7th NTNU European Conference: The Future guiding the Present
The Future guiding the Present:
The Role of R&I and Education in navigating current and incoming EU Challenges
7th NTNU European Conference
Thursday, 9 February 2023 | Residence Palace | In-person event with streaming
Europe is facing a set of challenges to its open strategic autonomy, which have been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among the areas under pressure are energy and food supply, access to raw materials, and democratic values.
This increased urgency has prompted a reevaluation and acceleration of existing European policies, such as the launch of REPowerEU or the revision of the EU’s raw materials strategy.
We are experiencing a wide mobilization of the European community at all levels. The research, innovation and education community is essential in navigating the current and future challenges through developing the knowledge and technologies we need.
The NTNU European conference will explore present-day challenges for our continent and, in dialogue with top Brussels policy-makers, attempt to chart a way into the future, looking at particular at four thematic areas:
- Energy
- Food
- Access to raw materials
- Fair and inclusive society
In the opening plenary we will take the present-day view, assessing the challenges as they appear now; four subsequent parallel sessions will look into the future of select policy areas; and the closing plenary will tie the four threads together, allowing us to peek into the future.
Isidro Laso Ballesteros
Cabinet Expert, EC Commissioner Gabriel Cabinet for Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, and Youth
Sokrates Katsikas
Professor Director, Norwegian Center for Cybersecurity in Critical Sectors (NORCICS), NTNU
Martin Gaedke
Dean and Director of University Computer Center, Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC)
Fernando Martinez
Professor, Technical University of Valencia
Emilio Fortunato Campana
Head - Dept. Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport, National Research Council (CNR)
Craig Donlon
Head, Earth Surfaces and Interior Section (EOP-SME)
Earth and Mission Science Division/ESTEC
Fabienne Jacq
Programme Officer, Copernicus Expert, Earth Observation Unit, EC DG DEFIS
Ger Janssen,
Principal Scientist and ad interim, Department Head of the AI, Data Science and Digital Twin, Philips
Kate Crosman
Hoffman Fellow, Big Ocean Data, Institute of Marine Technology and World Economic Forum Ocean Action Agenda, NTNU
09:15 – 09:50 Opening plenary
The present - where does Europe stand, and what is being done?
Climate change, an energy system under pressure, as well as difficulties in accessing raw materials and food at affordable prices, constituted a potent cocktail even prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This has urged the EU to launch several revisions (such as the REPowerEU plan) to accelerate already existing EU policies.
- What is the state of play for the implementation of the new policies? Are they sufficient?
- Which additional measures are required, and which are already being designed?
- How have different stakeholders been impacted, and how are they coping?
Moderator: TBA
List of speakers to be updated.
Room: Polak room (main room)
09:50 – 10:30 Panel Debate
Panelists to be updated.
Room: Polak room (main room)
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break & network possibilities
10:45 – 12:15 Parallel sessions
Parallel Session 1 - Energy (title TBA)
Chair: Olav Bolland
Session text to be added
Speakers and panelists:
TBA
10:45 - 11:30 : Keynote Presentations
Titles TBA
11:30 - 12:15 : Panel Debate
Room: TBA
Parallel Session 2 - Meeting the increasing demand for raw materials needed in the Green Transition: Is Europe up to the task?
Chair: Maria Wallin - NTNU
Session text to be added
Speakers and panelists:
Peter Handley, head of unit, Energy Intensive Industries - Raw Materials, European Commission
10:45 - 11:30 : Keynote Presentations
Titles TBA
11:30 - 12:15 : Panel Debate
Room: TBA
Parallel Session 3 - Changing habits for sustainable food systems
Chair: TBA
Session text to be added
Speakers and panelists:
TBA
10:45 - 11:30 : Keynote Presentations
Titles TBA
11:30 - 12:15 : Panel Debate
Room: TBA
Parallel Session 4 - Co-creating fair and inclusive well-being economies in Europe
Chair: Jesper Aa. Petersen - NTNU
We are living in turbulent times. Widening inequalities in wealth, health and wellbeing, a cost of living crisis, despair and loneliness; pandemics, war, political polarization, reduced trust in politicians and a heated planet with prospects of breakdown are just some of the problems we are facing.
There is a need for radical socio-economic transformation and making a shift towards pursuing missions where economies and societies serve the wellbeing of people and planet rather than causing social fractures and ecological breakdown. Champion cities and countries are currently paving the way forward for building a wellbeing economy.
Such a rearranging of the economy is an approach where public and private investment and resources contributes to co-creation and joint action to improve human, societal, environmental, and economic wellbeing that can be enjoyed by all, for current and future generations.
A panel of distinguished policymakers, practitioners and researchers will meet to discuss promising practices, policy responses and research initiatives across Europe: The road towards co-creating fair and inclusive wellbeing economies in Europe where no one is left behind.
Speakers and panelists:
TBA
10:45 - 11:30 : Keynote Presentations
Titles TBA
11:30 - 12:15 : Panel Debate
Room: TBA
12:15 – 13:45 Lunch break
13:45 – 15:00 Closing plenary
The closing plenary will allow us to peek into the future: Where do we go from here?
A plethora of European policies is being released this spring: The critical raw materials act, the electricity market rules revision, the social economy package and the defense of democracy package, to name a few. Further, the Commission’s strategic planning is being developed as we speak.
None of these represent an end point; rather, the iterative policy process requires continuous input from the R&I and education community. What does Europe need, and how can we provide it?
Session Moderator: TBA
13:45 - 14:00: Keynote
Speaker+title TBA
14.00 - 14:20: Input from the parallel sessions, by the session chairs
14:20 - 14:50: Panel debate
14:50 - 15:00: Closing remarks
Participants TBA
Room: Polak room (main room)
Venue
Venue contact: Maïcky Mohr, maicky.mohr@Residencepalace.be
- Address: Rue de la Loi 155 19, 1040 Brussels
- Phone: +32 2 235 21 11 (reception)
- Map
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via kaja.b.w.istad@ntnu.no or call us:
- To be added
Practical information NTNU Brussels office
COVID information
For the updated information about the covid situation in Brussels:
About the conference
The NTNU European Conference is an event introduced in the Brussels Arena in 2016. It aims to facilitate discussions on R&I and Education policies and strategies between stakeholders.
The conference has grown in siginificance and popularity with increasing registrations and attendance over the years, becoming an arena of interaction between policymakers and representatives of higher education, industry, research, innovation as well as the civil society.
Organizing Committee
Vilija Balionyte-Merle
Digital Coordinator, NTNU
Torbjørn Karl Svendsen
Professor, Department of electronic systems, NTNU
Camilla Knudsen Tveiten
Senior Advisor, IE Faculty, NTNU
Medya Temelli Fenerci
MA in European Studies,
Trainee NTNU Brussels office
Martine Vogt
BA in Political Science,
Trainee, NTNU Brussels office
Bjørg Danielsen
Senior Adviser Communication Division, NTNU
