2025 IN BRIEF
The Nordic Welfare Centre's mission is to contribute to the development of measures in the welfare sector in the Nordic region and to serve as a platform for Nordic co-operation. To do this, we compile existing and develop new knowledge, coordinate networks and working groups, organise conferences and seminars, and disseminate our findings in different ways.
This is a summary of our annual report for 2025. A PDF version of the full report can be downloaded from our website (in Scandinavian languages).
Children and young people
The Nordic Welfare Centre contributes to building a socially sustainable and inclusive Nordic region, the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. A Nordic region where all children and young people can have a safe upbringing, participate in society and develop their abilities and skills on equal terms. This work contributes to the countries’ implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Agenda 2030. During the year, the institution has worked on projects on the consequences of the pandemic and the right to be heard, safer digital democracy for children and young people, children in low-income families and the Nordic network about the child’s first 1000 days – a healthy start in life. In the autumn, the institution was commissioned a project on inclusive education for children and young people with disabilities.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/children-young-people/
Public health
The Nordic Welfare Centre works to strengthen Nordic co-operation in preventive public health work. There is a particular focus on modifiable risk factors that can lead to poor health and premature death, such as alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, tobacco and nicotine products, unhealthy eating habits, insufficient physical activity and poor mental health. Important networks in this area include the Nordic Arena for Public Health Issues, the The Nordic alcohol network and the Nordic network for physical activity. During the year, the institution has worked on projects relating to food and physical activity and young people's use of nicotine products and has developed a long-term plan for this area of operations.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/public-health/
Disability issues
The Nordic Welfare Centre contributes to the countries' implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Agenda 2030. Key themes during the year have been deinstitutionalisation, support in decision-making and access to AI technology. In the deafblind field focus has been on a Nordic training in mapping functional deafblindness and planning the big conference in 2026. In 2025, the Nordic Welfare Centre granted SEK 1.5 million for Nordic co-operation to disability organisations and organisations for chronic diseases. Several events have been organised, including within the framework of the Presidency.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/disability-issues/
Welfare technology
The Nordic Welfare Centre supports the countries in addressing demographic challenges at national and Nordic level and provides knowledge and concrete solutions to support the countries’ work on developing and implementing welfare technology. The impact is to promote a competitive Nordic region based on innovation and digital integration. In 2025, a project on social services in rural areas was launched. Results have been disseminated from the project Integrated healthcare and care through distance-spanning solutions (iHAC). In 2025, the Nordic research network on health and welfare technology expanded to include 94 researchers.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/welfare-policy/
Older adults
The Nordic Welfare Centre contributes to the development of sustainable age-friendly cities and communities in the Nordic region, promotes active and healthy ageing for older adults, coordinates the Nordic Dementia Network and contributes to the exchange of strategic experiences in the field of dementia. In 2025, the Nordic network for age-friendly cities and communities organised four digital network meetings, one of which was in the form of a seminar. A conference was arranged in collaboration with WHO Europe and The Centre for an age-friendly Norway. The institution has started work on future-proof, sustainable and effective elderly care. The Nordic dementia network has had two meetings and the theme networks have had a combined total of 18 meetings during the year.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/olderadults/
Integration
The Nordic Welfare Centre runs the Knowledge bank Integration Norden on the integration of migrants and refugees. The Knowledge bank serves as a resource for authorities and experts working with the integration of refugees and immigrants in the Nordic region. The Knowledge bank develops, accesses and disseminates research-based knowledge and promising examples of effective integration work, and acts as a hub for Nordic co-operation and knowledge exchange by organising events and meetings and coordinating expert networks. In 2025, Integration Norden's focus areas were social integration, participation and belonging. Three events were organised, attracting a total of around 500 participants. A new communication strategy was developed based on recommendations from the 2024 external evaluation.
Read more about the area of operation on our website https://nordicwelfare.org/en/integration
