Nordregio is an international research institute established by the Nordic Council of Ministers

Senior Research Fellow

Anna Lundgren

Home Staff Anna Lundgren

Anna has a special interest in what makes urban and rural regions sustainable, liveable and prosperous. She has an academic background in political science and in urban and regional planning, and long experience in regional development, policymaking and governance.

Spatial Story

Learning how to create sustainable and resilient futures  

What makes some places prosperous and attractive while others lag behind? A long time ago, we thought of that as mainly a story of natural resources. Today, we know that it is a far more complex story of institutional capacity, accessibility to global markets, and human and social capital. And that we must engage with this complexity to create sustainable and resilient societies and regions. So, where can we learn from?

To learn from other regions’ spatial stories is one way. In the greater Stockholm region, we started more than 20 years ago to learn from other competitive and attractive metropolitan regions – what is it that makes them thrive and prosper? In a joint program with local and regional leaders from politics, universities, research parks, and business leaders, we learnt from best practices in other parts of the world. But we also learned about our own Stockholm region by creating new networks and mirroring our own region in other regions.

Another way to create sustainable and resilient futures is to learn from research. Regional research is vast and engages with many different disciplines and perspectives. To get a solid base to learn from, it is important to make the link between research, practice, and policy. One way of doing that is through the Nordic Regional Cooperation Programme, where Nordregio engages with Nordic practice and policy-making at national and regional levels of government, including cross-border regions. Through the development of applied research and fostering dialogue about policy implications of research findings, research can make important contributions to creating sustainable and resilient societies and regions.

Publications

Lundgren, A., & Meijer, M. W. (2025). Skills Ecosystems – a Solution to the Skills Problem? Experiences from the Nordics. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. https://doi.org/10.18291/njwls.156990

Lundgren, A. and Teräs, J. (2023). Developing the Economic Competence in Åland: Recommendations and key learning points for policy makers. Baltic Sea Policy Briefing (BSR Policy Briefing 5/2023 – Centrum Balticum)

Lundgren, A (2019). Participation in local and regional development perspectives in social capital, planning and governance. Towards a research agenda. In Matsushima K., K. Kobayashi and H. Westlund (Eds.) Social capital and development trends in rural areas, Volume 12, Kyoto: Kyoto University (ISBN:978-4-907830-12-0)

Lundgren, A (2017). The Openness Buzz. A Study of Openness in Planning, Politics and Political Decision-Making in Sweden from an Institutional Perspective, PhD Thesis. Stockholm: KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Lundgren A (2017). Openness and Transparency in Political Decision-Making: An Empirical Study through an Institutional Lens. Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Vol 11, No 1.

Lundgren A (2016). The Openness Buzz in Metropolitan Regions: Swedish Regional Development Strategies. European Journal of Spatial Development. Research briefing no. 6.

Lundgren A and Westlund H (2016). The Openness Buzz in the Knowledge Economy: Towards Taxonomy. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. Vol 35, Issue 6, 2017.

Related Research Projects
Ongoing
Sustainable Nordic Remote Labour Markets (SUNREM) Labour market dynamics supporting sustainable competitiveness and development Nordic thematic groups 2025-2027
Finished
State of the Nordic Region Nordic thematic groups 2021-2024 Robust Regional Preparedness Pre-study: Nordic tripartite forum on structural change and the green transition A common Nordic labour market 70 years and beyond (70 ys and beyond) Early career mobility in the Nordic Region Nordic transport infrastructure planning – institutional barriers and opportunities for coordination (NORDINFRA) Not Just a Green Transition (NJUST) – Examining the path towards a socially just green transition in the Nordic Region Re-start competence mobility in the Nordic Region Welfare Institutes in Sparsely Populated Areas (WIiSPA) Marint Gränsforum Skagerrak – external evaluation En bättre sits – evaluation Ensuring inclusive economic growth in the transition to a green economy (EnIGG) The organisation of social services and care in sparsely populated areas in the Nordics Nordic study about regional policy Linking innovation and resilience: Synergy effects for regional development Skills Policies – Building Capacities for Innovative and Resilient Nordic Regions Demographic challenges in the Nordic region from a gender perspective (DEMOS) Health care and care with distance-spanning technologies, e-health and digitalisation Evaluation of Åland “Entrepreneurship and Competence” Programme 2014-2020
Related Publications
State of the Nordic Region 2026 Regional- och landsbygdspolitik i Norden – ett, två eller flera politikområden? Local labour market participation in a pan-Nordic context Towards a Just Green Transition: 10 Key messages for Nordic policymakers Navigating Nordic discontent: Regional divides, electoral trends, and the green transition Reaping the Benefits of Nordic Collaboration in Regional Development Collaborative Regional Leadership in the Nordic Region Nordic Toolbox for a Just Green Transition Moving together or drifting apart? The Common Nordic Labour Market 70 Years and Beyond Geographies of discontent in the Nordic Region Svensk-norskt samarbete: viktiga utmaningar och framtida möjligheter Embracing the just green transition on the Nordic labour market Competence mobility: How can labour market mobility in the Nordic Region be increased? How can labour market mobility in the Nordic Region be increased? Facilitating cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region In all fairness: perceptions of climate policies and the green transition in the Nordic Region Cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region – An introduction Ålands strukturfondsprogram 2014-2020: Utvärderarnas slutrapport 2022 Re-start competence mobility in the Nordic Region The social impacts of climate mitigation policies on vulnerable groups in the Nordic Region Just Green Transition – key concepts and implications in the Nordic Region State of the Nordic Region 2020 -Wellbeing, health and digitalisation Matching the missing links – Skills development in Nordic regions Skills Policies – Building Capacities for Innovative and Resilient Nordic Regions Digital Health Care and Social Care – Regional development impacts in the Nordic countries Klimatomställningen och relationen stad och land Skills for Smart Specialisation in Värmland Region – executive summary Marint Gränsforum Skagerrak – delutvärdering Kompetensbehov för Smart specialisering i Värmland Ålands strukturfondsprogram 2014–2020 Utvärderarnas andra delrapport
Related Events
Nordens time er nu! Men hvad med om 10 år? – Nordregio at Folkemødet 2026 Launch: State of the Nordic Region 2026 Fra klimaløfter til kløfter– hvordan snur vi unges mistro? – Nordregio at Arendalsuka 2025 Navigating Nordic discontent: Regional divides, electoral trends and the green transition Nordic Toolbox for a Just Green Transition Future-proofing the Nordics – what is resilient leadership? How can we achieve a fair green transition for all? State of the Nordic Region 2022 14-15 April: The Competence Supply Days 21 October: Health & Well-being in the Nordic Region Choosing Green – a digital summit before COP26 Hvordan kan digitalisering bidrage til at indfri FN’s verdensmål på Færøerne og i Grønland? Reglab Sweden Annual Conference
Related News
Research, dialogue and Nordic cooperation at democracy festivals Research to facilitate a competitive and inclusive green transition on the agenda in Kiruna What’s shaping the Nordic Region today? Shaping the green transition: 10 Key messages for Nordic policymakers How do we ensure broad public acceptance for climate policies? How to master cross-border transport infrastructure planning New toolbox identifies six crucial areas for a just green transition Nordregio Hosts Norwegian and Swedish Ministries Working with Municipal Policies What would a fully integrated Nordic labour market look like?   Nordic geographies of discontent – what are the drivers? Enhancing economic competence in Åland: Insights and strategies for policy enhancement Meet Nordregio in Almedalen 2023 How to boost labour market mobility across the Nordics? Nordic transport infrastructure: how to strengthen the cross-border planning? Nordregio Forum 2021 – some highlights! Nordregio Researchers at COP26 New Nordic study on regional policy and instruments for economic recovery Anna Lundgren, Nordregio Senior Researcher, speaks at REG LAB webinar Matching skills for future labour market 10 December: Welfare in sparsely populated areas and how to organize social services and care Health & Well-being in the Nordic Region Open call for regions: Experts are ready to support you in e-health solutions! Nordic thematic group for innovative and resilient regions publishes discussion paper about skills policies Open call for new healthcare solutions
Related Maps
Employment rate 2024 Unemployment rate 2024 Population outside the labour force 2024 Change in employment in industry 2014–2023 Change in employment in business services 2014–2023 Change in share of high skill occupations 2014–2023 Change in share of medium skill occupations 2014–2023 Change in share of low skill occupations 2014–2023 Sectoral employment concentration 2023 Largest Nordic minority 2021 Cross-border commuting as share of employment Work mobility per municipality and region by quarter Females with tertiary education 2018 Life expectancy at birth for males and females 2017 Males with tertiary education 2018
Related Pages
Health care and care with distance spanning solutions Rural perspectives on digital innovation: Experiences from small enterprises in the Nordic countries and Latvia Nordic Council of Ministers Ålands landskapsregering Marint Gränsforum Skagerrak
Anna Lundgren
Contact

[email protected]
+46 701690649

LinkedIn

Academic qualifications

Affliliated Faculty, Urban and Regional Studies, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (since 2026)

PhD in Planning and Decision Analysis with specialization in Urban and Regional Studies, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2017)

BSc in International Social Sciences, Växjö University (1993)

Languages

Swedish

English

French

Prior positions

Since 2021: Associated board member, Nordic Section of the Regional Studies Association (RSA)

2013-2018: Project Manager, Region Stockholm

2008-2013: Secretary General, The Council for the Stockholm Mälar Region (Mälardalsrådet)

1998-2008: International Secretary, The Council for the Stockholm Mälar Region

1998: Project Manager, Region Stockholm

1994-1998: Senior Advisor, (Landstingsförbundet/ Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner)

1993-1994: Trainee, Conseil Régional de Lorraine (France )