Strategic use of public-private cooperation in the Nordic region

The Nordic welfare states are facing significant demographic challenges now and in the future. At the same time life expectancy of the citizens is increasing. Thus more senior citizens need to be cared for by still fewer young people of taxable age. This development undermines the financial sustainability of the Nordic welfare state and presents a major medium to long-term challenge for the Nordic countries, if the high welfare service levels are to be sustained in the decades to come.

One of the solutions to this challenge could be the implementation of new welfare technologies and innovative solutions which can increase efficiency of service providers and deliver more value for money.

The aim of the project is to increase knowledge about public-private partnerships in the five Nordic countries; Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, with a focus on the welfare sectors in these countries. Focus is on the following sectors: children and youth; elderly and handicapped; disease prevention, education; treatment and rehabilitation.

The overall objective is to increase understanding of approaches, effects and perspectives in the use of public-private partnerships, in particular public-private innovation partnerships. This includes the use of public-private partnerships as a strategic tool for new business development for welfare solutions in the Nordic region.