10475: Collaborative Approaches to Advance Sustainable Transformation: Research and Practice in the Nordics

In the Nordic region, sustainability is at the forefront of policy and innovation, offering a unique context to explore collaborative approaches that drive impactful change. This proposed workshop will address the pressing challenges of sustainable transformation by bridging academic insights with practical, industry-led actions in the Nordic context. The sessions will explore three key themes: Sustainability Nordic Research Agenda, Capacity Building for Sustainability, and Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Innovation. The first theme, Sustainability Nordic Research Agenda, will explore priorities, challenges, and opportunities in sustainability research, focusing on sustainability transitions, planetary boundaries, and social sustainability. Key topics include integrating circular economy practices with digitalization, circularity, urban mobility, smart cities, and leadership for sustainability. The second theme, Capacity Building for Sustainability, will examine strategies to equip current and future generations with skills for sustainable transformation. This includes best practices for integrating sustainability across academic programs, exploring digital tools, and ensuring institutional support and student engagement. The final theme, Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Innovation, will emphasize the role of partnerships between academia, industry, and policymakers. It will highlight industry partnerships that turn corporate challenges into research opportunities, and explore how financial systems and digital solutions can drive transparency, efficiency, and innovation. This workshop aims to share Nordic best research practices, foster dialogue among actors, and create collaborative pathways for sustainability. Those results will be later summarized into a policy brief, and distributed to the participants for further engagement and network.