Receives NOK 3 million to build Ukraine expertise in Northern Norway

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Norway has received more than 85,000 Ukrainian refugees. However, their skills are often underutilised in the labour market. Still, many actors in Northern Norway lack knowledge of how to cooperate with Ukrainian partners.

A new project aims to change this.

– The war has created huge challenges for Ukrainian society. But it has also opened new opportunities for international collaboration, says Veronika Vakulenko, project leader and Associate Professor at Nord University Business School.

The dialogue with actors in Bodø and Nordland has shown strong interest in what we have learned through our work with Ukrainian universities

Strengthening preparedness

The project is called SUPERNOVA and is led by the Nord University Business School (more details in fact box below).

The project has two main directions.

• One focuses on helping businesses and organisations in Northern Norway cooperate directly with Ukrainian partners on markets, investments and reconstruction.
• The other focuses on Ukrainian experiences. How have Ukrainian institutions managed to keep operating during the war? And what can Nordland learn from this when it comes to preparedness?

– SUPERNOVA is about strengthening preparedness and value creation in Nordland, while at the same time contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine through mutual learning and experience sharing, says Vakulenko.

Nordland is the only county in Norway expected to experience negative population growth towards 2050. Better integration of an international workforce could be part of the solution.

Runs until 2027

The funding for the new project SUPERNOVA comes from HK-dir’s Programme for Ukraine Competence.

– The project starts in January 2026 and runs until the end of 2027, says Vakulenko.

– We are very excited and looking forward to two productive years of collaboration!