High level conference: The Nordic Region in 2030 – Which path should we take?

Please note: The conference will be conducted in the Scandinavian languages.

How do we protect our strong Nordic welfare states while reducing our material footprint? How do we use AI to improve the competitiveness of the Nordic Region without compromising individual rights? And how do we ensure social cohesion in the Nordic Region in a world increasingly characterised by crises and polarisation?

Join us to hear inspiring perspectives as leading Nordic experts, opinion makers, politicians, business leaders and others debate these issues.

Jakob Nielsen, editor-in-chief of the news medium Altinget, will moderate the conference.

“The Nordic Region in 2030 – Which path should we take?” is being organised in co-operation with Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

9:15–10:00

Registration and light breakfast.

10:00–10:45

Welcome and Introduction

• Welcome by the Danish Minister for Nordic Co-operation, Louise Schack Elholm.
• Opening address by the Icelandic Minister for Nordic Co-operation and chair of the Icelandic Presidency, Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson.
• Video greeting from the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrin Jakobsdóttir.
• Status of Vision 2030 by the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Karen Ellemann.
• Keynote on megatrends in the run-up to 2030 by Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen. 

10:45–11:45

A GREEN NORDIC REGION

How do we protect our strong Nordic welfare states while reducing our material footprint?

Expert presentation by the director of Denmark's Green Think Tank CONCITO Christian Ibsen.

Followed by a panel discussion. Participants include:

• Elise Sydendal, activist in the Green Youth Movement
• Ola Elvestuen, former Norwegian Minister of Climate and the Environment, chair of the Nordic Council Committee for a Sustainable Nordic Region
• Malin Petterson-Beckeman,Head of Sustainability Engagement & Communications, Inter IKEA
• Hildigunnur Thorsteinsson, CTO, Innargi

11:45–12:30

Lunch

12:30–13:30

A SOCIALLY SUSTAINABLE NORDIC REGION

How do we ensure social cohesion in the Nordic Region in a world increasingly characterised by crises and polarisation?

Expert presentation by Joonas Leppänen, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

Followed by a panel discussion. Participants include:

• Anders Kristian Munk, Associate Professor, Aalborg University
• Rolf Elmér, Director, Nordregio
• Noura Berrouba, President, National Council of Swedish Youth Organisations (LSU)

13:30–13:40

Break

13:40–14:40

A COMPETITIVE NORDIC REGION

How do we use AI to improve the competitiveness of the Nordic Region without compromising individual rights?

Expert presentation by the Director of the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, Daria Krivonos

Followed by a panel discussion. Participants include:

• Klas Henning Pettersen, Director, NORA – The Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium
• Ilona Ylinampa, Deputy Managing Director, Fujitsu Finland
• Mats Nordlund, Head of Data Factory, AI Sweden
• Ishtar Touailat, Head of Artificial Intelligence & Innovation, Swedish Pensions Agency

14:40–15:00

Round up 

• Helge Orten, Vice President, Presidium of the Nordic Council
• Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Icelandic Minister for Nordic Co-operation

Please address any practical questions to Mari-Louise Pedersen, project manager at our co-organiser Altinget/Mandag Morgen: mlp@altinget.dk.

If you have any questions about the content of the conference, please address them to:

Karin Edstedt kareds@norden.org or

Hanna Bökmark hanbok@norden.org, Nordic Council of Ministers.