Indo-Sweden partnership drives energy transition: Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden
Sweden is seriously committed to the carbon neutrality goal and aims to achieve the same by 2045. We are a leader in the whole of Europe when it comes to the use of renewable energy. Sweden works in triple helix modes, which means close cooperation between governments, companies and academia. With transformational initiatives and massive investments in clean technology and smart energyIndia has demonstrated its commitment to its transition to sustainable and green energy, shared Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden, Mumbai at 4th Elet’s national energy summit.
She said, “India is rapidly undergoing a sustainable green transformation. We have calculated and understood that there are investments worth around USD 700 billion over the next decade in this sector. It shows the strength and seriousness with which India is now embarking on this field .”
She was happy to be able to tell you that India and Sweden have a very strong partnership within the entire sustainability and innovation sector. “We have several platforms to share innovative solutions but also to create together.”
Additionally, she said, “We have a strong framework signed by the highest of our authorities in Copenhagen during the Indo-Nordic summit. Our ministers of state have had a joint action plan since 2018, but it is also renewed and developed regularly. This platform emphasizes innovation in key areas such as climate technology, climate action and green hydrogen.”
There is something called sustainability of the Swedish ecosystem in India where we have long-term partnerships with large conglomerates and institutions. Sweden works in triple helix modes, which means close cooperation between governments, companies and academia.
“We have partnerships that look at this together for all the engagements we do. We use academia, science and research together with government institutions and companies to drive the change. We recently launched another platform a month ago called the ‘Green Transition Partnership’ which largely focuses on the business side of cooperation between Swedish and Indian companies. This partnership focuses on hardware-based sectors such as cement, iron & steel, pulp & paper. We also have the India-Sweden Innovation Accelerator which is a key engine for cooperation where we truly co-create together .It is a very good example of how, over the past 10 years, we have been able to promote energy efficiency and make over 200 collaborations.
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“The Swedish Energy Agency collaborates with the Indian Institute of Science and Technology, both of which provide joint funding for this collaboration. We have signed MOUs in this area and this innovation accelerator was actually awarded the High Impact Energy Efficiency Program 2022. It is a very relevant platform for our cooperation which continues to flourish, she added.
Concluding the session, she said: “Sweden and India are working together and leading the UN Industrial Transition Group. It is driving the heavy industry sector towards carbon neutrality.”