Project Aims
The Northern Dimension policy of the European Union has directed new interest towards the possibilities of economic, political and cultural cooperation in the Barents area. There is a need for more competence in cross-border cooperation to fully utilize the opportunities offered by this northern region.
The Barents Specialists program, which began in April 2002, offers one solution to the problem by uniting research with practical knowledge in an innovative way. The project partners from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia working together will create synergy and provide information on the possibilities and current realities of cooperation.
The aim of program is to increase the competence in Russian affairs and Barents cooperation of the participating institutions. This will be achieved through a creation of a regional network of Barents area specialists and researchers. This network will increase understanding, foster new cooperation initiatives and produce information of Barents cooperation for the use of both the public and private sectors.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Interreg III A / Kolarctic fund, the State of Norway and the State Provincial office of Lapland. Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic is the main applicant of the project. Murmansk State Pedagogical Institute is the chair the Russian consortium of the project.