The World Economic Forum collaborates with Aker group, presenting the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Norway (C4IR Norway) aiming to harness advances in technology in protection of the oceans and improve shipping’s environmental footprint.
The C4IR Norway will join the Forum’s global C4IR Network and collaborate with the Government of Norway and the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
The Centre’s initial projects will fall into three categories:
- minimizing the environmental footprint of ocean-related industrial activities
- harnessing big data to optimize marine resource mapping, monitoring and management
- using digital technology tools to protect marine biodiversity.
The Centre will enable stakeholders discuss and develop governance policies, research and business solutions that can accelerate the application of science, data and technology in the public interest.
Moreover, the newly-launched centre will be based on private-public partnerships and will develop on governance frameworks and solutions for a sustainable and profitable ocean economy, using digital technology ranging from artificial intelligence to blockchain.
Once operational, the Centre will be open to partners and projects from the public and private sectors.
Øyvind Eriksen, the company’s president and chief executive officer commented
The ambition with this Centre is to leverage our offshore expertise and the Nordic model of collaboration between the public and the private sectors to accelerate the application of technology that can reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. Only through collaboration between business, government and NGOs will we unlock the great potential that resides in digital technology to promote sustainable development.
The Centre aims to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals; This means that the ocean needs to provide the world with more food, jobs, energy and raw materials.
In addition, Vidar Helgesen, Norway’s Special Envoy to the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, noted that the Norwegian Government welcomes this initiative, as there is a new and additional opportunity on the path towards protecting the ocean.
The ocean today is under immense pressure because of the climate change, pollution and overexploitation; Therefore, in order to save the marine ecosystems, it is important for stakolders to unite and provide innovative policies, good governance, technology, research and new business solutions, based on sound scientific data.
Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum added
The new Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Norway will bring together some of the world’s top minds to co-design innovation policy solutions to achieve the SDGs and protect our ocean.
Norway’s centre will be the only one amongst the seven in the network to focus on the environment.
