Sweden has long been a frontrunner in automotive innovation, sustainability and safety which making it to be reckoned with in a highly competitive international market. As the home of world leading car manufacturers such as Volvo, Scania, Koenigsegg, Sweden also fosters a strong automotive supply chain. As Sweden ambitiously works toward fulfilling its climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, the transportation sector emerges as a critical area of focus. With mutual ambitions to reach net-zero emissions and drive sustainable growth across key industry and business sectors, Sweden and China have a lot to gain from sharing experiences and exploring potential partnerships.

Partners：

•Embassy of Sweden Beijing  China, Beijing - Sweden Abroad 

•Consulate General of Sweden Hongkong Hong Kong - Sweden Abroad 

•Business Sweden  www.business-sweden.com

*The schedule is subject to the actual situation on site.

Name list (to be updated):

1.  Mr. Lennart Nilsson, Counsellor of Economic and Trade Affairs, the Embassy of Sweden in Beijing

2.  Mr. Joakim Abeleen, Swedish Trade and Invest Commissioner, EAPAC President, Business Sweden

3.  Mr. Johan Thurée, Market Manager, Business Sweden Greater China

4.  Ms. Carrie Chan, Project Manager, Business Sweden Greater China

5.  Ms. Stacey Sit, Consultant, Business Sweden Greater China

6.  Representatives from Vinnova – Swedish government agency for innovation (Name to be confirmed)

7.  Representatives from Business Region Göteborg - responsible for business development in the City of Gothenburg and represents 13 municipalities in the region (Name to be confirmed)

8.  Representatives from the Scandinavian Automotive Supplier Association (FKG) - the trade association for the Scandinavian suppliers to the automotive industry (Name to be confirmed)

9.  Representatives from Volvo Group, leading vehicle manufacturer (Name to be confirmed)

10.  Representatives from Scania, leading vehicle manufacturer (Name to be confirmed)

11.Mr. Carl Bergendal, Sales Director AIS, Smart Eye AB, global leader in human insight AI, offering Driver Monitoring System and Interior Sensing solutions for automotive industry

Nordic Talks

Nordic Talks is an initiative by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It is a series of live talks that provides a space for contemplation and to share inspiration on how to act on sustainability issues in our everyday lives. All Nordic Talks are dedicated to addressing the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) challenges.

About The Nordic Council of Ministers

The Nordic Council of Ministers is the official body for inter-governmental co-operation in the Nordic Region. The Prime Ministers’ vision is that the Nordic region will become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030. The co-operation within the Nordic Council of Ministers aims to serve this purpose, with a focus on a green, competitive, and socially sustainable region.

Nordic Talks: Scaling circularity in the automotive industry

The automotive industry, which currently contributes for 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, must embrace life cycle decarbonization to meet the goal embodied in the Paris Agreement’s net-zero target.

Electrification is not the sole answer to the decarbonization challenge, achieving the full potential of automotive decarbonization requires an equal focus on materials production.

Circular Economy measures, including vehicle sharing, smart charging, refurbishing, repurposing, and recycling, are effective measures to lower lifecycle environmental footprints and costs. However, creating business value from circularity is challenging for most solutions today, as they require further industry alignment and joint development of standards. Therefore, cross-value chain partnerships and collaboration are crucial.

This Talk aims to address the pressing need for sustainability within the automotive industry, share insights/experience and discuss strategies and innovations that are vital for reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable practices throughout the automotive supply chain.

Examples of questions to be addressed in the Talk:

- Which processes should we priorities as we transform in the direction of sustainability?

- How can we implement sustainable solutions such as a circular economy and battery recycling?

- How can we create transparency along the supply chain?

Why the Nordics:

Sustainability: The Nordic countries have a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental topics. They are known for implementing progressive policies and initiatives to address climate change, promote renewable energy sources, and achieve carbon neutrality.

Trustworthiness: The Nordic countries are widely recognized for their integrity, transparency, and adherence to ethical practices. This fosters trust among international partners and investors, making the region a reliable and credible destination for collaboration and business opportunities.

Design and Innovation: The Nordic region represents an identity rooted in a legacy of design and innovation with an emphasis on functionality and user-centricity. A combination of user focused design, technology, pioneering urban planning, and ambitious sustainable practices contributes to the hallmark of the Nordic brand within mobility.