Energy-Enviro in 23 October 2013:

Aurora Borealis – a new European research icebreaker – is on the drawing boards of Aker Arctic, a global leader in design and ice model testing. Photo: EU.

Finland plays a key role in developing Arctic marine technology

by Yrjö Myllylä, Jon McEwan, Jari Kaivo-oja

The demand for arctic natural resources and human activity is increasing for many reasons. Increasing prices of raw materials, Russia’s geopolitical focus shifting to North after collapse of the former Soviet Union and the development of new cost-effective and eco-friendly technologies in addition to climate change are the main reasons for increased demand. In utilization of Arctic natural resources and new international trade routes marine technology is of importance and its demand is forecasted to rapidly grow. With long traditions and world-class know-how on ice conditions and icebreaking technologies, Finland is playing a key role in the development of Arctic maritime transport.

Titles of articles are folow one

• Arctic marine technology is driven by resource extraction

• Finnish offering

• Forerunner in seagoing vessels

• Ensuring future competitiveness

• Russian interests move to the North promoting Northeast Passage

• Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region is import

• Finnish ice-breaking know-how powers ahead

Figure 1. Prospective areas for hard minerals, oil and gas and other activities in Arctic. The Arctic marine technology is first and foremost a question of utilization of natural resources: gas and oil, minerals and timber. It is also necessary for food consumption and arctic tourism. Source: Nordregio

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About  authors 

The mainauthor is a Senior Research Scientist, Ph.D., Yrjö Myllylä, from RD Aluekehitys Oy, (Regional Development Ltd). This article is based mainly on a joint project of maritime industry with Uusimaa ELY center of, which is forecasting the Arctic marine technology opportunities for Uusimaa SMEs by 2030. For more information, visit the project http://www.amtuusimaa.net.

In his doctoral dissertation (2007), Dr Myllylä evaluated the industrial, social and logistic developments in the Murmansk regionby using the Delphi Method. His scientific interests also include innovative entrepreneurship and internationalization of small and medium size enterprises.

Doctor Myllylä currently works as a research consultant at RD Aluekehitys Oy/ Regional Development Ltd. Yrjö Myllylä, is one of Finland’s best Arctic experts who has among many other contributions written a recent report concerning Finnish interests in the Arctic for the Ministry of Employment and the Economy of Finland.” (See introduction also from Helsinki Climate Forum: Arctic Urgency)

Jon McEwan, co-author and an independent researcher, collaborated with Yrjö Myllylä with Regional Development Ltd (RD Aluekehitys Oy) and he  is Master’s student in the International Program of Human Geography at the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu.

Adjunct professor, Jari Kaivo-oja, co-author and research director of the Finland Futures Research Centre of Turku School of Economics, has worked with Dr Yrjö Myllylä in the SMARCTIC project making long-run foresight analyses of the Arctic business potential.

See all article.