Programme
Theme of the conference: Nordic cooperation in the north - transport infrastructure for competitiveness, preparedness and green industrial transition
Draft Programme 17 March 2026
12.00-13.00 REGISTRATION AND LUNCH
INTRODUCTION AND THE LARGER PERSPECTIVE
13.00–13.05 Introduction, Moderator Björn Hasselgren, Swedish Transport administration
13.05–13.10 Welcome to the Forum, Roberto Maiorana, Director General and Helena Eriksson, Regional Director Northern Region, Swedish Transport administration
13.10–13.15 Introduction of Programme, Björn Hasselgren, Moderator
13.15–13.20 Welcome to Luleå/Norrbotten, Carina Sammeli, Mayor, Municipality of Luleå
13.20–13.40 Transport and mobility in Europe – new challenges ahead, Martin Zeitler, Adviser ScanMed corridor and Jan Steinkohl, Adviser North Sea Baltic corridor, European Commission DG-MOVE
13.40-13.50 SHORT BREAK
INTENSIFIED NORDIC COOPERATION
"The ambition of Platform North is to be an umbrella cooperation for exchange of information, to enhance a system perspective, and to coordinate and collaborate efforts for development, as there are several initiatives on-going within the Northern Nordics."
13.50-14.20 Ministers’ statement and panel discussion
Kari Wihlman, Director General, Finnish transport infrastructure agency
Jacob Vorren, State secretary, Ministry of Transport, Norway
Sweden (tbc)
PLATFORM NORTH
14.20-14.40 Information about Platform North, Helena Eriksson, Regional Director Northern Region, Swedish Transport administration
14.40-14.55 Platform North Memorandum of understanding (MoU), Helena Eriksson
Declare Platform North MoU signed from driving parts (National governmental authorities, Regional governmental authorities, Politically driven regions, Business representative organisations)
14.55 COFFEE / Press conference
15.30-16.00 Prioritized measures in Platform North
Joint transport plan and Digital map, Jussi Huotari, Transport System Specialist, Economic development centre of Lapland and Nils-Petter Rusånes, Senior Engineer, The Norwegian public road administration
Financing, Henric Fuchs, Strategist, Region Västernorrland and Lotta Rönström, Senior Adviser, North Sweden European Office
Information platform, The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (tbc)
ARCTIC PERSPECTIVE
16.00–16.20 The EU Arctic Policy Revision – Perspectives from NSPA, Janni Ekrem, Advisor, North Norway European Office and Jonas Andersson, Chair of the network of Northern sparsley populated areas (NSPA)
16.20-16.40 Arctic outlook, Ingrid Dahl Hovland, Director General, The Norwegian public road administration
16.40–17.00 Arctic test arena - Strengthening Nordic Cooperation and Resilient Railways, Ann Kristin Bjerknes, Project Leader, Arctic Test Arena – Ofotbanen and Malmbanan, Norwegian Railway Directorate
19:00 MINGEL
19.30-22.00 CONFERENCE DINNER
Draft Programme 18 March 2026
COMPETITIVENESS, PREPAREDNESS AND INDUSTRIAL GREEN TRANSITION
08-15-08.30 Reflections from day 1, Björn Hasselgren, Moderator
Civil and military preparedness
08.30–08.50 Transport infrastructure for military mobility, P-O Norell, Lieutenant colonel, Swedish armed forces
08.50–09.10 Transport strategy for preparedness, Hannu Hakkarainen, Manager, Civil Preparedness, Finnish Transport and Communciations Agency
09.10-09.20 SHORT BREAK
Business life development
09.20–09.40 European rail gauge in Finland, Kaisa Kuukasjärvi, Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland
09.40–10.00 Nordic example of industrial needs road and rail
10.00–10.30 COFFEE
Energy in transport
10.30–10.50 Energy in relation to transport hubs, David Daniels, Senior Researcher, Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
Funding
10.50–11.20 Funding and financing, Claus Eberhard, Lead Economist, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank (EIB)
REFLECTION
11.20–11.50 Reflections - panel discussion of future collaboration
Sweden: Jonny Lundin, Regional councillor of Västernorrland
Norway: Richard Dagsvik, Executive for transportation, Nordland fylkeskommune,
Jan Frederik Geiner, Department Director Studies, Insights and Sustainability, Norwegian Railway Directorate
Finland: Hanna Baas, Vice-director, Lapland Chamber of Commerce
ROTATION FROM SWEDEN OF PLATFORM NORTH CHAIRSHIP TO NORWAY
11.50 Closing remarks from the present Swedish and new Norwegian Chairs
12.00 LUNCH