KIT on a cross-visit of the GRANULAR project in Sweden

In May 2026, Ing. Tereza Burešová from KIT PEF participated in a cross-visit in the Swedish region of Västerbotten as part of the GRANULAR project. The event was organized by the local Living Lab Northern Sweden with the aim of presenting specific approaches to regional development, business support and the operation of local initiatives in Nordic conditions.

The program was divided into several areas of regional development:

• Granö: In this municipality, the participants visited the tourist center Granö Beckasin. The project works on the principle of community-led development and shows how local activities can contribute to maintaining basic services in the village, such as a school or shop, and stabilize the local population.
• Bygdsiljum: Cooperation between industry and municipality was presented here. It included an excursion to the Holmen and Martinsons wood and paper concern and a meeting with a local development organization. The exhibition demonstrated the coordination of economic and social interests in smaller settlements.
• Skellefteå: Discussion in this town focused on the management of large industrial investments, specifically the Northvolt (Lyten) battery factory project. Experiences with the effects of such large-scale production on the region were presented, as well as procedures for restructuring the project after economic difficulties and its subsequent restart.

The study tour confirmed several topics that the GRANULAR project deals with in the long term:

• relationships and cooperation between the public sector, private enterprises and communities,
• the role of local initiatives in the stabilization of rural areas,
• adapting the administration of the territory (governance) to large investments and transformation processes,
• transfer of practical experience between regions through the Living Labs concept.

Part of the program was also a working meeting of the partners, where the further progress of the work was discussed, as the GRANULAR project is currently approaching its conclusion. The knowledge gained will serve as a basis for follow-up activities and testing of innovative approaches in the involved European regions.