Swedish government wants, through regional development policy archive equal conditions despite the country’s different presumptions, in the perspective ofeconomics, geographic and socially. Regional policy is a method to take advantage of, and us the differences within the country and operate efforts to increase the equality when needed. Swedish regional development policy has changed over time, both in organizational forms, and also different conditions of society. Since 2019 the assignment to operate for regional development has changed, with the aim of clarifyingwhich actors are responsible. From 2019 the Swedish Regions are responsible for the assignment to achieve regional growth, by the main tool, the regional development strategy document. Based on the mentioned changed conditions, the aim for this study is to describe the working process with Gävleborgs regional development strategy, and how the municipalities within the region experienced the participation and the opportunities to influence the strategy document. The study is based on a theoretical framework, that clarifies different perspectives on how to stimulate regional development, and the relationship between centre andperiphery. The empirical material has been analysed through a thematic analysis method. The result of the study present that no municipality experience a maximum hearing for their ideas, or at least experience that there is always someone else who allows more influence. The result as an extension of previous research clarifies that regional development as a concept is complex, and possibly complicates the opportunity to create a strategy document where all the involved municipalities feeling satisfied with the result. The document is pointing out innovation, education, and infrastructure as important perspective to achieve regional development. These components are also pointed out as important, within the theoretical framework. The municipalitiesinvolved in the working process also believe that these are the most important perspectives to achieve regional development.

As the main operational tool of the EU Cohesion Policy, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to invest in regional development initiatives at the regional administrative level in the member states. Hence, governed by European legal regulations, the ERDF tend to initiate policy change and policy adaptionconcerning regional development policies on the regional administrative level. Consequently, this thesis addresses the issue concerning through which functions the ERDF influences the Regional Development Strategy for Västra Götaland 2021–2030, which constitutes the operative strategy on regional development policy in Västra Götaland, including goals, priorities, and methods. By utilizing Europeanization as theoretical framework, constituted by three factors of Europeanization, concerning a supranational factor, a multilevel governance-factor and a policy network-factor, the ERDF functions influencing the strategy were distinguished and explained. Through a theory consuming analysis, this thesis conclude that the ERDF influences the regional development strategy for Västra Götaland through three functions; through the incorporation of European discourses into the strategy, which were established by the European legal acts governing the ERDF; through the multilevel governance system managing the ERDF, which has generated an institutionalized system of cooperation between European, national and regional levels for the management of regional development policies; and,through the need to cooperate in a policy network in order to implement the ERDF regionally, as well as accomplish the regional development strategy.

The purpose of this research was to investigate place development and the role of heritage in Västra Götaland, partially through the case of the destination island of Åstol. An overarching area of interest was how regional development and heritage may intertwine. First, the region’s development strategy was analyzed in relation to a regional developer’s understanding of heritage as synonymous with the sustainable reuse of buildings and places. The second analytical chapter dealt with the region’s place development method. Place development is about cross-sectororal collaboration, where heritage is one of many resources that are to be reused innovatively. The last analytical chapter highlighted Åstol. Heritage is an ongoing development goal in Åstol’s strategy plan. Nature has shaped the island’s heritage, the locals and its identity of today. Branding as a calm, historical fishing community is useful for Åstol, as it gives the place both unique and universal characteristics in a Bohuslän west coast environment.

Denna fallstudie har syftat till att undersöka hur samverkan mellan region och kommuner i framtagandet av en regional utvecklingsstrategi kan uppnås och främjas. Studiens syfte är också att undersöka hur kvalitetsteknikens teorier kring kund- och leverantörssamverkan samt teorier kring partnerskap kan användas för att förstå relationen mellan region och kommun i arbetet med den regionala utvecklingsstrategin. Studien undersöker arbetet med att ta fram en ny regional utvecklingsstrategi för Gävleborgs län. Datainsamlingen består av kvalitativa intervjuer med kommunala politiker och tjänstepersoner med ett övergripande ansvar för kommunernas verksamhet. Resultatet visar att Region Gävleborg har skapat förutsättningar för kommunerna att påverka arbetet med och utformningen av den regionala utvecklingsstrategin. Upplevd otydlighet kring ansvar och förväntningar på deltagande har gjort att kommunernas organisation av och deltagande i arbetet med den regionala utvecklingsstrategin inte har varit optimal. Det gör att arbetet inte når upp till de krav som ställs på samverkan utifrån de teorier som presenterats. Genom att använda sig av modeller för partnerskap och leverantörssamverkan skulle regioner kunna åstadkomma en bättre samverkan inom det regionala utvecklingsarbetet i allmänhet och arbetet med att ta fram en ny regional utvecklingsstrategi i synnerhet. / This case study aims to examine how a fruitful cooperation between county councils and municipalities can be achieved and promoted when they set out to develop a regional development strategy. This case study also explores how theories concerning customer- and supplier cooperation within quality management can be used to understand the relationship between county councils and municipalities in relation to regional development. The case study concerns the creation of a new regional development strategy for Gävleborg County. Data collection consists of qualitative interviews with politicians and officials from municipalities in Gävleborg County with an overall responsibility for within the municipalities. The results show that Gävleborg County has managed to create the prerequisites needed for the municipalities to influence both the process and the regional development strategy. Ambiguity concerning roles and responsibilities led to a less efficient organization and participation from the municipalities’ side in shaping the regional development strategy, with the consequence that the commitment doesn’t meet the criteria for cooperation in the presented theories. By using the models for partnership and supplier cooperation counties could achieve a better cooperation within regional development, including the commitment of shaping a new regional development strategy. / <p>2021-06-06</p>