Gemini Centre Global Impact

At a time of war, rising geopolitical tensions, and declining trust in multilateral cooperation, we must find new ways to work together globally. Technology is one of the most powerful drivers of development, but only when it is adopted, further developed, and creates value where it is intended to function.

At Gemini Global Impact’s event during Arendalsuka, we posed the question: “What does it take for technology cooperation to work in practice, and what role should Norway play?”

Alexandra Bech Gjørv, CEO of SINTEF, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of technology and innovation for economic and social development, particularly in times of uncertainty. She highlighted the need to rethink technology cooperation in order to avoid repeating past mistakes and asked: “How should we build solutions together?”

In a conversation with Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Aukrust, the minister pointed to the opportunities offered by greater use of technology in development efforts. One major challenge, he noted, is that many countries are not keeping pace with technological advances. He argued that this is an area where Norway has much to contribute, including through existing digitalization projects in India

NTNU Rector Tor Grande highlighted the importance of taking a long-term, regional, interdisciplinary, and holistic approach by considering the entire value chain and ecosystem surrounding technology cooperation. This includes understanding the context into which technology is being introduced. He pointed to the Research Council of Norway as a key actor that can help finance such collaborations.

Drawing on concrete examples from Tanzania and Nepal, as well as the SINTEF project OPTOCE, Jennifer West (NMBU), Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug (NTNU), and Anneli Alatalo Paulsen (SINTEF) demonstrated how technology cooperation works in practice. Jennifer showed that technology does not create development on its own, partly because of differences among end users. She therefore challenged us to start these processes with people and their needs, rather than with the technology itself.

The session concluded with a panel discussion featuring Mari Sundli Tveit, CEO of the Research Council of Norway, and Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway. Mari emphasized the importance of institution-building and strong institutions in partner countries and explained how the Research Council can support such projects through funding. Håkon highlighted risk mitigation as a core element in reducing the risks that local actors face when engaging in technology cooperation.

Rolee Aranya, Director, NTNU’s Global South Initiative, closed the session by underscoring the context in which technology cooperation takes place, drawing on the examples presented throughout the discussion: equal partnerships, trust, local capacity, and institution-building. At the same time, she stressed that more can be achieved through the policy instruments and funding mechanisms already available.

Read NTNU and SINTEF’s joint contribution on development and technology cooperation to Project Vendepunkt here:

ntnu-og-sintef-sitt-samlet-innspill-til-prosjekt-vendepunkt.pdf