End conferene Northern Connections
New Energy Coalition is a partner in Northern Connections: a partnership of 22 clusters, cities, regions, and knowledge institutions around the North Sea, collaborating to establish innovation connections between businesses and clusters in the energy sector. This project will conclude in April and culminate in a closing event.
About the Northern Connections Final Meeting
CO2 emissions are not falling as expected. Cities and regions have a significant responsibility to enable businesses and innovators to devise green innovations and find sustainable solutions to our common challenges – and for our future. Many of the solutions lie with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are often too small to take action. Therefore, policymakers must support ways to accelerate the transition by enabling European innovation collaboration across borders, enhancing competitive advantages and sustainable green growth. We invite you to our final conference, which will focus on solutions for creating a higher level of transnational innovation through collaboration on urban development, energy efficiency, and sustainable green growth. We will provide food for thought on how policymakers can contribute to a greener future. We will present tools to bring SMEs with solutions closer to community challenges and promote cross-border collaboration and sustainable business growth. We will share lessons learned and reflections gained from dialogues with policymakers, cluster organizations, and SMEs on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable growth. Join us and gain insights and knowledge on how you can support the sustainable transition, improve the competitiveness of green businesses, and strengthen European innovation. Welcome to Gothenburg!
Program September 8
The first day of the Northern Connections Closing Meeting is open to the public. The program can be found below.
13:00 Introduction with Opening Movie and Infographics
Moderator during the Final Conference: Åsa Lindell, Public Speaker and Facilitator
13:10 Welcome
By Anneli Rhedin, Lord Mayor and Chairman of the Gothenburg City Council
13.15 A Call to Action By Maria Strömberg, Director Business Region Gothenburg Cluster & Innovation
Cities and regions have a great responsibility to enable conditions for companies and innovators to come up with green innovations in order to find sustainable solutions to our common challenges – and to a greener future.
13:20 Global Outlook Innovation / Enjoying the Energy Transition Keynote Speech by Dr. Tomas Kåberger, Professor Chalmers University and Industrial Growth Executive InnoEnergy
Wind and solar electricity is now cheaper than oil per unit energy. Electricity and batteries are replacing oil in the transport sector, and using periods of cheap electricity to produce hydrogen is feasible. Experience reduces costs of batteries and electrolysers, making it possible to restructure the energy supply in the world. Industrial opportunities to pioneer what will be the global transition can be enjoyable – and profitable. 13:4
13:40 Northern Connections Presentation By Christian Lausten Sørensen, Special Advisor The Mayors Department City of Aarhus
An introduction to the Interreg Project, where 22 clusters, cities, regions and knowledge institutions work together to create transnational innovation connections between international enterprises and clusters in the energy sector. Tuesday 8th
13:50 Living Lab Presentations By Anders Hall, Project Manager Lokal Förvaltningen City of Gothenburg, and Peter Simões, Director InVesta
Two different presentations about challenges and companies expectations concerning results and opportunities to use Living Lab Events in search for solutions. Current situation and long-term challenges related to climate change in cities, regions and construction industry and what will be needed by all actors.
14:10 Short break
14:20 Living Lab Presentation By Pål Samuelsen, Project Director Steen & Ström Norge A/S
Økern Sentrum is situated in the heart of Hovinbyen, one of Oslo's newest and most ambitious city development areas. Økern Sentrum will be the central hub of Hovinbyen and will form and change Oslo in accordance with the growth strategies of Oslo Municipality.From 2020 Steen & Strøm and Storebrand will create an urban, sustainable and innovative 163,000 m2 urban centre. Økern Center will be developed into a high-tech, sustainable area and shaped with tomorrow's solutions.
14:40 Keynote Speech By Fredrik Hörstedt, Ph.D. Vice President Utilisation, Chalmers & Advisor to the European Innovation Council
How can we stimulate challenge-driven innovation, create collaboration across national borders, how can cities exchange experiences and what is the important role of research development?
14:50 Questions – and Wrap Up
By Moderator Åsa Lindell, Public Speaker and Facilitator
15:00 End day 1
