Sustainable SMEs at NPA Connecting the dots conference
Project staff from Jamk and AIM Centre participated in the "CONNECTING THE DOTS - Celebrating 25 years of cooperation in the NPA" conference, organized in Bodø on 30 September - 2 October. We had the pleasure to organize two sessions with our project partners, taking a look at sustainability issues and the possibilities of technology in promoting sustainability.
In 2025 the NPA programme celebrated 25 years of operation and gathered participants from all across the programme area in a conference in Bodø. Before the official programme, the conference held a welcome reception and some networking activities at the Stormen library.
The first day of the conference was held at Nord University with sessions looking into the history of the programme as well as the achievements of past projects. In addition, the 6th call for projects was launched at the end of the day. The evening concluded with a conference dinner, the NPA gala awards showcasing successful projects, and some magnificent northern lights above the town. The project staff from Sustainable SMEs participated in various different sessions to learn more about the programme and its opportunities, meet representatives of other NPA projects, and discuss future cooperation possibilities.
On the second day at Radisson Blu Bodø the focus was on emerging trends. On this day, new projects had a chance to present their topics. Sustainable SMEs held two different sessions in collaboration with other NPA projects: “Taster sessions – how to support SMEs to be sustainable”, together with Target Circular, and “IoT Meets AI: Transforming Energy Data into Actionable Insights”, together with Arctic Edge. The first session gathered around 10 participants to discuss about most crucial ESG aspects and sustainability reporting as well as support for becoming more sustainable. The session was also livestreamed. The second session welcomed 18 participants in a vibrant discussion about sustainability, challenges in achieving it in business, and the possibilities of technology. During the conference days several people showed interest in the project’s themes and activities, which highlights the importance of the topic of sustainability reporting.
When it was time to say goodbye, the conference participants gathered in an informal goodbye party at Bådin brewery for a taste of local drinks and cuisine. This event offered one more chance at networking and exchanging ideas in a relaxed atmosphere before it was time to head home and continue with the work of helping SMEs become more sustainable with the help of sustainability reporting knowledge.
Thank you to the NPA programme secretariat and staff for offering the platform to learning, sharing, and connecting with people!
