A regional development perspective

Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet

Norsk mal: Startside

A regional development perspectiveDirector General Hallgeir Aalbu

Östersund, 19 February 2013

Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet

The Norwegian context (1)

• Almost only hydro-electricity • Price set at NordPool, only minor local

differences• Energy exporter: both electricity and

oil/gas

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Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet

The Norwegian context (2)

• Strong population growth• Labour shortage• A new regional divide: coast vs. inland

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Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet4

Employment Export per capita

Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet

Renewable energy as a potential for rural development

• National policies vs. local interests• New opportunities, especially when

– Functionally connected– Embedded in regional innovation systems

• Challenge: to link weak regions with innovation and the relevant business sectors

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Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet

Regional policies

• Regional policy measures– Innovation and entrepreneurship– Local attractiveness

• No sector-specific incentives• Challenge: to use the planet’s resources

to the benefit of the moon

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