Consumables
Metsos Eloranta urges Finns to collaborate internationally in environmental technology development
Tuesday 09. June 2009 - Funding for Finnish environmental technology development is available from a variety of sources. Such funding is necessary because developing, testing and commercializing new technologies is a slow and expensive process.
Even though funding is available both nationally and internationally, the funding of projects in Finland is generally left up to individual companies and innovation communities.
“Finnish companies should, in fact, significantly increase global collaboration and networking with prominent international bodies and thereby fundamentally improve the chances to find funding for our projects,” notes Metsos President and CEO Jorma Eloranta. Eloranta spoke at the final seminar of the Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) Climbus program in Helsinki on June 9, 2009. The Climbus program was launched in 2004 in an effort to find and promote business opportunities in Finland to mitigate climate change. Metso has participated in number of the Climbus program projects.
Finnish technology companies have considerable know-how in the development of environmentally sound solutions. But one of the main problems in the technology field in Finland is that investments are dispersed among numerous targets. “We should focus on areas where we already have proven results internationally and globally leading companies. Finland has a strong position in areas like information and communication technology, bioenergy production and in improving energy efficiency in the process industry. Our companies should take more advantage of also open innovation activities. It is precisely programs like Climbus that will help guide know-how and investments to the right development path. The program is a good example of converging know-how and improving Finlands competitiveness in the environmental sector,” Eloranta continues.
Environmental technology must be supported with various measures
The way that energy is produced and consumed today is neither economically, environmentally nor socially sustainable. Unless significant action is taken, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions will more than double by 2050. According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), a change requires solutions that improve energy efficiency, the development of renewable energy forms, as well as carbon capture and storage solutions.
In terms of preventing climate change, achieving results within a reasonable timeframe means that not only must new technologies be developed, but also various measures must be taken to step up environmental technology investments. “The threshold for replacing old technology with new, often more expensive environmental technology investment is especially high in emerging markets. This is how it is, despite the fact that the payback times for new technology are often short with the more efficient use of energy and raw materials. This situation calls for financial support packages and incentives so that the attainable benefits can be leveraged to the fullest extent possible,” concludes Eloranta.
The UN, for one, suggests in its Environment Program (UNEP) published in March that one-fourth of all economic stimulus packages for the next two years be directed towards sustainable development. A global initiative of this magnitude would significantly accelerate innovation activities. It would also create new jobs over the long term.