The inspiration catalogue How to Mobilise the Nordics! comes from the project Mobilising the Nordics, where a large number of Nordic leaders met to discuss how Nordic research, education and innovation systems can be renewed and developed.
The catalogue presents 14 proposals designed to mobilise the Nordic systems for research, education and innovation.
“We need innovative thinking about how we organise and conduct research, education and innovation in the Nordic countries. We hope that this publication will help with that and serve as a source of inspiration and a starting point for further discussions throughout the Nordic Region,” says Arne Flåøyen, Director of NordForsk.
It is a view also backed by Gunnar Bovim, Professor and Special Adviser at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and one of the minds behind the project 'Mobilising the Nordics'.
“I hope that those who participated recognise their contributions and that other people find inspiration and new ideas. I also hope that the proposals result in new policies and tangible changes in behaviour by both institutions and individuals. Several of the proposals deserve to become a reality, such as the ones for a Nordic Open University, lifelong learning and – especially – the focus area ‘Sustainable cities by the sea’,” he points out.
Sustainable cities by the sea
One of the 14 proposals, “Nordic initiatives for the development of sustainable cities by the sea”, is highlighted as a promising priority that requires further study and development.
The proposal is based on the Horizon Europe programme. The working group’s proposals reflect at least three of Horizon Europe’s five EU missions under Horizon Europe, and have the potential to ensure a strong Nordic impact on the digital and green transition in Europe.
Cities produce about 72% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the largest and growing cities in the Nordics are located by the sea, and it is estimated that by 2050 almost 85% of all Europeans will be living in cities. This means that urban conurbations and the people who live in them need to be better prepared to deal with climate change.
The fact that the Nordic countries and cities have many things in common – culturally, socially, historically, economically, politically – means that there is considerable potential for Nordic measures and solutions for cities.
Representatives from the whole Nordic Region
Several aspects of Mobilising the Nordics made an impression on Gunnar Bovim.
“The representatives were highly enthusiastic about meeting colleagues from other countries and sectors. These informal encounters involved an unconventional mix of people from many different contexts. It was a positive process, in which the participants were actively engaged,” he says.
The 14 proposals
- A common Nordic strategic ambition
- A common Nordic analysis
- Monitoring and documentation of the Nordic added value
- Common Nordic framework for missions and partnering
- Four Nordic grand challenges and mission boards
- Common approach toward Horizon Europe
- Develop Nordic initiatives for the development of sustainable cities by the sea
- Development of a Nordic digital solution/hub for cooperation on continuing education
- Nordic open university
- New model for continuing education
- Free university pilots
- New Nordic top-level leadership development programme
- Common leadership education for reducing barriers
- Creating a ‘Nordic Davos’
Facts: Mobilising the Nordics
The NordForsk board launched the project Mobilising the Nordics in December 2020. It was designed to generate ideas for revamping and developing Nordic research, education and innovation systems.
NordForsk initiated and facilitated the project as a bottom-up process aimed at generating top-level dialogue and co-operation across the Nordic Region.
The purpose was to investigate how system change can help make the Region greener, more competitive and more socially sustainable, and what form this change would take – what tangible actions would be necessary?
The project directly supported the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.
In spring 2021, following an accelerated collaboration process initiated and facilitated by NordForsk, more than 160 Nordic leaders participated in and provided input to webinars and online workshops.
Among those attending were top-level leaders from all of the Nordic countries and all sectors and parts of the research, education and innovation systems. The subsequent report, which takes the form of an inspiration catalogue, presents the most important and valuable content and points of inspiration formulated and collated by the project. For an overview of the process and participants, see our website.
NordForsk was assisted in the “Mobilising the Nordics” project by Mobilize Strategy Consulting. Mobilize organised workshops, facilitated discussions, compiled the results of the discussions and were commissioned to write the inspiration catalogue.
More about Mobilising the Nordics
