Team Nordic Arctic hosted the sideevent "Stronger Together" during Arctic Frontiers
Tuesday the 28th of January, Team Nordic Arctic in collaboration with Fridtjof Nansen Institute invited to a great discussion during Arctic Frontiers of 2025
Kristian
- 29. January 2025
This years Arctic Frontiers focused heavily on the geopolitical situation in the Arctic. Increased dialogue as well as practical cooperation between the Nordics in the north is crucical, espeically in a demanding geopolitical situation. The panels focused on how to strengthen Nordic cooperation in the Arctic.
The event was hosted by ProTromsø in collaboration with Fridtjof Nansen Institute and several partners whom include: UiT The arctic university of Norway, Arctic Six, Nordic Council of Ministers, Team Nordic Arctic, Business Oulu, Umeå municipality, Arctic Mayor’s Forum, Tromsø municipality and Troms county.
In this side-event we discussed how a demanding geopolitical situation affects Nordic regions in the North. The Arctic has gone from being described as a stable region characterized by friendly cooperation, to being seen as a geopolitical hotspot. Cross border contact like the Barents cooperation is replaced by a situation where Finland and Sweden are NATO-members and where dialogue with neighboring Russia is at an absolute minimum.
Total defense and increased military presence are high on the agenda in municipalities in the Nordic Arctic. Small communities are discussing and experiencing how national security affects them. Furthermore, business growth, attracting and retaining youth and knowledge are vital elements for resilient societies. This calls for increased Nordic collaboration, beyond borders: In what areas and how can we cooperate closer? How does increased military presence, a higher emphasis on security, emergency preparedness and hybrid threats affect our communities? Demographic trends are worrying, and what measures can we take to make sure the Northern parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway are able to be socially sustainable?
Program will follow below:
Welcome by Gøril Johansen, ProTromsø and Team Nordic Arctic
- Opening session, moderated by Pål Wilter Skedsmo, FNI
- Opening remarks by Mayor of Tromsø, Gunnar Wilhelmsen
- The geopolitical backdrop, State secretary Maria Varteressian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
- Nordic trust in challenging times, Karen Ellemann, general secretary, Nordic Council of Ministers
- The importance of knowledge in a new north Rector Dag Rune Olsen, UiT Arctic University of Norway
Armchair conversation I Municipalities’ role in safety and security, moderated by Patti Bruns, Secretary General, Arctic Mayor’s Forum
- Marie-Louise Rönmark, Mayor of Umeå
- Christine Grosse, Luleå University of Technology
- Magnus Mæland, Mayor of Sør-Varanger
Armchair conversation II Business development as a tool for national security, Moderated by Gøril Johansen, ProTromsø, Team Nordic Arctic
- Petter Bjørkli, Energi i nord
- Carina Zolland, Luleå Energi
- Idar Kreutzer, Confederation of Norwegian enterprises
- Janne Hietaniemi, Business Oulu
Wrap up by Team Nordic Arctic and FNI
The Team Nordic Arctic is a project funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Arktis 2030. The goal of the project, led by ProTromsø, is to strengthen the North Nordic region through business collaborations. The project aims to enhance the cooperation between Norway, Sweden and Finland in the Arctic by applying Norwegian know-how on Arctic society, business, and knowledge.
The overall goal of the project is enhanced Nordic cooperation in the High North in difficult times. We aim to strengthen the Arctic communities in the Nordic countries through sustainable business development, recruitment of youth talents and the inclusion of indigenous people and minorities. One of the main work packages includes Arctic Business Matchmaking in each of the three partnering countries, held in Oulu, Finland, Umeå, Sweden and Tromsø, Norway.
If you wish to hear more about participating in the project or in the B2B matchmakings, please contact project manager Julie-Helene D. Sørensen at julie@protromso.com
