The RemoTED project, coordinated by Lapland UAS, was recognized at the 25th anniversary conference of the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) funding program. The coference was held from 30 September to 2 October 2025 in Bodø, Norway.

The RemoTED project improves social and health services in sparsely populated areas by strengthening the digital and technological capabilities of professionals and piloting new solutions.

The conference, organised to celebrate the programme’s anniversary, highlighted the achievements of the Interreg programme and the results of projects that have supported communities in Arctic and peripheral regions.

Throughout the event, the importance of developing cooperation between Arctic regions was strongly emphasised. Collaboration across these areas is essential for learning, growth, and strengthening regional vitality. The Interreg NPA programme plays a key role in enabling this cooperation.

– In today’s global context, phenomena such as international political tensions and climate change pose particular challenges for Arctic regions. This region of the Arctic currently faces significant external interest and pressure. To adapt to rapid changes, these regions must work together to address shared challenges such as population ageing, declining birth rates, high living costs and lack of affordable housing, unemployment, and access to services, emphasizes the Lapland UAS delgation.

The RemoTED project was recognised at the first Interreg NPA Awards Ceremony under the theme “Finding new ways to recruit and retain professionals, improving digital healthcare, and strengthening innovation capacity.” This recognition highlights the project’s contribution to enhancing digitalisation, skills, and innovation capacity in northern and sparsely populated areas.

The conference also marked the launch of the 6th call for projects, where the terms for the final call of the current programme period were presented. The priorities will remain the same, but the third one, strengthening cooperation, is now being particularly emphasised. The NPA experts also encouraged proposals focusing on the promotion of health and wellbeing.

During parallel sessions, NPA projects presented their outputs and current progress. A wide range of technological solutions aimed at strengthening community resilience in the Arctic region were showcased. RemoTED, together with the Tech2Heal project, organised a panel discussion on the digital competences of social and healthcare professionals.

Lapland University of Applied Sciences was represented in the panel by Elina Kerätär (PT, MSc, RDI Specialist). Other panelists included Dr. Louise McBride (Head of Department of Nursing and Healthcare), Niclas Forsling (Project Manager, Region Västerbotten, Centre for Rural Medicine), and Ove K. Lintvedt (Senior Researcher, Norwegian Centre for E-health Research). The discussion was hosted by Dr. Karla Muñoz Esquivel (Lecturer in Computing).

Panel discussion from left to right: Karla Muñoz Esquivel, Louise McBride, Ove K. Lintvedt, Niclas Forsling, and Elina Kerätär.

Closing panel discussion, Future perspectives of the NPA regions. From left to right: Ms Daria Makhotina Gudnason, Advisory Member of the Arctic Youth Network; Ms Halla Nolsøe Poulsen, Director of NORA (Nordic Atlantic Cooperation), Faroe Islands; Mr Nils Kristian Sørheim Nilsen, Director of Northern Norway European Office, NSPA (Northern Sparsely Populated Areas Network), Norway; Mr Travis O’Doherty, EU Programmes Liaison Officer, Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), Ireland; Ms Pia Pitkänen, Senior Advisor for Regional Development, Regional Council of North Karelia, Finland; Mr Gorm Vold, Chief Advisor for Nalik Ventures, Greenland; and Thomas Solhaug Baker, Advisor, International Office of Nordland County Council, Norway (host).

Before the conference began, the RemoTED project team met to work on internal project matters.

– Face-to-face meetings strengthen collaboration within the team and support the achievement of shared goals and activities.

During the meeting, the team planned the forthcoming Toolkit that will be developed as part of the project, shared updates from the partners, and discussed potential challenges. Elina Kerätär presented a practical robotics pilot in gait rehabilitation

– The conference further strengthened cooperation between northern region actors and provided an excellent opportunity for exchanging ideas with other NPA projects while enjoying the stunning scenery of Bodø.

Earlier about the RemoTED project:

RemoTED Project Kicked Off in Iceland – Digital Solutions for Social and Healthcare Services in Remote Areas

RemoTED team members at the Nord University campus in Bodø. Back row from left to right: Karla Muñoz Esquivel (ATU), Louise McBride (ATU), Mira Koskenniska (Lapland UAS), Suvi Leppänen (Karelia UAS), Leila Nisula (Lapland UAS), and Jaana Kurki (Karelia UAS). Front row: Steinunn Olafsdottir (University of Iceland).