- As the electricity grid is increasingly challenged with new and more volatile demand and supply, the storage and optimal grid investments will be critical to secure a stable cost-effective grid. The Nordic countries should cooperate to find solutions for local supply and peak management and earmark R&D investments for new renewable battery technologies to facilitate more production of renewable technologies required for a fully electrified Nordic Region. - Nordic countries have a potential for securing excellence in trustworthy AI research – a competitive advantage for the Region. Trustworthiness in AI depends on ensuring clear lines of accountability for outcomes of the use of AI and strong notions of explainability. The explainability research is currently only nascent, and therefore should be better prioritised. In addition, and equally important, the investments should go to host more centres of excellence in AI research, innovation, and expertise. An important tool to benefit from AI research and solutions is 5G, which with the increased new speed empowers new AI solutions and digital services. - The steel industry in the Nordic countries is one of the highest CO2-emitting industries. The dependence on steel production and the demand side is only expected to grow in the future. Therefore, the Nordic countries should coordinate efforts to invest in R&D activities fostering the fossil-free production of steel. For example, the HYBRIT project – the Swedish initiative building the world's first pilot plant based on direct reduction of iron ore with hydrogen - could become a true Nordic endeavour. The shift to the green economy requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Consequently, in our letter to the Nordic Industry ministers we have suggested to establishing a Nordic Green Transition Forum. Our organisation, the Association of Nordic Engineers, which represents more than 500.000 engineers in the region, is ready to play a role in this Forum. Engineers have an impact on innovation and economic growth2, and they can thus contribute with their expertise in finding the right solutions. The higher engineering education system needs the transformation to a multidisciplinary approach combining the scientific knowledge with the practical skills and deep understanding of societal problems. An initiative such as the Nordic Engineering Hub, which is currently a research project financed by the Erasmus + programme, should be further supported to capitalise on its findings. Let us finish with a quote by Albert Einstein: “Do not pretend that things will change if we always do the same. The crisis is the best blessing that can happen to people and countries, because the crisis brings progress. Creativity is born from the distress, as the day is born from the dark night. It is in crisis that invention, discovery, and large strategies are born. Whoever overcomes crisis, outdoes himself without being overcome”. Copenhagen, June 3, 2020 On behalf of the: Norwegian Association of Engineers and Technologists, NITO Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers, Sveriges Ingenjörer Danish Society of Engineers, IDA Engineers Finland Icelandic Association of Chartered Engineers, VFÍ Trond Markussen Ulrika Lindstrand Thomas Damkjær Petersen Jari Jokinen Svana Helen Björnsdóttir Contact: Inese Podgaiska, Secretary General, ipo@ida.dk 2 http://www.denforstaingenjoren.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/forskarrapport_2006.pdf Association of Nordic Engineers: Kalvebod Brygge 31-33: DK-1780 København V: Tlf.: +45 29 74 39 60: www.nordicengineers.org: ipo@ida.dk
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