This initiative brings together DNV AS, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) to explore the future of the Nordic blue economy.
Using Nordic strengths to promote blue competitiveness and sustainability
The Nordic region is a dynamic and closely integrated area with strong economies and the ability to drive transformational change. The region is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the EU Green Deal's targets for renewable energy, sustainable seafood, and marine ecosystem protection.
However, achieving these objectives while maintaining competitiveness is challenging. As small, open economies, the Nordics depend on collaboration to safeguard and strengthen their competitiveness. This project aims to dive deeper into the trends and forces shaping the Nordic ocean economy, providing foresight on the barriers, risks, and opportunities that lie ahead.
The 'Nordic Oceans 2050' project aims to equip stakeholders with the knowledge and insight needed to prepare for the future and create a foundation for future activities in the ocean economy from 2025 onwards. By providing plausible narratives for future developments, the project hopes to contribute to a sustainable and competitive Nordic blue economy.
Mapping Nordic ocean scenarios to identify opportunities and challenges
The approach to developing scenarios for the Nordic ocean economy is based on the consortium’s existing ocean economy and socio-ecological models. It’s supported and validated by cross-Nordic stakeholder consultations through workshops and interviews. Model insights will be integrated to provide baseline forecasts, on which scenarios can be built for the most relevant pathways.
Based on these scenarios, the project aim to achieve two concrete objectives:
Objective 1: Visualize the future development of the Nordic ocean economy across different sectors
By visualizing plausible future pathways for the Nordic ocean economy, the project will generate new insights into developments within ocean sectors, as well as interlinkages, synergies, and trade-offs between societal objectives. The project will expand on comprehensive system models of the ocean economy, such as DNV’s Ocean’s Future to 2050, covering seafood, offshore energy, shipping, tourism, and marine ecosystems.
It will also address cross-sectoral issues like competition for space, climate change, and interdependencies between nature and human activity at sea.
Objective 2: Identify blue growth opportunities and barriers
To identify opportunities and barriers to the adoption of blue growth strategies, the project will engage with cross-Nordic stakeholders to ensure comprehensive regional coverage.
These activities will shape the scenarios, provide foresight beyond modelled data, and help identify areas for Nordic added value in the blue economy.
Project partners
- DNV: With a 160-year legacy in the ocean economy, DNV provides risk management and assurance services across maritime and energy sectors, and is rapidly growing in aquaculture, supply chain sustainability, and biodiversity management.
- DTU Aqua: The National Institute of Aquatic Resources at DTU carries out research, provides advice, educates, and contributes to innovation in sustainable exploitation and management of aquatic resources.
- SLU Aqua: The Department of Aquatic Resources at SLU focuses on fish and shellfish in seas, lakes, and rivers, developing methods and know-how for sustainable use of aquatic resources
Project lead: DNV
The ‘Nordic Oceans 2050’ has begun developing comprehensive scenarios for the future of the Nordic ocean economy, identifying key opportunities and challenges, and integrating new scientific knowledge into marine policymaking.
As the project progresses, it will share updates on our contribution to a sustainable and competitive Nordic blue economy.
