Transcript Bild 1 - Toppforskningsinitiativet

Nordic Cooperation
A model for Europe?
Gunnel Gustafsson
The Nordic Collaborative Tradition
• The Nordics have collaborated
extensively through the Nordic Council
(parliamentarians) since 1952 and the
Nordic Council of Ministers since 1971
• Five countries; Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway and Sweden
• Three autonomous areas; the Faroe
Islands, Greenland, and Åland
Background
The Nordic Prime Ministers initiated the Top-level Research
Initiative in Punkaharju Finland in 2007
A year later they met and formulated the Riksgränsen
Declaration which states that:
”The Nordic region is in a strong position to pioneer efforts to
combat climate change.
A sustainable Nordic
model for meeting
climate challenges will
demonstrate the
potential for combining
reduced emissions with
economic growth”.
Research questions being addressed
(1/2)
Effect studies and adaptation to climate
change
Impacts of climate change, and the adaptation
needs of the society as well as new
opportunities
Interaction between climate change and
the cryosphere
Science driven questions of high interest to
society, science, industry and/or infrastructure
Energy efficiency with nanotechnology
Future efficient and sustainable energy systems
in the transport sector, electricity production
and utility
Research questions being addressed
(2/2)
Integration of large-scale wind power
Focus on grid issues, energy balances and
energy markets issues
Sustainable bio-fuel
Renewable bio-fuels from non-food resources
such as wood and agricultural residues
CO2 – capture and storage (CCS)
Coordinate research and innovation and
exchange of experience among Nordic countries
to avoid manifold investments in the same
themes
Research Results
•
•
•
Results from Research and Innovation take time
But contributions are expected with regard to Nordic
coordinated efforts to bring new ideas and findings on
climate, energy and the environment to societies and to
the market
Knowledge in response to Grand Challenges in this field
might turn problems into world wide opportunities for
renewal of energy production, green growth etc.
Institutional Results and
lessons learned
•
A Nordic Center is established in Oslo; NordForsk, NICe
and NEF work together
Lesson Research and innovation on climate, energy and
environmental issues are actually being started, and this
could not have happened without the prime ministers
Top-Down Initiative
•
A rather complicated management structure that involves
three Nordic institutions and a Board, including 15
representatives, three from each country and five from
research, innovation and energy respectively. In addition,
there are six programme committees with ten members
in each committee.
Lesson There is a need for simplification
A model for Europe ?
• There is cooperation across sectors in society at the
agency level i.e. between research, innovation and energy
institutions.
• There is cooperation between individuals working at
universities and in companies.
• These platforms pave the way for transfer of
competencies.
• Cooperation of this kind can build trust and dialogue
between groups in society which previously did not
understand each other.
• The common “pot system” is much admired outside the
Nordic area.
• Maybe TFI can become a model for Joint Programming?
•
What are the arguments for and against “export of this
model”? Can policy learning take place ? Why ? Why not?