There was focus on innovation and sustainable growth at the Nordic Council's meetings in Oslo on 13 April.

"We must look after our resources together and at the same time create value and competitiveness by co-ordinating our efforts at Nordic level," said Lisbeth Grönfeldt Bergman, Chair of the Nordic Council's Business and Industry Committee.

And there is much to suggest that there is potential. The Nordic countries top all international rankings from the EU Innovation Scoreboard to the UN Human Development Index; they rank highest in relation to GNP per capita and also when it comes to investment in research and development relative to GNP.

"But, it is about much more than research. Innovation is the key and the solutions should be based on real human needs," said Ivar Kristensen, Director of the Nordic Innovation Centre (NICe).

He pointed to a number of reasons to focus on innovation from a Nordic perspective.

• First, the high degree of trust between the countries, which creates an excellent climate of co-operation. Second, the lack of bureaucracy in the approach, which is typical of the Nordic Region.
• Despite globalisation, trade between the countries is at the same level as in the 1960s, and all the countries are small, open economies with many small and medium enterprises, which create a good climate for innovation.
• And finally, a home market of 25 million people gives a critical mass which acts as a good training arena for businesses to use as a starting point in relation to larger global or international investments," said Ivar Kristensen.

He highlighted that a common Nordic market for green solutions is a good example of the benefits of a larger geographic area of innovation.

This would provide a significant increased potential in relation to development, testing and marketing while combining innovation and sustainable growth.

Michael Funch
Phone +45 33960332
Email mifu@norden.org