We'll be there for your event in Arendal
Emergency preparedness, self-sufficiency, and critical infrastructure will be the major themes of this year’s Arendalsuka. Nordic Edge is at the heart of this, from two perspectives. If you’re planning an event in August, we’d love to contribute to yours.
Photo: Andreas Amdal Østrem
Geopolitics is changing the parameters for cities, food, energy, and security. The questions shaping this year’s Arendalsuka are the same ones we work on every day: How do we build societies that can withstand pressure? What happens to the food supply when something fails? And who actually owns the systems we depend on?
Nordic Edge is an innovation company with two national clusters. Since 2015, the Smart City cluster has been working on digitalization, urban development, and infrastructure. The Agritech cluster is bringing technology into Norwegian food production—at a time when it has become a matter of security policy. Together, we represent over 200 technology companies working on the solutions at the heart of the debate: smart and resilient societies, digital infrastructure, food production, and energy resilience.
It is at the intersection of these two clusters that we find some of the most relevant contributions to this year’s debates. We’re bringing that to Arendal.
– We’re not going to Arendal to mingle. We’re going because our members hold the solutions these debates are about, and because we have something to say. Use us, says Terje Eide, CEO of Nordic Edge.
Photo: Andreas Amdal Østrem
Here’s what we can bring to the table
We’ll serve as keynote speakers, panelists, moderators, or co-organizers—and contribute with expert insights from both clusters.
Photo: Andreas Amdal Østrem
Here are topics we can contribute to
From the societal perspective: How does digitalization affect cities’ vulnerability and resilience? Who owns the data and platforms we depend on, and what happens when they fail? And why is scaling up in public–private partnerships lacking, when everyone agrees that innovation is needed?
From the food perspective: Self-sufficiency is a political priority, but what does that mean in practice? We often talk about the farmer as the emergency responder of the future—an energy producer, data collector, and part of the digital emergency response network. And about the technology, logistics, and expertise that are just as crucial as land conservation.
Also, what ties it all together: the path from pilot to export. How does Norwegian smart city and agritech innovation translate into international competitiveness?
Is there a topic you’re thinking of that isn’t listed here? Talk to us anyway. That’s often when things get interesting.
You can already find us in the program
The Agritech Cluster is co-organizing two debates on Monday, August 10: "Help - there is a crisis in Norway's food supply!" ” addresses realistic crisis scenarios in Norway’s most important food-producing region.
That same evening, cluster leader Gunnar Crawford will moderate the debate “How to avoid spending billions on empty stomachs?” — on what the national agritech strategy must include for Norway to succeed as a food nation, a preparedness nation, and a technology nation.
Photo: Andreas Amdal Østrem
The ball is in your court
Would you like to discuss a topic, invite us to an event, or just grab a coffee to explore the possibilities? Get in touch, and we’ll find a good way to collaborate.
See you in Arendal!
Photo: Andreas Amdal Østrem
