What is Nordic Bridge?

Nordic Bridge is a digital platform designed to connect public, private, and community stakeholders with academic institutions across the Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) region. The platform creates a structured and accessible space where organizations can present real-world problems, challenges, cases, or opportunities, inviting students, researchers, and academic staff to engage and contribute to finding solutions. This platform enables challenge-driven collaboration by allowing non-academic actors such as municipalities, companies, NGOs, and public institutions, to share their needs, while academic actors such as Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. students, as well as professors can browse and respond to those needs based on their expertise, interests, and research agendas. The Nordic Bridge portal serves as a catalyst for academic engagement, supporting: 1. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. theses based on real challenges 2. Joint research projects and grant proposals 3. Internship and employment pathways for students 4. Dialogue and co-creation between academia and society Once a challenge is identified and mutual interest is established, Nordic Bridge facilitates direct interaction between stakeholders and academic institutions to co-design thesis projects or research activities. These collaborations are anchored in practical relevance, while also contributing to scientific and educational development. A defining feature of Nordic Bridge is its commitment to cross-border cooperation. The platform is designed for use by stakeholders in: A. Norway B. Iceland C. Ireland D. Finland With consent from the challenge owners, postings can be made visible across all participating countries, allowing students and researchers in one country to work on challenges from another. This enables a unique system of academic mobility and solution sharing, often referred to as “cross-border pollination” of knowledge. To support this, participating institutions will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to simplify administrative procedures, co-supervision arrangements, and recognition of joint academic work. This makes it possible to initiate: 1. Joint thesis projects 2. Transnational research teams 3. Regional innovation networks The Nordic Bridge initiative is a step toward regional knowledge valorization—ensuring that academic knowledge is translated into societal value. By embedding students and researchers in real-life local and regional challenges, the platform increases their connection to the region, leading to: a. Higher retention of young talent b. New job creation in emerging sectors c. Strengthened capacity in rural and peripheral regions Furthermore, local actors benefit by engaging with future employees, building trust with universities, and gaining fresh perspectives on their challenges. For students, Nordic Bridge offers meaningful, real-world thesis topics, enhanced employability, and international collaboration experience. For researchers, it opens the door to applied research opportunities, stakeholder engagement, and regional impact. For municipalities, businesses, and community actors, it provides access to academic expertise, new ideas, and future employees through a structured, challenge-driven approach. By bridging the gap between academic institutions and societal actors, Nordic Bridge contributes to: 1. Sustainable regional development 2. Knowledge-based innovation 3. Societal resilience in the NPA region Together, we transform shared challenges into shared solutions, building stronger, smarter, and more connected regions.