Rural development in Sweden is fuelled by a wealth of ideas. A journey through the country in 2023 showcases numerous entrepreneurial initiatives. While ambition is abundant, the question remains: where and when do these efforts thrive, and where do they meet resistance? Our goal is to describe and analyse how conditions for rural entrepreneurial growth can be strengthened.
We have selected four distinct areas as focal points: Nätradalen in Örnsköldsvik, Vildmarksriket in Dalarna, Östergarn on Gotland, and Österbybruk in Uppland. In these locations, we are setting up “workshops” to explore how individuals from diverse sectors and backgrounds perceive opportunities and challenges, organize collaboratively, and experiment with new methods to foster sustainable rural communities.
Our project integrates two key perspectives from entrepreneurship research: entrepreneurial ecosystems and the contextual turn. An ecosystem encompasses a network of interdependent actors and resources that enable entrepreneurship within a particular area. The contextual turn emphasizes the importance of understanding how various contexts—such as institutional, social, digital, economic, and spatial—shape, and are shaped by, entrepreneurial activities. By combining these perspectives, we focus on how different contexts are interconnected and influence one another within a local ecosystem.
Project leader: Johan Gaddefors
Project period: 2024-2027
Project co-workers: Hanna Astner, Tove Berg, Frida Grabs, Clara Gustafsson, Josefina Jonsson, Erik Melin, Thomas Norrby
Project funder: Familjen Kamprads Stiftelse
Total funds: 6 800 000 SEK