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Metals are, and will continue to be, a pre-requisite for
modern society. The houses and offices we live and work
in; the cars, planes and trains we use for transport; the
computers and mobile phones we use to communicate
– all rely on metals.
Metal producers in Norway are operating in an interna-
tional market. They have owners with a long-term strat-
egy for further operations in Norway and with an active
focus on technological innovations.
The metal producing industry is Norway’s largest land-
based industry, with total exports valued at 52 billion
NOK in 2013. In addition, this industry “manages” about
30 % of Norway’s total electricity consumption and em-
ploys directly ~10000 people
1
. In 2020, a significant sur-
plus of electricity in Norway is expected, pointing to new
opportunities for energy intensive industries
2
.
At the same time, the framework conditions for metal
producers are changing rapidly:
i.
Unprecedented growth in metals demand, mainly
due to industrialization and urbanization in
emerging market economies;
1
SSB-2013
2
FAFO-rapport 2012:08. ”Klemt mellom Kina og klima”. ISBN: 978-82-7422-864-1
ii.
rising concerns for access to critical raw
materials, often used in electronics and new
technologies essential for environmental
protection;
iii. energy use and GHG emissions need to
be reduced drastically to avoid dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate
system;
iv.
Mature economies experience an increasing
availability of scrap that may be used as a
secondary resource and may thereby address
(i)-(iii); however, unresolved quality challenges
remain. Metals producers need to adjust to these
changing boundary conditions in order to remain
competitive on the global markets.
This requires several breakthroughs:
i.
new technologies for more resource efficient
and emissions saving primary and secondary
production;
ii.
new tools for forecasting changes in the global
material cycles and for identifying the most
effective combinations of technologies to support
decision making in industry and government.
The Application for SFI Metal Production was evalu-
ated by the Research Council, an international expert
committee and representatives from the industry. The
panel’s verbal evaluation of the application regarding
its potential for innovation and value creation is quot-
ed below:
This is a project with an extraordinarily large potential
for innovation and value creation. The application have
generally very high scores on all the criteria in the eval-
uation of potential for innovation and value creation.
The application is particularly strong regarding national
competence and relevance. The application addresses
core issues concerning the status of the metallurgical
industry’ challenges (environment and energy) and is
strategically very important for future value creation and
development in the land based industry.
The added value for the industry, by establishing such a
centre is considered very high. The application is within
an area where the Norwegian research environments
and companies, have an international leading position.
The application has a very good foundation among the
user partners. The industrial partners will be deeply
involved in the governance and implementation of the
work in the centre. The application has a very good stra-
tegical foundation in the host institution. The application
falls within the strategic goal of all the companies. The
application is important in order to continue the devel-
opment of the decentralized structure of the industry
in Norway. The application has many of the key players
within the metal producing industry in Norway as part-
ners. Consequently, the Centre will, to a large extent,
contribute to a national competence boost in this impor-
tant area.
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SFI Metal Production