The second regional workshop within the ARIES4 project in Värmland was recently held – this time focusing on businesses and clusters working with sustainable business development and innovation. The aim was to demonstrate how sustainability can become a tangible and value-creating part of the regional innovation system.
From Strategy to Practical Support for Transition
For the past three years, the ARIES4 project has brought together actors from four European regions – Navarra (Spain), Värmland (Sweden), Gabrovo (Bulgaria), and South Denmark (Denmark) – in a joint effort to strengthen sustainable business development through education, tools, and collaboration. As part of the project, each region is to carry out two regional workshops to share results and inspire continued development.
The first Värmland workshop targeted decision-makers and strategists, with a focus on how sustainability and smart specialisation can be monitored and evaluated. The final workshop, by contrast, was aimed at the business sector and cluster environments – with a strong emphasis on practical tools for sustainable business and innovation development.
Unfold Värmland – A Natural Meeting Place
The workshop was held in connection with Unfold Värmland – a participant-driven event where ideas, experiences, and visions are shared in an open format. Here, companies, the public sector, academia, and innovation actors come together to shape the future of Värmland.
This format provided the perfect arena for the ARIES4 project to both share knowledge and spark new conversations. By participating in Unfold, the project was able to reach a broad audience and build new connections across the regional innovation system.
Conversations That Open Up New Perspectives
Two key themes stood out in the discussions during the workshop:
- Sector-specific needs: Participants highlighted the importance of tailoring sustainability efforts to the specific conditions of each sector. One example that drew interest was the sustainability coaching model developed within Värmland’s tourism industry – a concept with potential to inspire other sectors as well.
- Sustainability as an innovation driver: When properly integrated, sustainability can strengthen both creativity and long-term business development. Within ARIES4, several tools have been developed – including a course in sustainable business development – that can be used by cluster organisations in their support roles or offered directly to companies.
Looking Ahead
The workshop played a key role in translating project results into regional benefit – while also opening the door for continued collaboration towards a green and competitive future. By highlighting concrete examples and tools, ARIES4 aims to inspire more actors to integrate sustainability into their innovation processes.
“It became clear how valuable it is to discuss sustainability from the perspective of different industries’ needs and experiences. It opens up both new understanding and new collaborations.”
– Lisa Gärdt, Project Manager, Glava Energy Center
Caption: Researcher Mikael Johnson and Innovation Advisor Fredrik Östling, both involved in ARIES4 from Karlstad University, facilitated the workshop.
