Author: Alyona Kornienko, director of Youth Centre “Korobka”
From June 8 to 11, the delegation of Trostyanets city hromada was in Swedish city of Skellefteå within the international URBACT SHIFT-R network. For three days, the participants got acquainted with successful practices in developing the city’s innovation ecosystem, exchanged experiences with European partners and studied tools that can be adapted for the development of Trostyanets city hromada.
Three eventful days within the URBACT SHIFT-R program became an opportunity to exchange experiences, establish new partnerships and find practical solutions for community development.
Trostyanets city hromada was represented by Communications Manager of the Trostyanets City Council Svitlana Popovych, Head of the NGO “Center for Social Initiatives of the Trostyanets City Council” Vadym Balla, and Director of the Municipal Institution of the Trostyanets City Council “Youth Center “KOROBKA” Alyona Kornienko.
Yet on 9 April 2026, the Lead Partner (Fundão) and the Lead Expert connected with Trostyanets (Ukraine) for an online City Visit. It was a deeply inspiring exchange.
Despite the ongoing war, Trostyanets is not standing still — it is actively developing innovative and impactful projects that strengthen the community and local economy.
Among the inspiring initiatives presented:
- a Smart Call Centre improving access to public services for citizens
- the Safe Community project, with advanced digital surveillance and emergency response systems
- “Korobka” Youth Centre, promoting digital skills, creativity and social engagement
- a Business Support Centre, already delivering funding, training and jobs for local entrepreneurs
- and ambitious plans for a new Innovation and Investment Hub
What truly stood out was the resilience, determination and forward-looking mindset of the local team — continuing to build, innovate and support their community under extremely difficult conditions.
An inspiring example of strength and vision. A community that deserves the highest respect.
How can smaller cities become powerful drivers of innovation and sustainable development? Skellefteå is one of eight European cities participating in the EU project SHIFT-R – Shaping Innovation-Friendly Territories (Rural Edition) under the URBACT IV program. Together, the cities are developing new approaches to how innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration can contribute to sustainable and attractive communities—even outside major cities.
“We’re showing that smaller cities like Skellefteå can play a crucial role in the green transition by bringing people, ideas, and the business community together. Innovation doesn’t have to be concentrated in big cities,” says Anna Marklund, Chief Project Officer vid Skellefteå Science City.
Evelina Fahlesson, City Councilor for Skellefteå Municipality, and Kristina Sundin Jonsson, City Manager for Skellefteå Municipality, welcomed everyone to Society Expo 2026 and set the tone for the afternoon by highlighting Skellefteå’s ongoing development journey as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with rapid societal transformation.
A European network for innovation
SHIFT-R builds on experiences from the Portuguese city of Fundão, which in recent years has developed a model for how smaller cities can create strong innovation ecosystems. Through initiatives such as digital education centers, co-working hubs, and local innovation platforms, the city has succeeded in attracting businesses, entrepreneurs, and new talent.
SHIFT-R builds on experiences from the Portuguese city of Fundão, which in recent years has developed a model for how smaller cities can create strong innovation ecosystems. Through initiatives such as digital education centers, co-working hubs, and local innovation platforms, the city has succeeded in attracting businesses, entrepreneurs, and new talent.
In this project, cities from across Europe are collaborating to develop and test similar approaches in their own local contexts. Through knowledge exchange, workshops, and joint projects, new tools are being created to help innovation become a driving force in community development.
Participating cities
SHIFT-R brings together eight partner cities from different parts of Europe:
- Fundão, Portugal (project leader)
- Żory, Poland
- Kimi Aliveri, Greece
- Macouria, France
- Nykarleby, Finland
- Skellefteå, Sweden
- Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Trostyanets, Ukraine
Together, they represent different types of communities—from small rural municipalities to growing regional centers—all of which are exploring how innovation can contribute to sustainable development.
Skellefteå’s role in the project
Skellefteå was selected for its work on green industrial transition and community development in a rapidly changing environment. The ongoing development in northern Sweden makes the municipality a place where new solutions for sustainable growth, skills supply, and innovation are tested in practice.
Through this project, Skellefteå aims to strengthen efforts to:
- develop innovation environments in smaller communities and rural areas
- create meeting places where businesses, research, and the public sector can collaborate
- strengthen entrepreneurship and skills development
- contribute to sustainable development and increased participation
The project will run from 2025 to 2028 and is funded through the EU’s URBACT IV program.
Part of Society Expo 2026
The work within SHIFT-R is closely linked to Society Expo 2026, where Skellefteå opens up its urban transformation for dialogue, learning, and international collaboration.
Through the project, Skellefteå becomes part of a European network where cities share experiences and develop new solutions together—to demonstrate how innovation and collaboration can contribute to sustainable communities across Europe.
One of the brightest locations of the program was the Skellefteå Museum – a modern interactive museum that tells the history of the city and the entire region in an exciting format. The exhibitions combine digital technologies, multimedia installations, interactive screens, audiovisual effects and authentic exhibits, thanks to which visitors do not just get acquainted with the facts, but literally immerse themselves in the life of Skellefteå in different historical periods. Special attention is paid to the development of industry, forestry, cultural heritage and the people who shaped the city. This modern approach demonstrates how a museum can be not only a repository of history, but also an important educational, tourist and public space that shapes local identity and attracts visitors of all ages.
The delegation also visited the town of Jörn, where they got acquainted with the activities of a modern café-space for the IT community and entrepreneurs. This place combines co-working, a space for communication, work and relaxation. Here you can work on your own projects, exchange ideas, and also regain strength with board and retro games that unite representatives of different generations.
Another symbol of Skellefteå is Sara Kulturhus, together with The Wood Hotel – one of the tallest wooden structures in the world. The 20-story building, about 80 meters high, has become an international example of sustainable architecture. It combines a theater, museum, art gallery, city library, conference halls, hotel, restaurants and public spaces, demonstrating how modern architecture can become a catalyst for economic development, tourism and cultural life of the city.
The experience gained has once again confirmed: the successful development of a community is based on investments in people, the creation of modern spaces for learning, work and creativity, support for entrepreneurship and the development of international partnerships. These are the approaches that can become the basis for the further development of Trostyanets municipality.
A key starting point is the experience gained in Fundão, Portugal, which has spent several years building strong innovation ecosystems in smaller towns and communities. Now, together with seven other cities, they will explore what can be applied in their own local contexts.
Fundao’s development model is based on six interrelated areas:
- talent development – training, professional training, digital competencies and cooperation with educational institutions
- entrepreneurship and innovation development – support for startups, business incubators, attracting investments and creating new companies
- economic activation – stimulation of small and medium-sized businesses, development of innovative sectors of the economy
- high-quality territorial infrastructure – modern public spaces, digital infrastructure, comfortable environment for living and working
- population attraction and retention – creating opportunities for young people, new residents, entrepreneurs and highly qualified specialists
- strengthening the innovation ecosystem – cooperation between government, business, education and community for continuous development
Once threatened by severe depopulation and economic decline, Fundão reinvented itself as a “Smart Rural City”. Through its bold Innovation Plan, the municipality successfully:
- Attracted tech companies: Brought in over a dozen IT companies and created over 1,000 skilled ICT jobs.
- Boosted entrepreneurship: Launched incubators (such as A Praça) and Living Labs offering co-working spaces at accessible rates.
- Supported innovation: Cultivated high-tech agriculture (Agrotech) and attracted residents from over 70 nationalities.
During Society Expo, SHIFT-R is part of the program through a two-day conference featuring international guests, networking, and study visits. Participants had learnt about Skellefteå’s social transformation, meet representatives from other European collaborations, and visit Jörn, where several local initiatives demonstrate how entrepreneurship and collaboration can generate new momentum for development.
The hope is that this will create new partnerships, new funding opportunities, and concrete approaches that can strengthen Skellefteå’s service centers over time.
– This is so much more than a two-day conference. It’s the start of several important collaborations where we’re already seeing concrete benefits in the form of new ideas, contacts, and potential projects.
Through Society Expo 2026, Skellefteå gains an international stage to both showcase its experiences and invite others to contribute their perspectives.
How could this experience be transferred for Trostyanets city hromada
Fundao’s economic model is fully adapted for Ukrainian communities. For Trostyanets municipality, this means an opportunity to focus on several key areas:
- creation of a local innovation ecosystem through the partnership of the community, business, education and the public sector
- supporting entrepreneurship, veterans, youth and internally displaced persons through training, mentoring and business incubation programs
- development of modern spaces for work, study and cooperation
- attraction of investments and international grant programs
- development of digital skills, creative industries and innovative entrepreneurship
- creation of conditions that will help young people to stay in city, and new residents to integrate and work in Trostyanets city hromada
SHIFT-R is funded under the EU program URBACT IV and will run from 2025–2028. Skellefteå participates by developing new ways to create innovation-friendly environments in sparsely populated areas and small communities, with a particular focus on youth and sustainable development.
It’s about creating structures where people, ideas and resources come together, in line with our long-term societal transformation and Society Expo 2026
, says Anders Lindgren, International Partner Manager, Society Expo 2026.
We are pleased to welcome Skellefteå to the SHIFT-R network. The city was selected for its impressive experience in green industrial transition and inclusive innovation. We look forward to learning about Skellefteå’s journey and sharing our own experiences of how smaller cities can drive sustainable development through collaboration, creativity and community. Together, we can strengthen the network and develop new models for resilient and inclusive growth in Europe’s cities
, said Micaela Gil, Program Director, Fundão.
Facts:
The project SHIFT-R – Shaping Innovation-Friendly Territories (Rural Edition) was approved by the URBACT IV Monitoring Committee on 8 October 2025, following the recommendation of the External Assessment Panel (EAP). Out of 39 applications submitted, 25 networks were approved, with SHIFT-R scoring “Very Good” in almost all criteria and “Excellent” in project management – a testament to the strength of the partnership and Fundão’s experienced coordination.
The participating cities are Fundão (Portugal), Żory (Poland), Kimi Aliveri (Greece), Macouria (France), Nykarleby (Finland), Skellefteå (Sweden), Mostar (Bosnia & Herzegovina) and Trostyanets (Ukraine).
Find out more on the URBACT website:
https://urbact.eu/news/urbact-welcomes-25-transfer-networksExternal link.
For more information, please contact:
Anders Lindgren, International Partner Manager, Society Expo 2026
[email protected],
