High North Dialogue: "More Important Than Ever to Discuss the Future of The High North"
Project Manager for the High North Dialogue Conferende, Benedikte Kosmo Underland. (Photo: Markus J. Thonhaugen/The High North Center for Business and Governance)
The High North Dialogue conference is coming up in Bodø at the end of March. "This year’s conference is more important than ever", says the project manager.
High North Dialogue is an annual conference organized by the High North Center for Business and Governance at Nord University in Bodø, northern Norway.
The event gathers decision-makers, researchers, business leaders, and young people from around the world to discuss the future of the Arctic.
This year’s theme, "Business in the Arctic: New Realities," addresses the changing landscape of the region. With increasing global interest and Norway’s clear prioritization of the High North, the conference could hardly come at a more critical time.
"A new U.S. president and a rapidly changing international landscape make discussions about the High North more important than ever", says project manager Benedikte Kosmo Underland according to a press release from the High North Center.
A changing landscape
The program covers crucial topics such as security policy, the space industry in the Arctic, green and blue economy, and journalism in times of war and democracy under pressure. A number of international speakers and experts are expected in the Norwegian Arctic town.
A new U.S. president and a rapidly changing international landscape
"The High North is changing, and we need to discuss what this means for business, politics, and local communities", says Underland.
The conference will also feature the Ambassador Panel, where diplomats discuss international cooperation in the Arctic, as well as the High North Hero Award ceremony and the final of the High North Young Entrepreneur competition.
Pubinar
In addition to the main program, 16 side events will be held in collaboration with partners such as Bodø Municipality, the Bodø Region Development Company (BRUS), Arctic Frontiers, and Nord University.
Alongside the main program, several informal events will take place, like a so called pubinar - a pub seminar - on March 25, a hosted at local brewery, featuring discussions on geopolitics.
"We hope the local community will join us. It is free and open to everyone", says Underland.
High North Dialogue 2025 will be opened by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) of Norway. Here in conversation with High North News commentator Arne O. Holm on the 2023 edition. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Caters to the young
The social program also includes a morning sauna, conference dinner, Arctic coastal walk, and a RIB safari to the worlds stronges maelstrom, Saltstraumen.
Underland also hopes many young people will participate in the conference.
"Everyone under 40 can apply for financial support to cover the conference fee, and students receive a discounted rate", says the project manager.
Under pressure
In this new geopolitical landscape, the open and free dialogue is under pressure.
Only weeks before another major Arctic conference was supposed to welcome speakers and attendees from all over the world to Alaska, the Arctic Encounter Symposium announced that the conference had been moved from the beginning of April to the turn of the month July/August, with no further explanation.
High North News is an independent newspaper published by the High North Center at the Nord university. High North News follows the Norwegian Press Code of Ethics and is edited according to the Association of Norwegian Editors – Rights and Duties of the Editor.
