At the end of August, organisations from Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany will gather on the island of Gotland in Sweden to launch the international cooperation project ENGAGE Islands. Estonia is represented in the project by the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, which brings the experience of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, Kihnu and Ruhnu into the international cooperation. The aim of the project is to find practical ways for investments that support island development to create more value for local residents, businesses and communities.
On the islands of the Baltic Sea, there is increasing discussion about ways to strengthen energy security, develop renewable energy production and create new opportunities for local business development. In several places, investments in energy infrastructure, technological solutions and connections are being planned or prepared. At the same time, many islands are facing population decline, the departure of young people and limited economic opportunities. ENGAGE Islands focuses on the question of how the planned developments and investments could better support local communities and help create long-term value within the region itself.
The project involves Bornholm from Denmark, Gotland from Sweden, Åland from Finland and the West Estonian islands. Over the course of two years, practical solutions will be developed together with local governments, businesses, educational institutions and communities to help increase people’s involvement and bring the benefits of development projects closer to the everyday lives of local people. Based on the knowledge gathered during the project, practical models and tools will be created that can later also be used by other islands and sparsely populated regions.
The Estonian Islands Energy Agency represents the West Estonian islands in the project and brings the experience and needs of the Estonian islands into the international cooperation. During the project, models for community engagement and local cooperation will be developed and tested, which can be applied in different island regions in the future.
According to Sulev Alajõe, Director of the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, the project centres on the question of how island development can bring more benefit to local people.
“For islands, the most important issue is not how many investments come to the region, but how much value from them remains locally. ENGAGE Islands helps us look for answers to the question of how to create more opportunities for local people, businesses and young people, and how communities can play a greater role in shaping the future of the islands,” said Alajõe.
According to him, the project will help strengthen cooperation between local governments, communities, businesses and educational institutions, and bring new knowledge and international contacts into island development.
“The future of the islands is not determined only by investments or new projects. It is equally important whether people feel that they have the opportunity to have a say and take part. ENGAGE Islands focuses on how to bring communities more to the centre of discussions and decisions, and how to make local initiative more visible and stronger in island development,” added Alajõe.
The ENGAGE Islands project is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The project’s lead partner is the German organisation Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM), and in addition to the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, the partners are Science Park Gotland from Sweden, Åland University of Applied Sciences from Finland and the Regional Municipality of Bornholm from Denmark. The project will run from 2026 to 2028.
Project website: ENGAGE Islands – Interreg Baltic Sea Region
Further information:
Sulev Alajõe
Director
Estonian Islands Energy Agency
+372 5112878
sulev@eisea.org
www.eisea.org
