“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the landscape in Europe right now. The ongoing war has several impacts and we are collectively trying to resolve this global crisis. For this, a number of initiatives have been taken on our side. The focus is on increasing support and fixing war-related issues. The other major element we need to pay attention to is the climate and environmental crisis created due to this war,” said Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai. She was speaking on the first day of the “Indo-Nordic Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Workshop” held at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Thursday. The two-day event was organized by NordicsInIndia in collaboration with the Nordic Center in India. While the first day of the workshop was held at SPPU, Pune, the second day will be held at the Bangalore Bio-innovation Center in Bangalore on 27th May.

Asked about the large number of Indian students who have returned from Ukraine and are now seeking admission to other European countries, Lekvall said, “Our arms are always open to Indian students in all streams; they are a powerful resource and for us this is a fantastic time to engage. There are plenty of opportunities for them, and we will give them all the help we can.

NordicsInIndia plans to engage Nordic delegations (researchers, businesses and policy makers) in two Indian cities, namely Pune and Bangalore, which are central to India’s transition to “green”. The delegations, in collaboration with Indian stakeholders, are organizing this thematic workshop within the framework of a sustainable, circular and biobased economy. Stakeholders invited include government authorities (urban development department, municipal corporation, etc.), leading companies and key research and technical institutes aiming to establish relationships and joint innovation and research projects.

Dr. Maan Singh Sidhu, NordicsInIndia Project Coordinator, said: “The two-day workshop will also address the pressing need to establish research collaborations between leading research agencies and universities in the Nordics and India. to develop the next-generation circular economy. solutions and added value for society that can be tested under local conditions.

While Arne Jan Flølo, Consul General of Norway in Mumbai, said: “We face global climate and environmental challenges and we need collaboration to address them. A key area is renewable energy and green electricity value chains. The circular economy is another. In this area, we need to develop and adopt new solutions and technologies. Norwegian technology providers share knowledge with Maharashtra decision makers on solid and liquid waste management. There are also pilot projects on the reuse of construction waste.

Dr Jakob Williams Oerberg, Counselor – Innovation, Research and Higher Education, Royal Danish Embassy, ​​New Delhi, said: “We are facing the twin global crises of climate change and an unsustainable global food system. The partnership between India and the Nordic countries will be at the heart of the global solutions needed. Our scientists and technology providers will work with India’s world-class scientists and India’s most advanced companies to create solutions that will have global consequences. On the Danish side, we are particularly interested in working with India on the use of biology to create new climate-friendly foods, new green fuels and to ensure that our waste is recycled into new valuable products.

Dr Mika Tirronen, Counselor for Education and Science at the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi, said: “The Nordic countries are a natural group to collaborate on India’s green transition. We share the same vision of a sustainable and carbon-neutral industry, and we have all made remarkable achievements in this area over the past few years. We are at the forefront not only in many bio-based technological solutions, but also in climate policies and national roadmaps.