The Arctic is abundant in resources, innovation, and knowledge, but it is losing one of its most critical assets: people. Young talent leaves in search of education and career opportunities, while employers across the region struggle to find and attract the skills needed to facilitate the green transition and sustain local communities. Despite numerous initiatives, efforts to tackle this issue remain fragmented, short-term, and confined to local contexts. Without a more coordinated and systemic approach, the gap between talent supply and regional needs will continue to widen.
The Interreg Aurora funded project Talent North addresses this challenge by rethinking how Arctic regions work with talent: collectively. The project unites universities, municipalities, and regional stakeholders across borders into a shared effort to move beyond isolated solutions and develop a coordinated system to attract, integrate, and retain talent. By aligning strategies, sharing knowledge, and jointly testing new approaches, Talent North aims to turn a structural challenges into a collective strength.
At the core of the project is a shift from analysis to action. Talent North maps skill needs and current practices across the Arctic, and it goes further by piloting concrete solutions in real-life contexts. These include cross-border mobility pathways, new internship models, and stronger connections between education and the labour markets. Through co-creation with local stakeholders, the project develops and tests what actually works, The most successful approaches are then turned into practical tools, policy advice, and scalable learning formats.
Talent North ultimately aims to transform how the Arctic competes for talent. By enhancing collaboration between regions, better matching people with opportunities, and positioning the Arctic as a connected and attractive place to live and work, the project supports more resilient labour markets and sustainable communities. The outcome is not just improved coordination, but a lasting shift – from brain drain to brain gain.
Contact Charlotta Söderberg, Project Manager, Luleå tekniska universitet, charlotta.soderberg@ltu.se
