India and Nordic Countries Elevate Ties to Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership

India and the Nordic countries elevated their bilateral relations to a “Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership” during the 3rd India-Nordic Summit held in Oslo, Norway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision after holding talks with leaders of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. The partnership aims to deepen cooperation in green technology, climate action, innovation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and sustainable development.

3rd India-Nordic Summit

The 3rd India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, the capital of Norway.

The summit brought together:

India

Norway

Sweden

Denmark

Finland

Iceland

The summit focused on strengthening cooperation in:

Green transition

Renewable energy

Emerging technologies

Arctic research

Blue economy

Trade and investment

Defence cooperation

Education and mobility partnerships

Major Outcomes of the Summit:

Green Technology and Climate Cooperation

India and Nordic nations agreed to collaborate in:

Renewable energy

Green hydrogen

Sustainable urban development

Climate-resilient technologies

Circular economy initiatives

Innovation and Emerging Technologies:

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

6G technology research

Digital public infrastructure

Startups and innovation ecosystems

STEM research collaborations

Trade and Investment Cooperation:

The summit highlighted opportunities created by:

India-EU trade negotiations

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)

The partnership is expected to increase:

Technology investments

Manufacturing collaboration

Green industrial projects

Supply chain resilience

Blue Economy and Arctic Cooperation

India and Nordic countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in:

Maritime infrastructure

Sustainable fisheries

Ocean research

Arctic governance and polar research

India’s Strategic Interests in Nordic Region

The Nordic countries are important partners for India because they are:

Leaders in green technology

Advanced innovation-driven economies

Strong investors in clean energy and digital sectors

Important partners in climate diplomacy

Additional Key Facts:

Nordic Countries

The Nordic region consists of:

Norway

Sweden

Denmark

Finland

Iceland

EFTA

Full Form: European Free Trade Association

Members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway & Switzerland

India-EFTA TEPA

Signed in: 2024

Full Form: Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement

Focus areas:

Investment

Trade

Technology cooperation

Skill development

Blue Economy

Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for:

Economic growth

Livelihood improvement

Marine ecosystem protection

Arctic Region

The Arctic is strategically important due to:

Climate research

Shipping routes

Critical minerals

Energy resources

India has an Arctic research station named: Himadri (located in Svalbard, Norway)