”Alone is not strong in these matters” : An analysis of a collaboration platform involving cultural heritage, sustainability and regional development

Abstract: Sustainability and cultural heritage are both wide fields affecting people in the past, presence and future, on both local and global levels. Since they affect so many people it is difficult for the individual to make a change, instead working together is key. One way to work together is cooperation but how does one find projects/organisations/etc, to connect and collaborate with? Perhaps by using a form of collaboration platform? LAB190 is a just that, a collaboration platform meaning it is a non-physical tool for actors to use when reaching out to find others to either exchange ideas or trade services with. LAB190 focuses on an area surrounding a 70 km long road (road 190), reaching over four municipalities, Gothenburg, Lerum, Alingsås and Essunga. Involved actors vary from locals, pushing for changes they desire in the area, to officials in charge of possible changes. The goal of LAB190 is to make the territory around road 190 into an model area for sustainable development. To reach that goal three work groups has been created; Food (Green industries), Tourism (hospitality industry) and Infrastructure. The idea with the work-groups is to find projects and/or activities, relating to the field of focus for the work group. For example, the Tourism-group focuses on projects/ activities relating to the development of tourism. After reviewing LAB190 using the pilot-study, development plans and interviewing people involved, a conclusion was made. The physical area of LAB190, the landscape reaching out from road 190, is big and hard to manage single-handedly and therefore a collaboration platform is a usable tool and something that should be considered in future plans regarding the three fields, cultural heritage, sustainability and (regional) development. It is a way to come together, exchange knowledge and face challenges, both now and in the future.