MERSE Webinar: When the locals shape the future – social innovation for rural development

Описание: A national Islandic webinar (in Icelandic language) within the MERSE Project, organised by Vestfjarðastofa on the 6th of January in 2026.

INTRODUCTION
Social entrepreneurs in rural Iceland have long played a vital role in shaping community life – but what exactly is social entrepreneurship? How does it differ from other forms of entrepreneurship and why does it matter so much in rural areas? In this webinar, we will explore these questions and touch on how regional business development agencies can better support social entrepreneurs.

ORGANIZERS
MERSE: Vestfjarðastofa.

WHO IS THIS WEBINAR FOR?
Social entrepreneurs
The general public in rural Iceland
Business support organizations
Municipalities

LANGUAGE
Icelandic

WHAT THIS WEBINAR COVERS
Social entrepreneurs in rural Iceland have long played a vital role in shaping community life — but what exactly is social entrepreneurship? How does it differ from other forms of entrepreneurship and why does it matter so much in rural areas?

In this webinar, we will explore these questions together and touch on how regional business development agencies can be better at supporting social entrepreneurs.

Vestfjarðastofa has been a partner in the NPA cooperation project MERSE for the past two years, working to strengthen and support social entrepreneurship in remote regions.

In this lunchtime lecture, Steinunn Ása Sigurðardóttir and Anna Sigríður Ólafsdóttir at Vestfjarðastofa will present the key outcomes of MERSE and share the lessons they as participants, have drawn from the project.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS WEBINAR
You will gain insight into how social innovation can drive positive change in rural communities, learn what distinguishes social entrepreneurs from others, and see how regional associations can support community-driven initiatives. The webinar provides examples and tools that can strengthen your own ideas or work in the field of social innovation.

ABOUT THE MERSE PROJECT
MERSE stands for: Business Models Empowering Rural Social Entrepreneurship – voicing the rural norm. Where public efforts and private companies do not reach, local communities often place their hopes in initiatives from local social entrepreneurs. Now the differences and similarities in social entrepreneurship in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Ireland will be studied.

MERSE brings together 20 partners and associate partners from Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, and is co-funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme along with the Regions of Jämtland Härjedalen and Västernorrland.

VISIT THE MERSE PROJECT WEBSITE
https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/...