Joint Nordic research on energy and climate
The Top-level Research Initiative (TRI) focuses on climate, environment and energy solutions and is the largest joint Nordic research and innovation initiative to date. Cooperation between the best scientists and institutions in the Nordic countries will contribute towards solving the global climate crisis.
The initiative aims to promote research and innovation of the highest level, in order to make a Nordic contribution towards solving the global climate crisis. (Photo: Stockxpert)
In the autumn of 2008 the Prime Ministers of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway took a joint decision to join forces to create conditions to be the leading region within the climate research area. The Nordic countries are all well suited to contribute within the fields climate, environment and energy. Strong economies, high levels of eduction and a large interest in environment issues both amongst politicians and citizens creates a good common foundation.
Top initiated
Rolf Annerberg of the Swedish Research Council Formas is the chairman of the Top-level Research Initiative. He emphasises the importance of the fact that it was the Nordic Prime Ministers who were behind this initiative.
– Usually different programmes and actions are proposed to the prime ministers to act upon. It is very unsual that an initiative is stated directly from the very highest political management. This creates a very clear originator and the financies are secured, says Annerberg.
Programme Manager for the Top-level Research Initiative: Rolf Annerberg. (Photo: Terje Heiestad)
Nordic cooperation
The Top-level Research Initiative will contribute to create strong Nordic research- and innovation environments. This is achieved by gathering the very best of researchers and coordinate the resources. To succeed it is important to have a close partnership with business and industry to ensure application and utilisation of research results. It is also of great importance that the knowledge from the research results are coming to use. Therefor Social sciences is a cross-linked theme in the Top-level Research Initiative.
– We must know what the costs are, how we can implement the research results and what the consequences are, says Annerberg.
Six sub-programmes
The framework of the Top-level Research Initiative consists of six sub-programmes. Together they cover the whole chain from climate change research and its consequences for the society, to innovation and development of solutions in line with environmental technology and energy effeciency. The six sub-programmes are: Effect studies and adaptation to climate change, Interaction between climate change and the cryosphere, Energy efficiency with nanotechnology, Integration of large-scale wind power, Sustainable bio-fuels and CO2 - capture and storage.
Today about 100 people, across the Nordic countries, are involved in the Top-level Research Initiative. In November 2008 the initiative got its formal approvement at the Nordic Council which is the highest decision-making body for Nordic parliamentary co-operation. And today, one year later, the work is already at full speed. A Programme Board that handles strategic issues has been appointed. So have six Programme Committees with national experts for each of the six sub-programmes. Before 2009 has ended five of the sub-programmes will have launched calls for applications.
Research results
The Top-level Research Initiative has a budget of DKK 400 million over five years.
– At the end of the Initiative I hope that we have new research results that can bring great contributions to get closer to a solution of the climate crisis. I hope to be able to present new categories of goods and services that can contribute to growth in the Nordic area as well as internationally, says Annerberg.
Read more at www.toppforskningsinitiativet.org
