SEESIMA project aims to raise awareness of technological solutions to environmental impacts of mining activities, in order to reduce environmental impacts and improve economic returns.
The project will provide documentation and dissemination of technological tools that can improve the current practice of mineral processing, both for production and for the waste handling.
The lasting output from the project will be a toolbox of best practice technologies, with guidelines about where and how to use them, and case study examples to illustrate their implementation. This resource can make the knowledge more accessible than is the case at present.
In the first instance, the target group are mining and mineral processing companies, who have the opportunity to implement new technologies (and the need/motivation in terms of environmental compliance fines). In some cases, the valorisation of waste can be the basis for the establishment of new companies to implement the solutions and generate added value. The project results can also assist in improving (social) acceptance of the mining industry amongst regulatory authorities, general public, and prospective workforce.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24974/Supporting-Environmental-Ec-EN/
Ecological Restoration of Arctic Rivers (KO1078 ReArc)
Programme funding: 2 531 776 € Total budget: 2 989 657 €
Duration: 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
On a global level man has always modified the water flow in rivers. River flow has been channelized because of timber floating. Forests and agricultural land have been drained. Construction of a road or railway crossing a river may have meant a change in the water flow. This has in many cases led to migration barriers for many aquatic species, nutrients and heavy metals released from the ground to the river, and erosion of the ground
All this has a negative effect on river biodiversity.
Various rivers, from Nordland to Kola Peninsula, are the focus of ReArc. ReArc expects strive to achieve the following measurable results:
198 km of watercourse will be mapped in preparation for ecological restoration;
208 km of watercourse will be restored to increase the ecological status;
33 migration barriers for fish and other organisms will be remediated, which will open up 553 km of watercourse accessible for migration;
32 destroyed spawning areas for fish will be restored;
9 km of erosion protection will be rebuilt with regard to the environment;
3 km of flooding- or erosion protection will be moved or removed.
Website: www.facebook.com/ReArc.project
Green Arctic Building (KO1089 GrAB)
Programme funding: 1 544 451 € Total budget: 1 716 057 €
Duration: 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2022
Short description of the project
A large share of existing buildings and urban areas in the Nordic and Russian Arctic do not accomplish the latest requirements for environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. For this reason, the objective of the project wants to upgrade the urban environment with change towards environmental innovations of “green buildings” and improve the quality of life, plus the social and economic activity in the Barents Region. This is directed at municipalities, companies, students, building owners, organisations and general public, these are the main target groups and beneficiaries.
The main activities to be implemented by the project are indicated in five groups. The first one is focused on green technologies and the project aims to evaluate the urban environmental quality and buildings standards to implement this in a green building setting. The second activity is about the comparative analysis of the existing environmental requirements, rules and regulations in construction. Pilot projects is the third one, based on building demonstration of green facilities from previous activities. The fourth one is about the capacity building to disseminate and exploit the results of the project to achieve a foundational impact on green building. The last one is a general management of and follow-up the project,
Website: site.uit.no/grab/
Cross-border dialogue and Multi-Use Planning in the Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv catchments (KO1110 Multi-Use Plan)
Programme funding: 363 733 € Total budget: 404 148 €
Duration: 01.12.2018 - 30.09.2021
Short description of the project
The overall objective of this project is to sustain and improve the state of the environment within Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv cross-border river basins, to the benefit of local people, and to increase the viability of the local economy.
The project output will be a revised Multi-Use Plan document for the river basins of Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv published by the end of 2019.
The target groups in the planning process will include regional authorities and the municipalities of Pechenga (Russia), Sør-Varanger (Norway) and Inari (Finland), local enterprises and industry, hydropower companies, research- and monitoring institutions, non- governmental organisations (NGO’s) as well as other representatives of the local population in the area.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24978/Cross-border-dialogue-and-M-EN/
Geo-Bio Hazards in the Arctic Region (KO1115 HazArctic)
Programme funding: 1 165 275 € Total budget: 1 294 750 €
Duration: 14.01.2019 - 30.04.2022
Short description of the project
HazArctic –project approaches environmental problems and risks of geo-bio hazards in the Arctic Region. It will study areal extension, mechanism and risk for oxidation of environments which can produce hazardously acid substances, both in man-made mining areas and potentially hazardous sulfur bearing Litorina clay sediments. Also the role of microbes in the geo-bio interaction in possible hazardous environments will be studied. In addition, studies related to the mine environments, for example stability of closed and open mines and mine tailings reuse, will be carried out. Project will also focus on training and analyzing of best practices.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24979/Geo-Bio-Hazards-in-the-Arct-EN/
Agroforestry in Barents region (KO1157 AgroFore)
Programme funding: 754 733 € Total budget: 838 592 €
Duration: 01.11.2018 - 30.04.2022
Short description of the project
As productivity of forestry is lower in northern/arctic areas compared to more southern locations, multiple use of forests should be emphasized in Barents region. Agroforestry, a practice which intentionally combines agriculture and forestry to create integrated and sustainable land-use systems, is one potential but poorly understood and developed practice of forest multiple use. Potential agroforestry practices suitable for Barents region conditions are forest farming of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) like wild berries and mushrooms, effective utilization of wild herbs and production of high-quality regional honeys.
Agrofore project develops and tests combinations of diversified farming systems which integrate trees, shrubs, other plants and livestock production. The project seeks to achieve better understanding on how agroforestry systems function in Barents region in different kinds of environments.
Website: agroforestryproject.eu/
Arctic Railway Infrastructure in Kolarctic (KO2011 ARINKA II)
Programme funding: 1 528 207 € Total budget: 1 698 008 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 31.10.2021
Short description of the project
The railway infrastructure has a central role in the Kolarctic region and enables efficient transportation of ore, timber, goods and passengers both inside and out of the region. In Europe and the Kolarctic region, there is an increasing demand for the railways to be better utilized through heavier, longer, faster and more frequent trains. This, together with the harsh arctic conditions, causes certain requirements for the railway infrastructure.
The project’s overall objective has been to exchange railway technological know-how and best-practice solutions to stakeholders within the railway sector, with the goal of making railways in Kolarctic more reliable through better utilization of the railway infrastructure, improved maintenance and repair practices and new and innovative solutions to monitor the condition of the railway.
Website: arinka.eu/
Facility Management of Residential Buildings in Barents Region (KO1087 FAMARB)
Programme funding: 789 460 € Total budget: 877 177 €
Duration: 01.12.2018 - 31.08.2022
Short description of the project
Nordic countries and the Russian north are located in the arctic and subarctic areas and have similar climatic conditions, where temperature difference between winter and summer conditions can exceed 70°C. Buildings in these areas are affected by climate in the same manner. Low temperatures, snowy and icy weather, strong winds have impact on how we build, operate and live in our buildings. Existing building methodologies are often based on traditional solutions that have proven their efficiency, and sharing this competence between the countries can give valuable insight and new ideas to products, materials and methods that are more sustainable.
The essence of the FAMARB project is to bring effective operation and management of residential buildings into focus by adapting various concepts of energy efficiency and energy saving through upgrading or renovation that will improve maintenance of buildings and decrease emissions to the environment.
Website: site.uit.no/famarb/
Barents On Time (KO2020 BoT)
Programme funding: 177709 Total budget: 257990
Duration: 01.03.2019 - 31.03.2021
Short description of the project
The boundaries between Russia, Finland and Norway are crossed daily by hundreds of travelers. Traveling by bus is not always convenient and efficient: poor connection to domestic bus routes and air routes, no joint information platform with destinations and timetables, and limited possibilities for buying tickets online.
The project “Barents On Time” (BoT) has an objective to increase cross-border traffic, tourism and cooperation by establishing a solid, safe, accessible and user-friendly cross-border bus transport network in the region and improving the attractiveness of public transport.
The specific objective of the project was to provide cross-border travelers with up-to-date tools and services for using public transport.
Website: barentsontime.com/
Development of common approaches to involvement youth into science and technical sphere (KO2071 BeTech!)
Programme funding: 1 231 506 € Total budget: 1 368 339 €
Duration: 14.11.2018 - 31.12.2021
Short description of the project
The project goal was to establish Technical Business Thinking among children and youth in the Barents region. This project aimed to contribute to raising motivation of school children to learn science and raising their interest to be involved into business and industrial sector.
The project partners are interested that all possible regional structures from regional authorities to representatives and educational institutions, from small and medium business to representatives of large-scale enterprises unite their capacities and support children's interests to science and technical issues in the Barents region. Main target groups of the project were young people aged 12-16, school teachers, and companies representing science and technology. The project activities included:
• Development of guidelines on integrating technical and business issues into school education;
• Pilot events to test new type of education (seminars and round tables for teachers, events to test new educational activities and involving business structures);
• Festivals of professions;
• Science and technical shows for pupils from Norway, Finland and Russia.
Among other project events study visits to industrial and town forming enterprises of the Barents region were organised. Business representatives were invited to school visits.
Website: www.oulu.fi/edu/betech
Kolarctic Food Refining CBC Project (KO2072 KFR)
Programme funding: 2 322 396 € Total budget: 2 580 439 €
Duration: 10.10.2018 - 31.05.2022
Short description of the project
This project develops by means of cross-border-cooperation handling and refining of reindeer meat and wild forest berries. Many of the project participants are companies from Finland and Russia, representing reindeer meat and forest berry business and other expert organisations.
As to the reindeer meat and by-products, the specific objective is to use and refine in cross-border-cooperation more and better than earlier the ecologically pure and healthy products from the reindeer husbandry in Murmansk region and Nenets Autonomous district. The project seeks to improve the profitability of the partners, with additional working places and increasing income as a result.
As to the forest berry products, the specific objective is to use and refine in cross-border-cooperation more and better than earlier the ecologically pure and healthy forest berries from the Murmansk region and Finnish Lapland.
Website: www.kolarcticfood.com/
Reindeer Meat – Quality High (KO2124 RMQH)
Programme funding: 574 486 € Total budget: 638 318 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 31.07.2022
Short description of the project
The ancient tradition of reindeer husbandry in the northern regions is known throughout the world. Deer meat has become a recognizable brand. However, the industry is facing challenges on both sides of the border. Export of Russian reindeer meat overseas is relatively small. The reindeer meat sales channels are insufficiently developed and its international export needs to be enhanced. At the same time, Finnish reindeer meat producers possess expertise in exporting their products, but export is restricted by the insufficiency of reindeer meat.
The objective of the Reindeer Meat – Quality High Project is to combine the strengths and expertise of Russian and Finnish companies in the reindeer meat production chain: reindeer owners, reindeer slaughterhouses, meat production enterprises and sales companies. This is to be achieved through joint seminars, group visits and practical experience sharing. The outputs of the project are guidelines (manuals and videos) for reindeer meat producers and creation of a joint network and operational concept that supports commercial activities in both countries.
Website: keep.eu/projects/24987/Reindeer-Meat-Quality-High-EN/
Phenomena of Arctic Nature (KO2093 PAN)
Programme funding: 2175915 Total budget: 2615785
Duration: 01.03.2019 - 31.08.2022
Short description of the project
Project’s overall objective is that attraction and awareness of arctic nature and its unique phenomena in tourism market are growing and result in increasing number of tourists, higher income in the local economy and better employment rate in the tourism sector along the northern most part of Green Belt of Fennoscandia. The concrete outputs of the project include permanent exhibitions in nature centres, nature observation bases, and audio-visual shows. Target groups are tourism entrepreneurs, tourists, pupils, students and local people in the Barents area in Russia, Norway and Finland.
Website: www.metsa.fi/fi/web/guest/pan
Ice Operations (KO2100 ICEOP)
Programme funding: 1 093 503 € Total budget: 1 215 002 €
Duration: 15.10.2018 - 31.10.2021
Short description of the project
The ICEOP project main objective is to give increased business development opportunities for oil and gas exploration and production in the arctic by improved maritime accessibility, better knowledge of ice conditions and more accurate models to ensure safe and environmental friendly field developments.
The project has
•Performed field expeditions, measurements and data collection.
•Increased current knowledge base of the Barents Sea area ice conditions.
•Established best practice models/understanding for ice and structure interactions relevant for the Barents Sea.
•Created recommendations for oil and gas field development concepts.