World Economic Forum & Denmark launch unique partnership in San Francisco to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution

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April 24, 2018

NordenBladet — The ambitious new agreement, which is the first of its kind between the World Economic Forum (WEF) and any European country, will be signed on 24 April by Denmark’s Tech Ambassador and the newly established WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco. The Center was established last year to specifically advance the WEF’s vision to create impact through public private partnerships.

The WEF-Denmark partnership is aimed at forging new global alliances between a multitude of stakeholders including the private sector incl. technology companies, governments & civil society to help shape and develop the state-of-the-art approaches, policies and regulations of tomorrow in order to utilize opportunities occurring in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

As a small and advanced country Denmark is already one of the most digitalised societies in the world. Nonetheless the Danish Government has as its clear aim to continue preparing Denmark for the multitude of opportunities as well as challenges arising from digitalisation and the fast pace of new technologies being developed in the 21st Century. The agreement in San Francisco follows a broader memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the 48th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, in the presence of WEF Founder Dr. Klaus Schwab, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen & WEF President Borge Brende.

“Our mission is to shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution so that it benefits the society. Denmark has committed to be a leader and pilot innovative frameworks and policies being co-designed at the Center. We look forward to a strong collaboration and sharing findings throughout our Network,” says Murat Sonmez, Head of the World Economic Forum Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Together with a selection of leading private sector partners, WEF and the Government of Denmark will cooperate on four concrete areas where new technology will potentially redefine many aspects the daily lives of global citizens and create challenges for traditional governance.

“This partnership is based on a fundamental belief that technology in general will be a positive game-changer for the world. Like previous industrial revolutions, our time and age will grow the economy, lift people out of poverty, deliver unprecedented healthcare, develop sustainability across the board and build a new generation of start-ups. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and Internet of Things bring huge opportunities for a small, open and highly digitalized country like Denmark. But it requires the right combination of skills, policies, and regulations to maximize opportunities while at the same time minimizing the risks, that it is also critical we do not lose sight of. Our partnership with WEF in San Francisco will be an important step in that direction”, says Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Anders Samuelsen, who earlier last year appointed the world’s first and so far only Tech Ambassador, thereby elevating technological diplomacy (TechPlomacy) to a crosscutting priority in Danish foreign policy. Based in Silicon Valley but with a global mandate and team located also in Copenhagen and Beijing, the Tech Ambassador is spearheading the new WEF-partnership on behalf of the Danish Government.

WEF and Denmark will collaborate on identifying and driving a number of pilot projects in Denmark, which has the potential to scale internationally. The ambition is to help shape and operationalize agile regulation based on a principle of “light but right touch”, which on the one hand keeps up and enables the pace of new technology, and on the other ensures that basic principles of governance as well as core values will continue to flourish.

The WEF-Denmark partnership will specifically pursue initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as a recognition that SDGs represent market opportunities for 12 trillion USD annually, which the private sector and other actors can tap into while contributing to a more sustainable world.Denmark will partner with the WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Internet of Things (IoT) and Connected Devices project to pilot initiatives in Denmark specifically benefitting from advancements in accurate satellite positioning and geo-data. Denmark has one of the highest deployments of IoT in the world. Analysis suggests that an estimated 84% of IoT deployments are currently addressing, or have the potential to advance SDGs. This underlies that there is still massive potential connected with IoT yet to be unleashed.In addition, WEF and Denmark will leverage their network to gain unique insights on how emerging technologies, such as precision medicine, will transform the healthcare sector in the coming years, and how countries like Denmark could adapt accordingly in favor of patients and business. A dynamic environment for digital innovation is also key to success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. WEF and Denmark will identify best practices from the unique innovation-ecosystem in Silicon Valley to benefit Danish and European corporates, start-ups, academia, students and other actors in new ways, with a special focus on artificial intelligence, big data analytics and internet of things.

Lastly, the partnership will explore new approaches for agile governance to promote human-centred, inclusive and sustainable policy-making in the future.As part the agreement, a Government Fellow from the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate will be seconded to the WEF Center in San Francisco to spearhead specific cooperation activities. In addition, the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will regularly work and engage with the Forum’s extensive network of experts and private sector partners in San Francisco.The project will initially run for one year with the possibility for extension.

Source: um.dk
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Soini: Young people’s participation in peace processes to be ensured

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 24, 2018

NordenBladet — United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake will visit Finland from 25 to 27 April. On Thursday 26 April, she will attend a visit to Helsinki Senior High School together with Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative on Mediation Jutta Urpilainen.

“The Youth Envoy’s school visit provides an excellent opportunity to show in a concrete way that one of Finland‘s important objectives in mediation is to ensure that young people are involved in peace processes. Lack of prospects for one’s own future is the worst thing that can happen. It is essential that young people can exercise influence,” Foreign Minister Timo Soini summarises the importance of the visit.

Finland was one of the initiators of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security. During Jayathma Wickramanayake’s visit, we will present Finland’s national measures relating to the implementation of the resolution, in which civil society organisations will play a significant role. Youth is also one of the priorities of Special Representative Urpilainen.

“I have found my visits to Finnish schools, which have focused on the prevention of violent radicalisation, very rewarding. We have much to learn from young people. This is an interesting opportunity to meet with young people and to tell them about mediation and their chances of influence,” Soini says.

In her work, Youth Envoy Wickramanayake promotes measures helping youth voice their opinions and become engaged in society, and advocates issues that are important from young people’s perspective worldwide. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka as his Envoy on Youth in June 2017.

During her two-day stay in Finland, Wickramanayake will visit educational institutions, get familiar with youth work and learn about young people’s opportunities of participation in Finnish society. The Youth Envoy will also meet CSO representatives to exchange ideas about matters related to young people, peace and security.

Source: Finland.ee
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Brussels Syria Conference to reaffirm assistance to people affected by the crisis

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 24, 2018

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini together with representatives of the international community will attend the Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the region” from 24 to 25 April.

The Conference aims to support the UN-led political process and to agree about additional measures to help those affected by the crisis. The Brussels Conference in April is the sixth pledging conference for Syria. The UN’s appeal of approximately EUR 7.36 billion for Syria is a record high.

“A sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict can only be achieved through UN-led political negotiations. The permanent members of the UN Security Council have a central responsibility in this matter. Not only is the war in Syria, which has continued for seven years, a vast humanitarian catastrophe; it is also an immense regional development crisis. Within Syria, 13.1 million people are in need of protection and humanitarian aid – more than half of them children and young people,” Foreign Minister Timo Soini says.

The conference is attended by not only the EU and Syria’s neighboring countries but also by a large number of representatives of the international community: the United Nations, major donors and civil society, humanitarian organisations and development cooperation agencies. The Conference will also assess the international community’s progress in fulfilling the commitments made a year ago. Finland has systematically shouldered its responsibility and contributed the pledged assistance: Finland’s pledge for 2018 is EUR 25 million. Half of this, EUR 12.6 million, will be in the form of humanitarian aid.

Despite the UN Security Council resolution demanding the cessation of hostilities, adopted in February, the parties to the conflict have not allowed unimpeded access to aid deliveries.
“Violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are continuing in Syria. It is important to address the matter and take action to ensure that the deliveries reach their destination,” Soini emphasises.

Finland’s support to the victims of the Syrian conflict is divided between humanitarian aid to alleviate immediate suffering and help refugees, and development cooperation strengthening local communities’ resilience especially in neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. Humanitarian aid is linked, among others, with healthcare, food and other emergency relief materials, and shelter. Development cooperation is divided into support to the political process and efforts to combat impunity; livelihoods and basic services within Syria; and support for the resilience of neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. Finland’s priorities include women, children, education and job creation. Finland also intends to continue to support the grassroots-level peacebuilding and mediation initiatives in Syria.

Source: Finland.ee
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Denmark: HM The Queen’s sepulchral monument is now set up at Roskilde Cathedral

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 23, 2018

NordenBladet – Her Majesty’s sepulchral monument is now set up and stands in Saint Bridget’s Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral. Here, The Queen will be laid to rest alongside nearly 40 Danish kings and queens from the early Middle Ages until today.

The preparation of the monument has been underway since 2003, when the sculptor, professor Bjørn Nørgaard, was commissioned to create a modern sepulchral monument that can be incorporated into the large number of royal grave monuments at Roskilde Cathedral. From the project’s beginning, Bjørn Nørgaard was in close dialogue with The Queen and Prince Henrik about the idea and the design of the work “Sarcophagus”.

The artwork represents The Queen and Prince Henrik’s joint efforts through 50 years, and The Prince’s decision to not be entombed at Roskilde Cathedral has not brought about changes in the artwork. The base is crafted in sandstone from France, and the three pillars supporting the sarcophagus are of Danish granite, Faroese basalt and Greenlandic marble, respectively. The elephant heads on the pillars are cast in silver. The sarcophagus itself is of cast glass, and, in a hollow space in the glass, two figures representing The Queen and Prince Henrik are sand-blasted on the inner side. Allegories, heraldry and symbols in gilded bronze are found on the top. The Queen will be laid to rest in a crypt under the sepulchral monument.

Sepulchral monument (Photo: Keld Navntoft, The Royal Danish House ©)

As the sepulchral monument will first be displayed to the public after The Queen’s death, a covering has been prepared so that visitors to the Cathedral will have a chance to visit the chapel, even though the sepulchral monument has been set up. Both the sepulchral monument and the covering are by Bjørn Nørgaard, and a 1:10 copy of the monument is exhibited in Roskilde Cathedral, where visitors can follow the crafting of a modern sepulchral monument through information boards and a coming exhibition, which is expected to be opened at the end of June.

The work and the costs of the monument have been held within the Danish Parliament’s stipulated appropriation under the Budget Act.

Since the 1400s, Roskilde Cathedral has served as the burial place for the Danish Royal House. The sepulchral monument enters into a long tradition of inscribing an epitaph in Roskilde Cathedral to the sovereign’s life and deeds.

Featured image: Sepulchral monument (Photo: Keld Navntoft, The Royal Danish House ©)
Source: The Royal Danish House kongehuset.dk

Denmark strengthens the collaboration with The World Bank in order to promote digital gains for developing countries

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 23, 2018

NordenBladet — Digital technology is a decisive medium in order to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason, the collaboration between Denmark and The World Bank within digitization and development is being enhanced.

Minister for Development Ulla Tørnæs and Vice President in the World Bank Laura Tuck have signed an agreement on Denmark’s entry in the “Digital Development Partnership”, which helps developing countries reap the benefits of digitization.

Minister for Development Ulla Tørnæs says: “By strengthening the partnership with The World Bank on the digital agenda, we get a really strong partner in the effort of creating development through data and digital technology. The technological improvements give developing countries new opportunities to solve their challenges within sectors such as energy, education and health. We want to take part in ensuring that new digital solutions can be brought into play in the developing countries. Simultaneously, it is crucial that the digitization becomes inclusive, not leaving certain sections of the population behind”.

With the agreement, Denmark contributes 15 mio. DKK to The World Bank’s “Digital Development Partnership”. Through the partnership, the World Bank cooperates with ministries in developing countries in order to formulate digital strategies and make digital solutions accessible within areas such as digital economy, internet access for all, eGovernment and cyber security. Current contributors are other donors (Finland, Japan and Korea), and private companies (Microsoft and GSMA).

The agreement on Denmark’s contribution to the “Digital Development Partnership” was signed during The World Bank’s Spring Meetings in Washington. The collaboration with The World Bank on the digital agenda is a part of the Danish Techvelopment-effort, which is a part of the government’s overall TechPlomacy-initiative.

Source: um.dk
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Sweden: The King presents the Young Leadership Foundation’s Compass Rose Scholarships to young leaders

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 20, 2018

NordenBladet — On Monday 16 April, The King presented the Compass Rose Scholarship to four young leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary courage, consideration and energy. During the ceremony, young leaders who have completed Value-Based Leadership training also received diplomas from The King.

During the afternoon’s ceremony in the Bernadotte Library at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, the Young Leadership Foundation’s Compass Rose Scholarship was presented for the 12th year running. The 50,000 kronor scholarship is presented to young leaders under the age of 25 who have demonstrated particular courage, consideration and energy. To date, 34 young leaders have received the scholarship.

This year’s scholarship winners were:

24-year-old Paulina Olsson from Varberg, co-founder of Peppy Pals. Paulina was presented with the scholarship for “having worked, with value-based leadership, to teach children about soft human values and empathy, using technology”.

23-year-old Omid Mahmoudi from Malmö, founder of the Association for Unaccompanied Children and Otto Meeting Place. Omid was presented with the scholarship for “having demonstrated, with value-based leadership, that the power and faith in the future of an unaccompanied child brings hope and change to many people together”.

23-year-old Julius Kramer from Stockholm, former officer of the Agenda 2030 delegation and director of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Julius was presented with the scholarship for “having worked, with value-based leadership, full of humble learning and action, to promote both important social issues and our fellow human beings”.

21-year-old Gustav Plantin from Staffanstorp, Chairman of Staffanstorp United. Gustav was presented with the scholarship for “having worked, with value-based leadership, to change opposition into tolerance and cooperation, and having contributed towards a better society using football as a tool”.

During the afternoon’s ceremony in the Bernadotte Library, many young leaders who had completed Value-Based Leadership training received their diplomas. The aim of the training is to strength young leaders’ leadership by clarifying values and providing guidance on how these can be shown in behaviour and in all life’s decisions and actions.

Young Leadership

The Young Leadership Foundation, opens in new window was a gift to The King on his 60th birthday, at the initiative of the Scouts. The foundation works to highlight young leaders with good value-based leadership skills. The foundation’s values are based on the values of the Scout Movement, and courage, consideration and energy are central to good value-based leadership.

The Compass Rose Scholarship is awarded to young people who, regardless of their formal title, have shown through their actions that they have taken responsibility and demonstrated involvement above and beyond the ordinary, and who can show that the scholarship can help them to keep developing good leadership. The King’s Young Leadership Foundation operates the scholarship programme. The scholarship amount is SEK 50,000 per scholarship, to be used for personal leadership development.

Value-based leadership is a folk high school course which is arranged by the Scouts and the Scouts’ Folk High School in cooperation with industry and other voluntary youth organisations, with the support of The King’s Young Leadership Foundation.

24-year-old Paulina Olsson from Varberg, co-founder of Peppy Pals, receives the Compass Rose Scholarship. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se

23-year-old Omid Mahmoudi from Malmö, founder of the Association for Unaccompanied Children and Otto Meeting Place, receives the Compass Rose Scholarship during the ceremony in the Bernadotte Library. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se

23-year-old Julius Kramer from Stockholm, former officer of the Agenda 2030 delegation and director of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), receives the Compass Rose Scholarship. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se

21-year-old Gustav Plantin from Staffanstorp, Chairman of Staffanstorp United, receives the Compass Rose Scholarship. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se

Featured image: The King welcomes the scholarship winners and Secretary General of the Swedish Scout Movement Katarina Hedberg to the drawing room of the Bernadotte Library before the ceremony. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se
Source: Swedish Royal Court
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Ministers Virolainen and Tiilikainen to join the discussion on energy transition possibilities

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 20, 2018

NordenBladet — A delegation of directors and experts from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will visit Helsinki next week. They will also meet with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen and Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen. The themes of the visit will be the global energy transition and Finland’s responses to it by means of research, innovation and the products and services of companies.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation that was founded in 2009. Since then it has rapidly risen to one of the leading organisations promoting international renewable energy use. Sakari Oksanen from Finland has been IRENA’s Deputy Director-General since 2015.

On the morning of Thursday 26 April, Business Finland will host a workshop for companies where the focus will be on the opportunities offered by the cooperation between Finland and IRENA. Minister Anne-Mari Virolainen will open the event, and Deputy Director-General Sakari Oksanen and other members of IRENA’s delegation will explain what kinds of services IRENA offers to companies regarding technological cooperation and renewable energy innovation, among others. Next, Finnish companies will have the opportunity to describe their special expertise in sustainable forestry, biomass handling and circular economy promotion.

In the afternoon, Aalto University will host a Smart Energy Transition Seminar that will seek answers to how to manage the seasonality in the clean energy system during cold winter weeks and how Finland can benefit from the ongoing global energy transition. The seminar will be attended by Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen, IRENA’s Director of Innovation and Technology Dolf Gielen and Professor Armi Temmes from Aalto University, among others. The seminar is organised by the Smart Energy Transition project of Finland’s Strategic Research Council together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Business Finland.

On the morning of Friday 27 April, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host an information sharing event focusing on Finland’s role in the global energy transition. After a presentation by IRENA’s representatives, Finnish responses to the global energy transition will be described by Satu Santala from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Petteri Kuuva from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Tiina Koljonen from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Armi Temmes from Aalto University and Helena Sarén from Business Finland.

Source: Finland.ee
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Denmark: The Crown Prince opens Denmark’s exhibition at Beijing Design Week

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 19, 2018

NordenBladet – His Royal Highness The Crown Prince visits China’s capital Beijing the days of 26-28 September 2018. The Crown Prince will take part in the opening of Denmark’s exhibition at Beijing Design Week, which is being carried out as part of Copenhagen’s partnership with Beijing.

Denmark’s exhibition at Beijing Design Week will focus on Danish lifestyle and will include the participation of leading Danish companies. The themes span from health, food and design to green construction.

Copenhagen is the guest city for Beijing Design Week 2018, which is one of the largest events of its type in Asia. The exhibition is arranged by the City of Copenhagen in cooperation with the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish embassy in Beijing. In addition to the exhibition, Copenhagen’s collaboration with Beijing includes a large urban renewal project in the centre of Beijing, where Danish green building solutions are brought into play.

During the visit, The Crown Prince will also take part in a number of business and cultural activities that have the objective of strengthening the relations between Denmark and China. Among other things, these will include The Danish Cultural Centre in Beijing, which also carries out a number of activities during Beijing Design Week.

Source: kongehuset.dk

Sweden: The King holds an audience with India’s Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi at the Royal Palace of Stockholm

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 19, 2018

NordenBladet — On Tuesday 17 April, The King held an audience with India’s Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The Crown Princess also took part in the audience.

During his visit to Sweden, the Prime Minister also held discussions with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and met Minister for Enterprise and Innovation Mikael Damberg and Swedish business leaders during a visit to Stockholm City Hall.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit also included a Nordic-Indian summit at the Grand Hôtel, attended by all the Nordic heads of government.

Featured image: The King and The Crown Princess received India’s Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi in Princess Sibylla’s Apartments at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Photo: Henrik Garlöv/royalcourt.se
Source: Swedish Royal Court
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Minister Virolainen to attend meetings of World Bank Group in Washington

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Helena-Reet Ennet

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April 19, 2018

NordenBladet — Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will attend the spring meeting of the World Bank Group and a meeting of the joint Development Committee of the International Monetary Fund IMF and the World Bank in Washington D.C. on 20–21 April.

In addition to the official programme, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will host a breakfast session focusing on women’s rights and economic development for the ministers attending the meeting of the World Bank Group.

“Women’s rights and economic development have way too long been discussed around different tables. Without a better realisation of women’s rights, the economies of developing countries will only operate at half capacity. Women must become fully involved,” Minister Virolainen says.

The breakfast session is part of the activities of the SheDecides movement. The movement, founded in 2017 on the Netherlands’ initiative, aims to improve the realisation of women’s rights related to sexual and reproductive health in developing countries.

During her visit to the United States, Minister Virolainen will also meet members of the senior management of the World Bank Group, for example Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, and Philippe Le Houerou, Chief Executive Officer of the IFC, the sister organisation of the World Bank focusing on the private sector in developing countries. At these meetings, Virolainen will emphasise Finland’s role as an expert in the field of education, strengthening of the private sector, and the well-functioning cooperation between Finland and the IFC in the foundation of the joint climate fund. Virolainen will also draw attention to questions related to women’s equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and migration.

Minister Virolainen will also have a meeting with Deputy United States Trade Representative Jeffrey D. Gerrish to discuss topical trade policy issues and development of the WTO.
Minister Virolainen will exchange views on the significance and future of the open and rules-based trade system and the global economic development at a roundtable discussion to be conducted with representatives of the leading think tanks in Washington D.C. Former United States Trade Representative Michal Froman will be among the participants in the discussion.
The main themes at the meeting of the joint Development Committee of the World Bank and the IMF are capital increases, voting rights reform and implementation of the futures review.

Capital increases are proposed for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development IBRD and for the International Finance Corporation IFC, both of them part of the World Bank Group.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s biggest financiers of sustainable development. The International Development Association IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, is one of the most important channels for Finland’s development cooperation.

Follow the meeting on Twitter using #IMFMeetings and #WBGMeetings.

Source: Finland.ee
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet