Our arms are always open to Indian students: Sweden’s Consul General
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the landscape of Europe right now. There are several effects of the ongoing war and we are trying to solve this global crisis together. For this, a number of initiatives have been taken by us. There is a lot of focus on increasing support and resolving issues around war. The other important thing we must pay attention to is the climate and environmental crisis created due to this war, says Anna Lekvall, Sweden’s Consul General in Mumbai. She spoke on the first day of the Indo-Nordic workshop on circular economy and bioeconomy held at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Thursday. The two-day event has been organized by NordicsInIndia in collaboration with 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 27 May.
Asked about the large number of Indian students who have returned from Ukraine and now want to be admitted 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 it is a “Great time for engagement. There are lots of opportunities for them, and we will give them all the help they can.”
NordicsInIndia plans to engage Nordic delegations (researchers, companies and decision-makers) in two Indian cities, namely Pune and Bangalore, which are centrally located in India’s transition to “green”. The delegations, in collaboration with Indian stakeholders, hold this theme-based workshop under a sustainable, circular and bio-based economy. Among the invited stakeholders are government agencies (urban development department, municipal companies, etc.), leading companies and important research and technical institutes that strive to establish relationships and joint innovation and research projects.
Dr Maan Singh Sidhu, coordinator of the NordicsInIndia project, said: “The two-day workshop will also meet the strong need to establish research collaborations between leading research firms and universities from the Nordic countries and India to develop next generation circular economy solutions and added value for the community that can be tested in local conditions. “
While Arne Jan Flølo, Norwegian Consul General, Mumbai, said: “We are facing global climate and environmental challenges and we need cooperation to deal with them. One key area is renewable energy and green electricity value chains. Another is the circular economy. Within this In this area, we must develop and adopt new solutions and technologies. Norwegian technology suppliers share knowledge with decision-makers in Maharashtra about solid and liquid waste management. There are also pilot projects on the recycling of construction waste. “
Dr Jakob Williams Oerberg, Adviser – Innovation, Research and Higher Education, Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi, said: “We are facing the double global crisis of climate change and an unsustainable global food system. The partnership between India and the Nordic countries will be central to the Our solutions and technology suppliers will work with India’s world-class scientists and the most advanced Indian companies to create solutions that will have global significance.From 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, Adviser on Education and Science, Embassy of Finland, New Delhi, said: “The Nordic countries are a natural cluster to co-operate in India’s green transition. We share the same vision of a sustainable and carbon neutral industry, and we have all done “remarkable achievements in this field in recent years. We are pioneers not only in many bio-based technical solutions but also in climate policy and national roadmaps.”