Paper short abstract:

The paper presents a research design for an interreg/EU project, a co-operation between actors engaged in costal area development. Of importance is the making of a research design that can handle struggles as well as facilitate the positioning of coasts as sustainable and attractive destinations.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is an outline to an interdisciplinary research design in the context of the ongoing research project "Coasts of the Future". The project is a co-operation between actors engaged in coastal area development in the Skagerack-Kattegatt-Öresund region. These costal areas have experienced an extensive industrial change - from traditional enterprises such as fishing boats to tourism. A challenge is to adapt to the change in a way that leads to "economic growth" (according to the Interreg/EU), and at the same time preserve environmental, cultural and social values. By comparing the situation in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian costal areas the project will invent conditions for sustainable development. Our part of the project network consists of actors having competence in coastal development, particularly in terms of tourism, cultural heritage, environmental impacts and events. The actors form a competence network that exchange experiences and knowledge on coastal development. Different experiences promote creativity and cross-boarder innovation, but there are also different agendas and practices. The research project have to take part in these processes in a constructive and reflexive way. In several workshops and meetings we have experienced conflicts of interests between the making of a destination and every day practices in coastal areas. An important question is the making of a research design that can handle this struggles and also facilitate the positioning of the region and the ÖSK coasts as sustainable and attractive destinations.