On March 10-12, NTNU, Sintef and the The Fridtjof Nansen Institute will organize a symposium on minerals in the Arctic Region. The symposium will take at Scandic Lerkendal in Trondheim.

The program is as follows: 

Tuesday, 10 March: Stock-take: Ongoing deep sea mining research in the Nordics 

11:30-12:30 lunch 

12:30-16:30 state of play, knowledge needs, future research activities, remaining gaps 

Opening presentation of framing organizations and facilities  (Gemini Centre, CRIMINA, SINTEF KS Minerals and Critical Raw Materials, NTNU resources team (samfunssikkerhet)) 

Matthias Haeckel (GEOMAR), Presenting Mining Impact 3 project

Pedro Ribeiro (UiB), Centre for Deep-Sea Research. The Eco-Safe Ridge Mining project

Tirza Meyer (UiO), INVISEA Charting the Seabed Multiple, Knowledge and Values of Norwegian Seabed Areas  

Pshem Kowalczuk et al., Processing of Deep-Sea Minerals, focusing on seafloor massive sulfides. Lessons learned from the EMINENT project.  

Mahesh Kulkarni (Resitec), Norwegian seabed massive sulfides to first copper metal produced: EMINENT project outcome

14:00 coffee break 

Bhargav Boddupalli- DSM projects at SINTEF  

Tripledeep PhDs – 3 elevator pitches (Farida Mustafina, Yoram Carboex, Raoul Viktor Johannes Schmitt) 

Dani Schmid (Bergwerk) and Ebbe Hartz (Aker BP), DeepSee AI-assisted mapping of Norwegian deep sea megabenthos

Evgeniy Yakushev (NIVA), Modelling sediment-water fluxes in changing redox conditions

Haldis Helle (Greenpeace), Bridging the gap: civil society assisted research in the Norwegian Sea

Miriam Brandt NORCE, Biodiversity in the Deep eDNA 

15:30 Open discussion on future research needs 

16.30 End fo program

18:00 Dinner 

Wednesday, March 11. Critical minerals in the Arctic: challenges and perspectives for the Nordic countries.  

08:30 Coffee 

09:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks - Mats Ingulstad, NTNU

Introduction to land and marine minerals in Norway, key themes for the symposium, and framing the shared challenges and opportunities across both contexts - Gørild Merethe Heggelund, FNI

Introduction to the Critical minerals in the Arctic: challenges and perspectives for the Nordic countries (CRIMINA) NordForsk project 

09:15 Mineral Criticality 

Pierre Josso, Deputy Director UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, British Geological Survey. Mineral criticality from a full supply chain perspective. 

09:35 Energy Policy and Mineral Security

Cecilie Myklatun, Norwegian Ministry of Energy, Policy frameworks linking mineral supply to energy transition goals and national security considerations. 

09:55 Mining Governance

Geological Survey of Nowary (NGU). Onshore geological resources in Norway and the role of geological data in mineral resource management 

10:15 Licensing Systems and Indigenous Compensation in Mineral Projects

Katrine Broch Hauge, University of Oslo/Gemini Centre. Legal frameworks for mineral licensing and tenure systems, with focus on indigenous compensation mechanisms in land-based mineral development 

10.30 Coffee Break  

11:00 Mining Industry: Current Challenges in regulatory landscape both onshore and off

Heidelbergcement Northern Europe, Bård Dagestad. Navigating regulatory complexities in Norway.  

11:15 Mining Industry: Current Challenges in regulatory landscape both onshore and offshore

Aker BP, Ebbe Hartz. Norwegian Seabed Minerals: Opportunities and challenges

11:30 Mining Industry: Technology Developments and Innovation

Astrid Lunde Wall (Verdalskalk AS.) Emerging technologies and sustainable mining practices developed to maintain social license to operate.

11.45 Business Cycles and the Architecture of Growth

Andreas Svanlund (Business Strategist, Military Officer, and CCO at SafeClean AS)

12.00 Rare Earth Elements: Why China Controls the Market

Michael Bau (Constructor University). 

12:15 Facilitated Discussion: Regulatory Challenges and Possibilities in Mineral project Development - All attendees

Participants will discuss the regulatory landscape for mineral development in Norway, drawing on the morning's presentations. What is working, what isn't, and where do stakeholders agree or disagree on the path forward? This open session invites all attendees to share perspectives on how frameworks can better support responsible mineral development.

13:00 Lunch 

14:00 Environmental considerations and mineral regulation

Martin Melvær - Bellona
Ellen Andersson - Naturverforbundet

Martin Melvær (Bellona). The need for responsible minerals and how civil society contributes

Ellen Andersson (Naturverforbundet). 

Haldis Helle (Greenpeace). Knowing where to stop: resource managment in the triple planetary crisis.

14:45 Environmental considerations and mineral regulation

Kingsrose. Social role of mining and social licence to operate 

15:00 Sámi Perspectives on Mineral Development 

Laila Susanne Vars (digital). Consultation, competence and consequences: Sami participation and mineral development. 

15:15 Coffee Break 

15:30 Panel Discussion: Nordic Voices on Minerals Policy, Sustainability, and Security of Supply

Broadcast as public webinar – Panel composition to include representatives from all stakeholder groups. Webinar TSO Civil Security 

Register for webinar here: https://www.ntnu.no/kalender/detaljer/-/event/cc817778-3512-3291-bdaf-205c3ce93dae

Participants: Patrick Andersson (Analyst Swedish National China Centre); Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle (Acting deputy Programme Manager, Greenpeace); Dr. Pierre Josso (Deputy Director, UK critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC), British Geological Survey); Bård Dagestad (Resource Manager, Heidelberg MAterials Northern Europe).

Moderator: Eric Young (Researcher, SINTEF OCEAN; Host, The Elments of Deep Sea Mining Podcast).

Key Discussion Questions: 

Are Norway's current mineral regulations adequate for today's geopolitical landscape, and how should they be adapted?

In the current geopolitical context and the 'securitisation' of the Arctic, how may China's prominent role in critical minerals influence the Arctic developments

What role should regulation play in balancing international obligations and domestic policy against broader societal needs?

What research is most urgently needed to inform decision-making? 

How can different stakeholder perspectives be reconciled in integrated minerals policy?

16.30 End of program

18:30 Symposium Dinner

March 12 – primarily invited researchers 8.30 - 13.00

1. Internal CRIMINA working session focused on synthesis and writing.

2. working group on proposal for valuation study 

For questions regarding the program, please contact:

Mats Ingulstad - mats.ingulstad@ntnu.no, +47 922 68 949

Eric Young – eric.young@sintef.no, +47 413 71 416