Connecting investment, innovation and talent
STRING’s competitiveness agenda connects the strengths of Northern Europe’s sustainable industries, universities and innovation environments. Better infrastructure, stronger partnerships and fewer cross-border barriers can help businesses invest, recruit, innovate and grow across the megaregion.
The approved 2026–2030 strategy focuses on green investment and innovation, alongside labour-market integration and talent mobility.
Why cross-border cooperation matters
Enhancing
Competitiveness
Connecting investment, innovation and talent.
Regional strengths.
Shared potential.
STRING connects sustainable industries, universities and innovation environments across Northern Europe. Stronger partnerships and fewer cross-border barriers help businesses invest, recruit, innovate and grow.
Our competitiveness priorities
Connecting existing strengths across the megaregion.
Green Investment &
Innovation Hub
Linking universities, industry, innovation hubs and public stakeholders to share knowledge and help solutions scale.
STRING’s focus
Connect existing hubs, facilitate cooperation between investment promotion agencies and strengthen joint positioning for green investment.
Labour Market Integration
& Talent Mobility
Connecting employers, educational institutions and labour-market actors so people and businesses can access opportunities across borders.
STRING’s focus
Reduce administrative and technical barriers to mobility and strengthen the megaregion’s appeal to international talent.
Understanding our potential
Strong regions.
Stronger connections.
Knowledge that informs cooperation
A megaregion with more potential
The assessment highlights economic and demographic progress, while showing that borders still hamper integration.
A foundation for cooperation
The OECD’s work continues to inform cooperation on green innovation, talent mobility and benefits shared across cities and regions.
Turning cooperation
into progress.
STRING advances these priorities through political advocacy, partnerships and cross-border projects. Reliable infrastructure connects this work with integrated markets.