Since Italy was admitted to the Arctic Council as Permanent Observer in 2013, SIOI has carried out an active role in training youth on Arctic issues, fostering events and initiatives in collaboration with the Italian Institutions and the Embassies of the Arctic States in Italy.

SIOI and UNITELMA Sapienza – University of Rome – in agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, CNR, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway and Nord University of Bodø,  organize the First Level University Master’s Course in Geopolitics of the Arctic.

In light of these initiatives, on September 3rd, 2018, SIOI was officially admitted by unanimous vote to the UArctic (University of the Arctic), in occasion of the meeting of the UArctic Council in Oulu (Finland). SIOI is the first Italian Institution to be admitted in the Network and the first of the Mediterranean area. UArctic is the prestigious network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations involved in education and research in and of the Arctic region. It works through the sharing of programs, resources and expertise to promote education and knowledge of the High North.

Furthermore, SIOI regularly participates at the Arctic Table, an open-ended consultation group on the Arctic, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It is currently composed of 25 members from academia, research and business. The aim of the Arctic Table is to maintain a permanent contact between the main national actors involved, in different ways, in Arctic issues.

Thanks to an agreement between the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome and the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University (Bodø, Norway), and with the sponsorship of Eni Spa, SIOI organized the first edition of the International Symposium, “Arctic Connections: Italy and Norway in the Arctic between cooperation and future challenges”, on September 18th 2018. The event is part of a wider SIOI project, “Arctic Connections”, which aims to strengthen bilateral relations with the Member States and Observers of the Arctic Council, identifying possible common areas of cooperation and dialogue.

Through this initiative, SIOI also aims to raise awareness among the new generations and public opinion on the importance of a sustainable economic growth and on the consequences of climate change that affect the entire planet.

ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION – SIOI 

ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ITALY

HIGH NORTH CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE – NORD UNIVERSITY DI BODØ (NORVEGIA)

Rome, 28 – 29 February 2024

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

ARCTIC CONNECTIONS

“Arctic and Mediterranean:
new assets for energy security and green transition”

Hybrid mode

SIOI UNA Italy, in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy to Italy and the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University of Bodø (Norway), is pleased to present the International Symposium Arctic Connections: “Arctic and Mediterranean: New Assets for Energy Security and Green Transition”, which will take place on 28 and 29 February 2024 in English and in hybrid mode.

The high-level event will address issues related to the Arctic and Mediterranean quadrant with the aim of analyzing any parallels on common challenges linked to the energy crisis and the ecological transition. Italian and foreign experts from the scientific, economic, academic and political sectors will participate.

The initiative falls within the scope of the Project: “Arctic Connections – Arctic and Mediterranean: new assets for energy security and strategic balances” which benefits from the contribution assigned with decree 4852/1167/2/2023 – Analysis, Programming, Statistics and Historical Documentation – pursuant to art. 23 – bis of Presidential Decree 18/1967 for 2023.

P R O G R A M

Wednesday, February 28^th 2024

15.00 – 17.00 Side Event: Youth engagement in the Arctic to tackle the climate change

Icebreakers:

Alessandra CARUSO, Arctic Officer, Italian Society for International Organization, SIOI

Bård Borch MICHALSEN, Arctic University of Norway and High North Center for Business and Governance

Youth voices:

Annarita NAPOLITANO e Giacomo DI CAPUA, UNYDP – UN Youth Delegate of Italy

Giulia TARIELLO, EU Youth Delegate to the UN

Maja WOLLAND BLOMBERG, PhD Research Fellow at High North Center for Business and Governance

will discuss about:

How can youth from North and South be engaged to make the High North a better and more attractive place to live and work during times of climate change, and what do youths think politicians and business should do?

 Other participants: Representative of MSOI – UNYA (SIOI Student Movement for International Organization), SIOI students, Youth Representatives from Nord University

Thursday, February 29^th 2024         

09:00 – 09:30 Registration of participants

9.30 – 10.15  Opening Speeches

Riccardo SESSA, President of SIOI

Johan VIBE, Ambassador of Norway to Italy

Massimiliano NANNINI, Director of the Italian Hydrographic Institute, Italian Navy

Frode MELLEMVIK, Director, High North Center for Business and Governance

10.15- 10.30: Global Perspectives of Arctic Cooperation

Maria VARTERESSIAN, Deputy Minister, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

10.30  – 12.45 Session I: The Arctic and the Mediterranean: research and insight

Chair:  Giuseppe MORABITO, Ambassador, SIOI Board

Aldo PIGOLI, Professor, SIOI and Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan

Andreas ØSTHAGEN, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute & Associate Professor, High North Center

Massimiliano NANNINI, Director of the Italian Hydrographic Institute, Italian Navy

Ivan CARUSO, Military Advisor to SIOI

Q&A session

14.00 – 16.00 Session II: Cooperation for Energy transition and a sustainable economic development

Chair:  Bård Borch MICHALSEN, Arctic University of Norway and High North Center for Business and Governance

Knut Harald NYGÅRD, Project Manager, Northern Area Unit, Equinor

Marco PIREDDA, Head of International Affairs Analysis and Business Support, ENI

Monica PAULSEN, General Manager Kunnskapsparken Helgeland and Cluster Manager for the Arctic Cluster Team – ACT

Håvard VOLLSET LIEN, Vice President Research and Innovation, Vard Group

 Q&A session

 16.00 -16.30 Closing Session

Giuseppe MORABITO, Ambassador, SIOI Board

Bård Borch MICHALSEN, Arctic University of Norway and High North Center for Business and Governance

Carmine ROBUSTELLI, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

International Sympsium ARCTIC CONNECTIONS

The great challenge of the Arctic: Perspectives and Changes for a Peaceful Cooperation

In collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Italy and the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University (Bodø)

SIOI – Rome, October 18/19, 2022

Tuesday, October 18

Institutional Speeches: Riccardo SESSA, Vice President of SIOI; Johan VIBE, Ambassador of Norway to Italy; Massimiliano NANNINI, Director of the Italian Hydrographic Institute; Maria Chiara CARROZZA, President, National Research Council of Italy; Frode MELLEMVIK, Director of the High North Center, Nord University Business School.

First Panel

The Arctic dilemma: regional dynamics of a security in transition

The recent conflict in Ukraine has had repercussions also in the Arctic region, so far the only scenario that has seen peaceful cooperation between all the States since the end of the Cold War. The Arctic Council has been paused and the Arctic 7 are planning to restart the Council’s work without Russia. How this situation affects the future of Arctic collaboration and security?

 Clara GANSLANDT, EU Special Envoy for Arctic Matters, European External Action Service

Aldo PIGOLI, Professor, International Relations Analysis, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan

Andreas ØSTHAGEN, Senior Advisor, High North Center, Nord University Business School, Bodø, Senior Research Fellow Fridtjof Nansen Institute

Moderator: Arne O. HOLM, Editor in Chief, High North News

Wednesday, October 19

Second Panel

New emerging leadership in the Arctic

What kind of leadership does the Arctic need, seen from both the international, national and even a local business perspective? Which challenges and solutions do Italy and EU see? How is leadership executed concretely in the High North? Is there a distinctive way of exercising leadership in the Arctic, and what might the High North learn from Italy?

Carmine ROBUSTELLI, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Bjørn OLSEN, Professor at the High North Center, Nord University Business School

Ida Kristine JAKOBSEN, General Manager, Clarion Hotel The Edge by Nordic Choice Hotels, Tromsø

Tonje Margrete WINSNES JOHANSEN, Advisor, Arctic and Environment Unit, Saami Council

Moderator: Bård Borch MICHALSEN, Associate professor, The Arctic University of Norway, Harstad and the High North Center, Nord University Business School

Third Panel

Europe’s energy crisis and the need of cooperation

The new geopolitical tensions have placed Europe in front of an energy crisis and uncertainty on supply. Is it possible to think that the energy crisis will boost the European Green Deal and the energy transition? How the Arctic can play a central role to face crisis, both in the development of alternative resources and the extractions of oil and gas and rare earths? How to combine the management of the commercial shipping passages, the oil and gas extraction activities, the scientific researches, the Earth observation activities for the Permafrost thaw challenges, the Search and Rescue activities with the need of cooperation? What alternatives do we have?

Marco PIREDDA, Head of International Affairs Analysis and Business Support – Public Affairs Department, ENI S.p.A.

Knut Vidar LARSSEN, Exploration and Production Director for the Barents Sea, Equinor

Tommaso PARRINELLO, Aeolus and Cryosat Mission Manager · European Space Agency – ESA

Paolo SELLARI, Professor, Geopolitics of transport, University of Rome La Sapienza

Rolf LAUPSTAD, Mayor, Berlevåg

Kjell RICHARDSEN, Business developer, Berlevåg

Moderator: Petter NORE, Professor, Nord University

International Symposium

ARCTIC CONNECTIONS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARCTIC: how do we succeed? 

SIOI – Rome

Tuesday 26^th October, h. 3.00 – 5.00 pm

Wednesday 27^th October, h. 9.30am – 1.00pm

SIOI – UNA Italy, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Italy and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation , in collaboration with the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University (Bodø) , launch the International Symposium “Sustainable Development in the Arctic: how do we succeed?”.

Could the Arctic be a precursor of the energy transition? That’s the question the Arctic States and Observers are called to answer through a debate focused on the green energy, the international cooperation and the future of the Arctic region. The event will be paneled by international experts which will discuss about the importance of new energy technologies and business development in the Arctic, the bi-multilateral cooperation for the enforcement of the European Green Deal and the economic and political factors that could influence the future scenarios of the Arctic region. A focus will be dedicated to the contribution of the private sector to the development of the region and its significance for social and demographic development.

The aim of the Conference is to strengthen the cooperation between the Arctic States, the Observers and all the stakeholders involved in the region by discussing pressing issues related to the sustainable development and climate change.

INFO -> stampa@sioi.org 

ARCTIC CONNECTIONS PROGRAMME 

International Symposium

ARCTIC CONNECTIONS

A trust building Arctic cooperation on Energy, Security and Blue Economy

SIOI – Rome | Tuesday 1st October 2019, h.9.00 am – 5.00 pm

SIOI – UNA Italy and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Italy, in collaboration with the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University (Bodø), launch the International Symposium “Arctic connections: A trust building Arctic cooperation on Energy, Security and Blue Economy” sponsored by E-Geos and Generali.

Arctic States and Observers will be invited to participate and discuss pressing issues relating to sustainable development through Arctic infrastructure and communication, national interests and energy opportunities. The aim of the Conference, which will be paneled by international experts, is to create synergies between the human population and environmental reactions, with a specific focus on the Arctic region. In addition to scientific cooperation, the Observer States, like Italy, can play a key role in raising awareness beyond the Arctic Circle and drawing attention to the importance Arctic climate change, and how it can affect areas outside of the Arctic.

For strengthening relations between Italy, other Observer States and the Arctic States, SIOI organizes, in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the United States Embassy to Italy and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, the first Arctic Awareness Week that encompasses all aspects of the Arctic region including the environment, sustainable development, economy and inter-state cooperation. The Arctic Awareness Week is composed by two large events: Arctic Connections and ZeroHackathon on Oceans and Poles.

INFO -> stampa@sioi.org 

ARCTIC CONNECTION PROGRAMME -> Arctic Connections 2019 Program _compressed (2)

International Symposium

ARCTIC CONNECTIONS

Italy and Norway in the Arctic: between cooperation and future challenges

SIOI – Rome | Tuesday 18th September 2018, h.9.30 am – 5.00 pm

SIOI – UNA Italy  and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Italy, in collaboration with the High North Center for Business and Governance – Nord University (Bodø), launch the International Symposium “Arctic connections: Italy and Norway in the Arctic between Cooperation and Future Challenges” sponsored by ENI Spa.

The Conference’s topics will be related to the geopolitics of resources and transport, to the Arctic governance and sustainable economic development with the aim of stimulating a closer collaboration between Italy and Norway through the evaluation of common synergies.

Arctic Connection Programme

Info -> stampa@sioi.org 

Building on the concept of Model UN, ONE ARCTIC is a simulation of the Arctic Council intended to give students the possibility to play a leading role in the conducting and decision-making of one of the most advanced intergo- vernmental forum, following the mechanism of negotiations and the o cial rules of procedure.

“One Arctic” engaged students aged 17-30 across the circumpolar north and beyond in a collaborative educational experience that was held at SIOI premises from 2nd to 5th of May 2017. Participants representing Member States, Permanent Participants, and Observers of the Arctic Council, were asked to formulate proposals for a well managed Arctic marked by international cooperation, rising Arctic awareness, strengthening resilience of multiscales changes, addressing the rapidly changing climate, improving a safe and secure use of the Arctic resources.

Only those who demonstrated a deep understanding of the Arctic issues and policies, outstanding public speaking, diplomacy, negotiation, and deliberation skills, and prove their leadership abilities, were nominated Best Delegates.