Innovation Circle Network partner Notodden municipality together with Motril (ES), Ancona (IT), Medias (RO) and Leoben (AT) as a lead partner were granted for a new project call OP-ACT. The project is addressing challenges faced by shrinking cities, coping with demographic change in small and medium sized cities, advanced reindustrialization and the crisis. The project duration is about 6 months and it consists of 4 work packages.

The Monitoring Committee of the Baltic Sea Region program adpoted 16th September "Trans in Form" (TiF) and 16 other projects. Notodden Municipality as lead applicant is ready to launch the project after some weeks. The project will focus on town shape, identity and transformation and will deliver a comparative study of regional attractivity.

Innovation Circle Norwegian partner Notodden is running a number of international activities. Research project PURR within ESPON program is on the list. Extraordinary friendship with a polish city Suwalki, blues festival, cooperation with local municipalities could be as an example for many cities. The newsletter also informs about the Oslo Region European office which is located in Brussels and can assist if help is needed. Currently the office is helping Notodden to find financial possibilities for studies in the field of innovation.

13th February 2009 the Activity Plan for 2009 as an Annex no 3 to the Partnership Agreement between Notodden Municipality and Suwałki City Municipality was signed during the meeting in Suwałki. Lise Wiik, Mayor of Notodden and Bjorn Frode Moen, International Adviser visited Suwałki on the days: February 13-15, 2009.

A spectacular event took place in Notodden the last days. Notodden Municipality and PLDA (Professional Lightning Designers Assosiation) turned the city into something it has never been before. To the question what “Winter lights in Telemark” is all about, organizers answered simply: how can light make the town more attractive? Read the complete interview by clicking more.

Notodden municipality invites members of Innovation Circle Network to the first Light Festival.
Winter Lights in Telemark is an event with a local, regional and international perspective addressing the crossover between lighting design and creative urban planning. Lighting design can be an important tool to support urban life in a rugged winter climate. Attractive social and cultural meeting places in townscapes are essential to keep the town alive during the dark months of the year. At the same time attention must be paid to finding sustainable solutions.

Notodden muncipality has approximately 12.000 inhabitants and is located in the eastern parts of Telemark county. The municipality is bordering Kongsberg muncipality in Buskerud county at the eastern side. They also cooperate in the Kongsberg region together with other muncipalities from Buskerud and Telemark counties.

Notodden has a new statue in the main roundabout of the city – Microphone. It should remind citizens and tourists about the city’s cultural identity of blues. The microphone symbol has been used as a logo during 20 years in Notodden’s blues festivals. Now it will also be a linking sign to the new city project – The House of Books and Blues.
The monument is a collaborative project in which several people and agencies have worked together. Financially project was supported by DNB Nord bank and the production of sculpture is carried out locally by Nopro AS.

Notodden city is known as the biggest blues city in Europe.

The 21st blues festival starts in Notodden 31st of July, the coming Thursday.
It all has started when thirteen local blues-enthusiast gave their personal guarantee to the bank - were granted a cash-credit, and the first Notodden Blues Festival became a reality in 1988.