Dagfinn Høybråten


Visibility The Nordic Region and the individual countries have strong profiles, and the Nordic brand/trademark is well known. Interest continues to grow in Nordic experiences of building and developing societies epitomised by high productivity, social security, gender equality and a healthy environment. We will continue to raise the profile of the countries globally in the “Team Norden” spirit. Enhanced global visibility has coincided with a fall in the level of knowledge about co-operation among the people of the Region. We will endeavor to ensure that also Nordic citizens are informed about Nordic co-operation.


International engagement Separately, the Nordic countries are small. Together, we have a population of 25 million and make up the 12th largest economy in the world. The Nordic countries are all active participants in numerous international forums. We will continue and improve


co-ordination on international


issues in areas where this is of mutual interest. We will strive to ensure that Nordic co-operation on international issues complements the forms of co-operation that take place in other organisations.


A recent evaluation shows that an important achievement of the


Top-level Research Initiative was a knowledge production of very high academic quality, also in an international


scientific impact of publications is high and we find a high degree of interdisciplinarity. The emphasis on communication and dissemination of knowledge were also important achievements. Furthermore,


context. The the cooperation between research and trade and


“The Nordic countries are particularly well


placed to address grand challenges and at the same time promote research and


To what would you attribute the success of research programmes in the Nordic countries over the past 20 years or so and how has the Council of Ministers influenced this success? DH: The Nordic region, including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Åland and the Faroe Islands, have a long tradition of collaboration in financing and performing common Nordic research programs. Due to common history, language and culture we find it easy to


work together. This trust is an outstanding asset. Due to the similarities of the Nordic countries it is possible to establish research programmes within areas which have high academic and societal priority in the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries are particularly well placed to address grand


challenges and at the same time promote research and innovation within the region. Taken one by one, we are relatively small countries. But together we have a strong position in research and innovation and we have a political will to act. An example of a successful research programme is the Top-level


Research Initiative (TRI). This programme is the largest Nordic research and innovation initiative ever, focusing on climate, energy and the environment. New research initiatives often originate from consultations between the national research councils in the Nordic countries. The Top-level Research Initiative was an exception and an important one. It was started by the Nordic Prime Ministers in 2007 as a contribution by the Nordic countries to solve one of the grand challenges of climate change. The Nordic governments acted on the climate and energy challenges in our world by deciding on a large investment in research and innovation.


www.projectsmagazine.eu.com


innovation within the region”


industry worked well. The Nordic added value is distinct for most participants since this initiative was a genuine cross-institutional Nordic research and innovation effort. With this initiative we have created a new platform for future Nordic cooperation on research and innovation within the areas of climate, energy and the environment. It has strengthened the international profile of the research contributing to the branding of the Nordic countries. The Nordic region is now a leader within certain areas of the energy and climate sectors. Other benefits of the programme are increased collaboration between the three Nordic institutions of NordForsk, Nordic Innovation and Nordic Energy Research under the Nordic Council of Ministers.


What have been the key factors in shaping the region’s research agenda? DH: The short answer is national interests. And a mix of top-down (political/ administrative) and bottom-up (academic)


initiatives. However, even if the individual Nordic countries are very capable of developing research, in some important areas we have managed to work together and pursue Nordic synergies to turn challenges into opportunities. The benefits of Nordic research cooperation – Nordic added value – are obvious: we can cut costs, improve the speed and efficiency of knowledge production and address different societal challenges.


There are obviously many common global challenges that no one country or region can tackle alone - climate change, for example. How is the Nordic Council of Ministers encouraging international collaboration in these areas? DH: That is very true indeed. There is a saying from the boxing world “We are punching above our weight” which characterises the Nordic climate strategy internationally. By means of the Nordic collaboration the individual countries have been able to contribute to solving climate challenges on a larger scale considering the relative small size of each of the five countries. Nordics and climate researchers share the common belief that in Aristole’s words “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” or to paraphrase it – together we can achieve results that we could never achieve individually. I believe that this notion is part of the reason why the Nordic countries are the frontrunners in the struggle against human made climate changes.


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