MERSE session at Interreg NPA event in Bodø, Norway

1st of October, 15:30-16:30, Peter Dass auditorium, Nord University

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 watch on 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺:
https://lnkd.in/eiCJC8Ak

Social entrepreneurship - essential for regional development in the Northern Peripheral and Arctic. Led by Yvonne von Friedrichs and Cecilia Dalborg, Mid Sweden University, Sweden, Project MERSE.

Our panel during the session:

• Veronica Schanke Reinås, Social entrepreneur, Eikra Aktivitet, Norway
• Susanne Vinderå, Pelle Persson, Local support organisation Coompanion, Sweden
• Jon Söder, Östersund Municipality, Sweden
• Fionnán Ó hÓgáin, Regional support organisation, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Ireland 

About our session on social entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship is a rapidly emerging form of entrepreneurship that has gained ground in Europe. Cross-border cooperation within the MERSE project has made it possible to compare country-specific regional conditions for social entrepreneurship in rural areas.

The MERSE session explores the conditions for rural social enterprises in five regions of the Northern Periphery and Arctic regions and highlights the barriers and opportunities for social enterprises.

Measuring results and impact is repeatedly highlighted as a central challenge in the field of social entrepreneurship. Lack of clarity about social impact and long-term savings in society limits social enterprises' opportunities for external financing and sustainable establishment in the market.

The MERSE Session about social entrepreneurship has received the highest interest in its time slot and has a hundred participants registered

We are very happy about this of course. The high interest shows us that social entrepreneurship can be an important area for social sustainability in society. People and organisations are looking for new solutions on societal problems and there is sometimes a lack of knowledge about social entrepreneurship. Project MERSE aims to contribute to closing this gap. 

This says Yvonne von Friedrichs, Mid Sweden University, Sweden, Project Leader for Project MERSE. Welcome to our session!

The MERSE Session about social entrepreneurship is a part of the event CONNECTING THE DOTS

Interreg NPA event CONNECTING THE DOTS - Celebrating 25 years of cooperation in the NPA, is a unique event celebrating 25 years of cooperation in the NPA. During three days from 30 September to 2 October 2025 people and projects from different countries will meet in Bodø to:

• Learn about the impacts of NPA projects on northern and peripheral communities in the Arctic and near-Arctic regions
• Exchange ideas
• Explore what the future Interreg NPA could look like.