Nordic cooperation stands strong in uncertain times
Nordic Five Tech celebrates 20 years
“Technology and geopolitics are becoming increasingly intertwined in the new world order. We must prepare ourselves to deal with this. A crucial factor is the role we assign to technology.”
Sylvia Schwaag Serger, CEO of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences,stated this as one of the speakers at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Nordic Five Tech university alliance.
Representatives from industry and politics across the Nordic countries, as well as from academia and the universities forming part of the strategic alliance, attended the anniversary seminar on the KTH campus. The Nordic collaboration comprises the five leading technical universities: Chalmers, Aalto University, the Technical University of Denmark, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and KTH.
Ever-changing world
The speakers shared their perspectives on the role of universities and technology in an ever-changing world, and emphasized the importance of Nordic cooperation. The discussions centered on the intertwining of technology and geopolitics, and how Nordic Five Tech can contribute to better cooperation, innovation and security. The focus was on the role of universities in society, with particular attention given to how the Nordic model can lead the way for cooperation in uncertain times.
In his opening address, KTH’s President Anders Söderholm reflected on the formation of the alliance in 2006.
“Twenty years ago, the digital era was in its infancy, and N5Tech was formed to bring together the Nordic region’s leading technical universities to tackle societal challenges. Today, the role of universities is more important than ever, as centers of knowledge and critical thinking,” Söderholm said.
State Secretary Christian Danielsson emphasized the extreme importance of Nordic cooperation, particularly from an EU perspective.
Digital resilience
The Finnish Ambassador, Olli Kantanen, highlighted how well Nordic cooperation fits in given that our societies are founded on freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
Petter Bedoire, Saab's Chief Technology Officer, began his speech by asking what the most critical resource in our society is today.
“Some might say energy or rare minerals, but it is actually knowledge and the institutions that drive it forward,” Bedorie said.
Throughout the day, various other aspects of the universities' role in the new geopolitical landscape were highlighted, including how to build digital resilience together in uncertain times and how defence technology research can strengthen security. In conjunction with the seminar, the alliance also held its annual meeting.
The President of KTH blogs about the alliance. Here you can read his latest post.
Text: Jill Klackenberg
Photo: Jon Lindhe