This article has been translated with DeepL.
New research points the way to stronger rural areas – focus on skills, collaboration and innovation
- Published: 12 Nov 2025,
- 3:35 PM
- Updated: 12 Nov 2025,
- 1:30 PM
How can Sweden’s rural areas meet the skills challenges of the future while strengthening their innovative capacity? This was the main question during a webinar on 11 November, organized by Esbri and the Kamprad Family Foundation.
Two research projects, one from Jönköping University and one from Mid Sweden University, were presented at a well-attended webinar this week, with almost 400 registered participants.
Despite their different starting points, the projects are about how people and organizations can work together to build sustainable, innovative and vibrant rural areas.
“The countryside is our backbone”
Associate Professor Lina Bjerke, at Jönköping University, presented research on skills supply for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural Sweden, conducted in collaboration with Campus Västervik.
She described how economic growth in Sweden has become increasingly unevenly distributed over time.
– We can see that there are a number of regions that have taken off in growth and left a lot of places behind. This creates polarization in society on many different levels.
Rapid technological development and urbanization are concentrating highly educated individuals and advanced production in big cities, while many rural municipalities are lagging behind. But rural businesses are far from obsolete.
– Rural businesses are not rural businesses. They are businesses like any other, but in a different context, Lina Bjerke emphasized.
Her research shows that automation does not threaten jobs – quite the opposite.
– An increase in the level of automation leads to an increase in employment opportunities throughout the country, but especially in rural areas. At the same time, the content of jobs is changing: more complex occupations, fewer routine tasks.
She warned that the post-pandemic ‘Zoom shock’, with more people working remotely, does not necessarily benefit small towns.
– There is a risk of urbanization becoming even more entrenched,” she said, adding that digitization holds both opportunities and risks.
A key conclusion is that companies need to think more strategically about skills supply.
– There are 13 reports out of a dozen about how difficult it is to provide skills, but very few companies have strategic skills provision in their budget, she said.
Lina Bjerke urged companies to look beyond the day-to-day recruitment hunt.
– You need to move from the circle of worry to the circle of influence – thinking about what you can actually do. This requires a long-term approach and cooperation, where local learning centers like Campus Västervik can play a key role. They are absolutely irreplaceable, she said.
Innovating together
From Mid Sweden University, Associate Professor Johan Lilja presented research on how entrepreneurs can develop their ability to innovate together. His research group has coined the concept of regenerative ecosystem facilitation – a way of working across organizational boundaries to create joint development.
– We see that many of the challenges we face cannot be solved by individual organizations. It is about whole ecosystems of actors acting together.
With examples from collaborations with Eldrimner, a national resource center for food crafts, and Destination Funäsfjällen, he showed how innovation in rural areas can emerge through collaboration.
– Who will fill the gaps? he asked rhetorically – referring to the need for someone to take responsibility for connecting the actors.
Tackling complex societal challenges requires a new way of working.
– We don’t know what will work. It’s about launching many small tests and innovations and seeing what actually works and moving the system, explained Johan Lilja, referring to the probe, sense, respond method.
In the projects, his team has built so-called test teams – groups of people in the ecosystem who together explore opportunities and develop what he calls “collective leadership”. Johan Lilja stressed the importance of listening to drivers and creating meeting places where new ideas can emerge.
– It’s about learning to dance with the systems, he said, referring to systems researcher Donella Meadows.
He also said that the research had led to a new course at Mid Sweden University, Facilitation of Change and Development, which focuses on how to lead collaboration in complex environments.
Alignment between research and practice
After the presentations, Benny Alsén, Education Coordinator at Campus Västervik, commented on the results. He saw clear links to the practical work being done locally.
– A local learning center or campus is undoubtedly an enabler for providing learning opportunities at home.
He emphasized the importance of skills mapping as a tool for both companies and training providers.
– It forces the business to look inward and forward, to see what you have within your organization and what you actually need going forward.
Ulrika Brydling, head of operations at Eldrimner, also recognized herself in the research.
– This word together – it’s so good, she said, explaining how collaboration in the food industry has led to stronger industries and a better working environment. When we create relationships, that’s when we find the solutions, she said.
Common denominators: Collaboration and confidence
Despite the different approaches, the two research projects show the same thing: the future of rural areas is built through collaboration, long-term thinking and shared learning.
Both projects emphasize the importance of businesses, municipalities and education providers working together to address skills shortages and drive innovation.
As Lina Bjerke summarized:
– You need to find your way – not only today, but also in the future.
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More about the projects
Lina Bjerke, Jönköping University, is project leader for “Competence supply for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas”, and Johan Lilja, Mid Sweden University, is project leader for “Developing and improving together: New forms for jointly leading, building and strengthening improvement and innovation capacity among entrepreneurs in rural areas”. Both projects are funded by the Kamprad Family Foundation.
