The goal was to provide an opportunity for inspiration and exchanging experiences of innovative methods for developing services in rural and peripheral areas. Also, to showcase results of co-production, focusing on possibilities and meeting needs.

The Mayor of Ånge municipality did the opening of the seminar, kindly welcoming all the attendees from different regions and countries. The first presentation was given by Jose Manuel San Emeterio, Project Leader in IMPROVE project, that gave an overview of the context of this seminar within IMPROVE. After, it was the turn of Madeleine Blusi, Project Coordinator for IMPROVE in Sweden, who talked about how digitalisation must be thought and not only make it a translation from paper to digital means. Then, Tomas Eriksson, an artist based in Ljungaverk and CEO of Håkki, showed a very refreshing view of what it is like to live in a place that is in the process of disappearing. Attendees had the chance to meet this specialist on rural survival from a first-hand experience.

After the break, Eva-Marie Blusi Tyberg, Project Manager at the Innovation Hub of Sundsvall, gave an interesting presentation on how the Sundsvall municipality is supporting good ideas to respond real needs. She pointed out that the first year it requires 80% of work to change culture while 20% is to focus in new ideas. Then, Aurora Lindberg, Managing Director at the Association of Local Authorities in Västernorrland, talked about methods and strategies for co-production in the municipal sector. She also presented eSamverkan project, a great example of 9 municipalities cooperating in the development of new digital services in Västernorrland. After, Madeleine Blusi, also a Ph.D. in Nursing Sciences specialized in e-health and digitalization in a rural context, talked about e-health, co-production with older people and future needs in home-care. She emphasized that e-health can play a big role from freeing professionals up from the routine tasks and use their specific expertise more effectively.

At the end of the session, the seminar attendees participated in a very interesting and productive workshop where they gathered in small groups, each member from a different country, and discussed what it is that makes a successful implementation of new e-services and what the obstacles are when nothing is happening.

If you are interested and want know more, you can contact us by clicking here.