Svein Grandum has more than 20 years of experience in Asia, as a scientist, a representative of a solar materials company and as a government representative at the Norwegian Embassy. He has been giving advice to research institutions and the commercial sector in Japan for more than 15 years. He has a master degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a PhD from University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Bridges: Have you enjoyed your time in Japan? What are some of your personal insights into living and working in Japan?
Grandum: It has been quite a journey since I arrived in Japan as a young scientist at a Japanese research institute in 1991, gradually finding my place in the society and going through its changes over time together with Japanese colleagues and friends. You discover different sides about yourself, being exposed to another culture and setting, and most rewarding when you gradually develop your network and gain respect for your role and contribution.
I have been privileged to serve Norwegian companies and the Norwegian Embassy during these years, contributing as a bridge builder, communicating opportunities to both sides. And Japan and Norway have much in common, using and harvesting from the oceans as one important one.
It tells me that we can do much more together, to develop more offshore wind power, to ensure a transition of the maritime sector and to work to combat climate change through research. It is always inspiring talking to students in Japan and Norway who are curious about exploring opportunities in working in this international interface. We need the young generation to be even more ambitious about pushing borders and stepping into new waters.”
What does the Green Strategic Partnership between Japan and Norway stand for in terms of further collaboration?
The collaboration between Japan and Norway for accelerating the green transition has already been going for many years, and involves stakeholders from academia, the business sector, and governments.
The collaboration between Japan and Norway for accelerating the green transition has already been going for many years, and involves stakeholders from academia, the business sector, and governments.
Svein Grandum, Ph.D. Counsellor, Head of Trade & Technology Office, Norwegian Embassy Tokyo, Trade and Technology Office
The communique on green strategic partnership signed in December 2023 between the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway is an important framework to work even more systematically and coordinated within particularly 7 areas; hydrogen and ammonia, offshore wind, batteries, CCUS, green transportation, minerals and manufacturing.
We will be targeting the development of cost-efficient and scalable value chains, to share experiences and to unite in taking down practical hurdles such as lack of harmonization of standards and regulations.
How can Japan and Norway together play a significant role in accelerating the green transition?
Japan and Norway possess both unique competence, experience, and industry positions. Japan’s manufacturing capacity, combined with Norway’s experience from deep ocean operations in the oil and gas sector, will be beneficial for the developments of floating offshore wind, in Japan as well as in Europe. Japan has, like Norway, strong ambitions for the development of regional and global value chains for carbon neutral energy carriers, such as hydrogen and ammonia. While Norway traditionally has been strong and experienced on the production and transport of these carriers, Japan has taken an important early-mover position as an advanced off-taker for large-scale import.
We can create a partnership built on complementarity, to secure the establishment of a well-functioning market, where safety and cost-reduction are key factors to succeed. Large Japanese companies are investing in Norwegian companies in this green transition and engaging in the developments in Europe as well as in Asia, using the Norwegian springboard.
We would like to welcome more engagements from Japanese companies in the creation and expansion of this industry in Norway, as well as Norwegian companies finding partners for the development of the Japanese market for green solutions.
As an ‘Energy Nation’, how is Norway positioning itself as a strong partner for Japan?
Norway would like to become an even more relevant partner for Japan on the path to achieve its ambitions for climate neutrality. Our Embassy in Tokyo, heading the Team Norway activities, is now strengthening our business support team within areas such as offshore wind, with dedicated resources on the ground for many years to come.
Norway would like to become an even more relevant partner for Japan on the path to achieve its ambitions for climate neutrality.
We work closely with both Japanese and Norwegian companies to formulate strong partnerships, to display unique solutions that Norway can provide to the Japanese offshore wind development projects. Norway’s efforts in decarbonizing the maritime sector, both electrifying our coastal vessels as well as taking on the new energy carriers, hydrogen, and ammonia, could be other areas for increased joint activities.
We are piloting industrial scale maritime fuel cells in various green innovation projects. We are also building a battery value chain, from raw material production to complete battery systems, already in close partnership with Japanese companies.
How do you contribute to promoting R&D and business partnership with Japan?
Our team at the Embassy will continue to facilitate and support the green partnership where we promote Norwegian stakeholders to Japan through seminars and meetings. We promote Norway’s competence and solutions to potential Japanese partners.
Our Trade and Technology Office has dedicated resources also within the science and technology area as well as on foreign direct investments (FDI) towards Norway. FDI for the green transition goes hand in hand with our activities to promote solutions to the Japanese and global market.
