‍Organizers: New Roads, State Road Administration, Sintef and VIA

About the event

Did you know that public support for research barely touches the construction industry, which is responsible for a huge share of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and waste? The industry is in the midst of a demanding transformation, and needs more research and development to cope with the transformation.

Imagine that only a fraction of research funds are directed towards restructuring the construction sector! What if we can change this? We're talking about shaking up an established system, creating innovation that takes the industry in a more sustainable direction. That is exactly what is the goal of the research and innovation project Sustainable value chain and material use in road construction. New Roads, together with 16 partners, has received funding from the national grand venture Green Platform Identify barriers and change the way roads are built. Here, the entire value chain has come together on a huge project, supported by the state and industrial heavyweights. This is absolutely unique!

The budget is over NOK 123 million, with the Research Council, Innovation Norway and SIVA contributing NOK 68.5 million and the industry partners providing the rest. And what is the goal? To cut CO2 emissions from road projects by at least 50% through the development of at least 10 large, full-scale pilot projects that test new materials and methods on high-traffic roads. In addition, a simpler and more efficient innovation system will be developed that contributes to accelerating the green transformation power of the construction industry.

Now it's time to share experiences from the project. It is not just about numbers and percentages, but about the raw power of change when collaboration is stimulated across subjects and silos. Let's challenge established thinking and bring forward ideas that can transform the industry. And finally, let's have an honest conversation about why we need more support for research and development, and how that support going forward should be geared to get the most value for money.

What do you say? Are you ready to shake up the status quo and be part of a real change?

In this event, we highlight how large-scale collaborative projects, with a close link between research and industry, can trigger ground-breaking innovation that can help the construction industry deliver on climate and environmental objectives.

In this session, questions such as:

• How to unleash the great potential for innovation, transformation and business development?
• How can we better allocate public research funding to promote innovation and sustainability in the construction industry?
• What role does public support play in stimulating sustainable innovation in road construction, and what can be done to improve this support?
• How can collaboration across disciplines and industry silos help accelerate sustainable innovation in road construction?

Moderator:

• Ketil Søyland, Project Director, Norconsult AS

Introducers:

• Helen Roth, General Manager, VIA - the Transport Infrastructure Industry Cluster
• Anette Aanesland, CEO, New Roads
• Ingrid Dahl Hovland (TBC), Road Director, Norwegian Public Roads Administration
• Jo Mortensen, Executive Vice President Technology, Innovation and Green Business Development, Skanska

In the panel:

• Sigrun Gjerløw Aasland, State Secretary at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Labour
• Ola Elvestuen, member of the Energy and Environment Committee, Liberal Party
• Helen Roth, General Manager, VIA - the Transport Infrastructure Industry Cluster
• Jo Mortensen, Executive Vice President Technology, Innovation and Green Business Development, Skanska
• Vibeke Nossum, Head of Research, Sintef
• Rein Terje Thorstensen, docent, University of Agder