Orebro University, Sweden
Orebro University is the 15th largest university in Sweden with approximately 15,000 students. The university´s different research centers span a variety of research areas from medicine to social science, with several internationally strong research environments.
Relevant to the JUST-PEPP project is the Centre for Sustainable Business, and Interorg Marketing Research Centre. Both these groups work with societal transitions towards sustainable futures, in different empirical context; energy markets, household behavioral change, climate neutrality in transports and more. In addition to high competitive research environment, the related education programme are annualy attracting more than 300 students – taking parts in courses like business and society, sustainability and innovation and many more.
Örebro University is leading the co-creation process of the Positive Energy Districts (PED) implementation roadmaps and integrated mobility transition action plan for frontrunner neighbourhoods as well as the creation of the toolbox that will include resources with success factors and lessons learned from planning PEDs in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Center for Research on Digitalization and Sustainability, University of Inland Norway
The Center for Research on Digitalization and Sustainability (CREDS) is the center of University of Inland Norway (INN) dedicated to contributing to relevant and new insights into how businesses can transition to the sustainable and digital development expected by society today. Situated at Campus Kongsvinger, INN’s southernmost location, it plays a key role in the JUST PEPP by leading the work on developing measures, analyzing the impacts of double vulnerability in the pilot communities, and identifying innovative PED solutions for their implementation.
An overarching objective of CREDS is to elevate Innlandet’s knowledge base and educational offerings, driving value creation and the emergence of green jobs, thereby contribute to economic growth and wellbeing in the region. The center engages in interdisciplinary and applied research, addressing a broad set of challenges associated with sustainability transitions and digital transformation. Through its efforts, CREDS supports both the private and public sectors by providing expertise at the individual, industry, and societal levels.
CREDS has strong regional ties to the business community in Kongsvinger and Innlandet, while also aspiring to expand its collaborations nationally and internationally through projects such as JUST PEPP and other Horizon Europe projects (see, for example, COMMECT). These projects and partnerships are important for CREDS to advance knowledge on digital and sustainable transitions that promote value creation, better resource utilization and job security.
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development of Utrecht University is a vibrant international research community that aims to help accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. The Institute is leading the work related to spatial and temporal modelling of energy demand and supply of districts. They also conduct techno-economic analysis that would allow transforming the JUST-PEPP frontrunner districts into Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and support the activities of other work packages for the frontrunner district in the netherlands.
This Institute is part of the Faculty of Geosciences and includes five closely collaborating groups: Energy & Resources (E&R), Innovation Sciences, Environmental Sciences (ES), Environmental Governance, and Urban Futures Studio. The E&R and ES groups involved in the JUST-PEPP project are renowned for their transdisciplinary research and education on integrating renewable energy technologies and sustainable heating solutions across local, national, and European scales. The JUST-PEPP project is composed of the local PI, three Copernicus faculty members, a full-time post doc researcher, a student assistant and a technical support for drone imaging and analysis.
White Arkitekter, Sweden
White Arkitekter was founded in Gothenburg in 1951 by Sidney White, with the aim to improve society through architecture. His legacy lives on in the ambition to contribute towards a more sustainable world. The ideals of collective thinking and employee ownership are as strong as ever, and today they are one of Scandinavia’s leading architectural practices with around 700 employees and presence in Europe, North America and East Africa. The company is collectively owned by 77% of our staff members, 117 of whom are partners.
White works with sustainable architecture, design and urban development in an international context. As their work affects the lives of many both present and future generations we need to act responsibly by operating within the sustainable limits of our planet. They create spaces for people to thrive and grow in harmony within the ecosystem. They design healthy living environments that inspire and engage.
They value involvement and participation and respect the equality of every individual. Everyone has the right to a sustainable life. This is the foundation of their architecture and their culture. White’s projects evolve in collaboration with their clients, users, partners, colleagues and other stakeholders.
The vision is that by 2030 all their architecture will be regenerative and climate neutral through design excellence.
Climate Alliance, Germany and Belgium
Climate Alliance is the largest European city network dedicated to climate action and climate justice. With nearly 2000 members ranging from small rural towns to cities with populations in the millions, Climate Alliance works to combat climate change as a global challenge that requires local solutions.
In the field of energy poverty, Climate Alliance leads the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub and the Covenant of Mayors energy poverty activities to ensure a great outreach through Europe and reach out to a large number of local actors; provides a unique bridge with the Covenant of Mayors Office; engages experts and identify innovative approaches through the several energy poverty projects in which the organisation is involved. In the context of the JUST PEPP project, Climate Alliance leads the dissemination work.
Hällefors Bostads AB (BoAB)
Hällefors Bostads AB (BoAB) is a publicly owned housing company in the city of Hällefors. They own 770 apartments and other spaces in Hjulsjö, Grythyttan and Hällefors. They have five employees who work hard to provide high quality for the tenants and happy tenants. The environments surrounding BoABs houses are characterised by creativity and energy. Beyond beautiful parks, they also believe in having high-quality art in the neighbourhoods. They want their tenants to live in an environment that makes them proud and satisfied. The safety needs of the children should be secured when it comes to playgrounds. All neighbourhoods should have playgrounds for the youngest kids.
Kongsvinger
Kongsvinger is a municipality in Innlandet region of south-eastern Norway, home to approximately 18,000 residents. The municipality is characterised by its strategic position along the Glomma River and its proximity to both Oslo (1 hour) and the Swedish border (30 minutes).
NCC Sverige AB (NCC)
NCC Sverige is the Swedish branch of the Nordic-wide NCC group. It has five business areas and operates three types of business models. NCC is one of Sweden’s top three largest construction companies with around 12.500 employees. Locally in the Örebro region, NCC is doing different kinds of projects both for private customers and for the municipalities like health and care projects, schools, and swimming halls.
Region Örebro län (RÖL)
The Energy Agency in Region Örebro works to promote agency, engagement, and coordination among actors to reduce climate emissions, increase renewable energy and improve energy efficiency in Region Örebro. One of our prioritised areas is sustainable transport, where we lead projects to speed up the transition to fossil–free fuels and to drive change in transport behaviour. Another area is the energy system, where we cooperate with public actors, housing companies, and corporations. The Energy Agency in Region Örebro wants to contribute with knowledge and results from earlier projects and, through collaboration, find proper areas to test new PED solutions and investigate how sustainable mobility can be a part of the solution.
Örebrobostäder (ÖBO)
ÖrebroBostäder (ÖBO) is Örebro’s public housing company with approximately 22.000 apartments and around 900 other spaces. The entire housing sector accounts for almost 20 % of Sweden’s CO2 emissions. Consequently, its impact on the climate and environment is significant. Therefore, ÖBO and its 42.000 tenants have a big responsibility, but also a big possibility to drive change in a positive direction. By integrating solutions to mitigate climate footprint when designing, building, and maintaining houses, change can be made. In the urban neighbourhood of VIvalla, ÖBO has, during the last ten years, done major renovations where both ecological and social aspects of sustainability have been taken into account.
Platform31/TexLabs (TeL)
Texlabs is a CSO working with students and educational institutions (from universities to practical education). Texlabs sees itself as a party between education, government and stakeholders/entrepreneurs (the well-known Triple Helix-model). Texlab connects students and educational institutions with government and stakeholders on the island of Texel to help tackle the big challenges and contribute towards solving the actual issues the island is dealing with, by creating knowledge and doing projects and scholarships based on existing real cases on Texel. At the end, the results of the research and projects from the students are handed over to the community in Texel to have a real input from the community regarding the challenges and issues the island is dealing with. Besides that, the results can be used by the next (group of) students to be used in next projects/research and build on that information.
They are helping students and educational institutions with setting up research and projects and facilitate and help guide them through their projects in Texel.
Kenniswerkplaats Texel: Since 2024 Texlabs is working as well under the name: Kenniswerkplaats Texel. They are in the process of setting up The Kenniswerkplaats Texel with legal entity. When this is official, all projects will be covered under The Kenniswerkplaats Texel.
