Project Kickoff: COLAB

We are excited to launch COLAB: Coastal Laboratories Connecting People and Nature, an international initiative funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Prosperous Future programme. COLAB brings together partners in Iceland, Poland, and Lithuania to co-develop practical methods for empowering coastal communities to build resilient local economies based on coastal natural and bio-based resources. The project focuses on sustainable resource use, community knowledge, and nature-positive practices that strengthen both ecosystems and livelihoods.

The purpose of the project is to co-develop a bottom-up blue bio-economy solution that can be applied in various local contexts across the Atlantic-Baltic region. Using the framework of regenerative tourism, the project will connect local ecological and cultural knowledge, green processing techniques, and local product production. Through collaboration between biomaterial and production designers, researchers, and local knowledge holders, the project will explore how creativity and ecology can work hand in hand to strengthen community resilience and coastal sustainability.

The project’s main goal is to deliver toolkits and a knowledge depository to inspire rural communities to adapt regenerative concepts in building local opportunities and using tourism to drive environmental, social, cultural, and economic regeneration.

The project is led by the University Centre of the Westfjords, with partners Fine Foods Islandica ehf, the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and the Vilnius Academy of Arts.

As part of the project, COLAB will host a public workshop featuring hands-on experience with local resources to foster a connection to nature. It aims to inspire the local community of all ages toward future economies based on the responsible use of coastal natural resources. The workshop will be suitable for families and children and will take place on July 9th in the Strandir region.

More information can be found at https://www.nordic-baltic-colab.net