The University Begins a Partnership with the Municipality of Jokkmokk

The Municipality of Jokkmokk and the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Luleå University of Technology signed a cooperation agreement in June 2026. The agreement will strengthen the link between research, education, and municipal operations. The collaboration is intended to provide additional perspectives on issues affecting the municipality and create better conditions for sustainable community development.

“We’ve had partnerships with the municipality of Jokkmokk for some time now. It’s exciting that we’ll now be strengthening and expanding these partnerships. I’m very impressed by how various stakeholders in Jokkmokk are highlighting the opportunities and value of higher education. I hope we can become even better at raising awareness of our distance learning programs at Luleå University of Technology,” says Åsa Wallström, head of the Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts, under which the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic is organised.

The agreement that has now been signed covers education, research on Arctic societies, the development of methods for local participation and dialogue in decision-making processes, as well as the dissemination of knowledge through seminars and lectures. Collaboration may also take the form of internships, thesis projects, joint projects, and various types of courses related to Arctic issues.

“This is of interest to us because the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic and the epartment of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts at Luleå University of Technology address areas that are important to us—areas such as the environment, energy, climate change, indigenous peoples, and even geopolitics. That is why we believe this is significant for both us and Luleå University of Technology,” says Roland Boman, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board.

Arctic Crossroads Became a Meeting Place

In February 2026, the Arctic Crossroads research seminar was held, a collaboration between Ájtte, the Municipality of Jokkmokk, the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic, and Luleå University of Technology. The seminar brought together researchers, government agencies, and other stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the next chapter of hydropower, with a focus on historical, social, and ecological consequences, as well as future requirements for environmental considerations, local benefits, and collaboration.

It also marked the beginning of the collaboration between the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic and the Municipality of Jokkmokk.

Jokkmokk in an Arctic Context

The Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic (CAA) is an interdisciplinary platform that coordinates and disseminates research and education related to the Arctic and Antarctic across Luleå University of Technology. The CAA collaborates with research communities at other Swedish universities to build a national centre for the Arctic and Antarctic.

Jokkmokk plays a special role in the Arctic region due to its geographic location and significance in the ongoing energy and climate transition. At the same time, the municipality faces challenges related to, among other things, demographics, population size, and the conditions for providing municipal services.

“The collaboration with the municipality of Jokkmokk is extremely valuable for several of the research groups working on Arctic issues at Luleå University of Technology, including topics such as natural resource use, the environment, energy, land-use conflicts, national minorities, and indigenous peoples. This offers opportunities to share knowledge and experiences, as well as to develop joint projects,” says Dag Avango, director of the Center for the Arctic and Antarctic.

• Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic