Tech2Heal Joint Panel Session in Bodø for the NPA 25th Anniversary Conference

The Tech2Heal partners were delighted to join forces with our colleagues from the RemoTED Project to co-host a joint panel session at the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) 25th Anniversary Conference, held in Bodø, Norway.

This milestone event celebrated 25 years of impactful cooperation and innovation across the Northern Periphery and Arctic region. It provided a valuable platform for partners, researchers, and practitioners to share knowledge, strengthen networks, and discuss future directions for sustainable regional development.

Our joint session, titled “Empowering Social Care and Healthcare: Technology for Workforce Wellbeing,” brought together leading voices from across the NPA region to explore how digital innovation and applied research can enhance the wellbeing of those working within the health and social care sectors.

Panellists included:

• Dr Louise McBride, Head of Department of Nursing and Healthcare
• Dr Karla Muñoz Esquivel, Lecturer in Computing (Chair)
• Niclas Forsling, Project Manager, Region Västerbotten, Centre for Rural Medicine
• Ove K Lintvedt, Senior Researcher, Norwegian Centre for E-health Research
• Elina Kerätär, Physiotherapist, Master of Healthcare, RDI Senior Specialist, Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Exploring the Future of Workforce Wellbeing

The discussion focused on the crucial role that technology can play in supporting the health and wellbeing of professionals working in care and clinical settings. Panellists shared perspectives from across the NPA region, addressing themes such as digital transformation, workforce sustainability, and the use of remote technologies to enhance support systems in rural and peripheral communities.

Throughout the session, the shared commitment to collaboration and innovation was clear. The conversation reflected how cross-border cooperation within the NPA Programme enables knowledge exchange and the development of scalable, people-centred digital solutions that address shared challenges.

A Shared Vision for Innovation

For Tech2Heal, this session was an opportunity to highlight how research and technology can empower healthcare and social care professionals — helping to create more resilient, connected, and sustainable communities.

We are proud to collaborate with RemoTED and our wider network of NPA partners in advancing innovation that makes a tangible impact on wellbeing and workforce sustainability across the region.

As the Interreg NPA Programme celebrates 25 years of achievements, the event reaffirmed the importance of partnership, shared learning, and digital transformation in building a healthier, more inclusive future for the Northern Periphery and Arctic.