Lysekil Hub Pilot Case: Lysekil+
Municipality of Lysekil
Lysekil is situated in the archipelago on the Swedish West Coast with a history of sea and fishing industry. Like most rural municipalities, we face major challenges such as a declining population base, an increasingly aging population, and a weak business climate.
As more people choose to move to cities, rural communities must fight to maintain vibrant societies and local economies. The purpose of SIRR is to create a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and attractive countryside. A stronger rural area with a flexible and solution-oriented community is essential to retain the skilled and creative individuals who live in the area—and to attract new ones.
To build a stronger rural area and achieve our vision, we need to collaborate with local businesses, civil society, academia, and networks to increase trust in the municipality as a partner and to foster pride in the area among residents, businesses, and visitors.
Through SIRR, we aim to improve communication with our target groups and build closer relationships and collaborations. We have chosen to do this through three focus areas:
Pride in the Place
By increasing pride in the area of Lysekil, which includes the entire municipality, we can together create an image of Lysekil as a place where people want to live, work, or visit. This benefits not only the municipality but also the business community and residents.
Develop Forums and Meeting Places
Through closer cooperation with existing and new target groups, we can jointly address our challenges. We want to meet our various target groups where they are, listen to their ideas, and gain support on key issues for the municipality’s development.
Closer Collaboration Between Departments
To make progress on important issues that involve multiple departments, we must better understand each other’s processes and work together toward shared goals.
Teresia Christborn and Elisabeth Jonsson
Lysekil will benefit from SIRR in many ways
Lysekil will benefit from participating in the project in many aspects. We will participate in all three WPs and activities since we are a hub; to develop and host the local hub in Lysekil as well as facilitate workshops and local development work/activities with entrepreneurs, business organisations and knowledge institutions etc. We will also contribute with our experience and network within hub development.
The project will provide knowledge and good practice from partners whose hubs already are up and running. SIRR will also enhance and foster collaboration throughout the community when enabling a resilient and sustainable society.
Setting: Rural/Coastal area in the Västra Götaland County (Sweden). Located by the North Sea.
Main regional business: Fishing. Stone industry. Oil refineries (Preemraff Lysekil). Tourism.
Challenges in focus: Housing problems. Issues with engaging young citizens. Infrastructure below and above the water surface. Skills supply. Common strategy for the local area with Multi Helix actors to continue the sustainable development.