National FLIARA symposium was held at Linnaeus University
On 26th of November, The School of Business and Economics at Linnaeus University hosted the FLIARA Symposium, bringing together researchers from different Swedish institutions working at the crossroads of gender, rural development, and entrepreneurship studies. The day provided a rich exchange of experiences, challenges, and future directions in academic research connected to gender, innovation and rural transformation.
The FLIARA research project invited researchers to an exchange of knowledge where discussions and conversations were in focus. The symposium gathered 10 national scholars from various disciplines including business administration, cultural geography and literature, providing an intimate space for sharing experiences, knowledge and lay the ground for the future with the research interest. We started the event with a dinner at the incubator GRO. The following day consisted of a programme with few presentations that set the agenda and that got the conversations started.
The symposium opened with a presentation by Katarina Petersson (SLU) from the Grass Ceiling project, one of the FLIARA EU sister projects, highlighting the importance of practical environments (living labs) where rural women can test ideas, collaborate, and connect with broader networks. Katarina showed how these women-only spaces foster empowerment, visibility, and a safe and open dialogue to discuss challenges and ways forward. Following discussions reflected on the incentives and conditions needed to encourage active participation in rural development research, balancing visibility, ethical considerations, biases, and the need for meaningful engagement in research-driven projects.
Linneaus University researchers Annie Roos and Anna Alexandersson presented the ongoing FLIARA results, including analyses of sustainability challenges in rural regions, women's innovation journeys, and the policy structures shaping rural entrepreneurship. The discussion highlighted how women's innovation work is often constrained by gendered expectations, especially when women’s entrepreneurial contributions do not match conventional, growth-oriented or technology-driven models. Symposium participants further emphasized the need to acknowledge social, cultural, and sustainability-oriented forms of innovation that rural women frequently lead but which escape the criteria of current policies and traditional business administration views.
A keynote presentation from Professor Helene Ahl (Jönköping University) examined how Sweden's policy history, particularly the changes around parental leave and welfare, has shaped gender roles over time in the country. The conversation expanded to issues of contemporary gender backlash, shifting family norms, and the importance of maintaining the gains made through political activism and education.
Throughout the event, one message was clear: supporting women-led innovation and gender equality in rural areas requires not only exclusive resources and visibility, but a long-term commitment for structural and cultural change. In addition, experiences shared during the symposium highlighted how collective reflection can help break down isolation and inertia, amplify innovative practices, push for policy changes, and inspire new forms of collaboration within rural communities.
The FLIARA LNU team extends its gratitude to everyone who contributed to this meaningful dialogue and engaging day. We envision a future for this constellation!