The two-day meeting set the stage for a joint research agenda on some of the most pressing questions linked to critical minerals in the Arctic: access and regulation on land and at sea, geopolitical dynamics, sustainable development, and the perspectives of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Led by FNI research professors Gørild Heggelund and Davor Vidas, the workshop brought together experts in geology, marine biology, law, political science, history, China studies, and Arctic governance. Presentations from the project team highlighted major knowledge gaps regarding critical mineral activities in the Arctic and the need for coordinated Nordic approaches as interest in critical minerals grows.

As global demand for critical minerals accelerates alongside the green transition, the Arctic region is attracting increasing international attention. These minerals are essential for renewable energy technologies, batteries and digital infrastructure, while at the same time raising concerns related to governance, environmental impacts and the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.

'This makes it essential for the Nordic countries to strengthen collaborative research and policy planning on the responsible development of critical minerals in the Arctic,' says Gørild Heggelund, project leader and FNI research professor.

The consortium includes 21 researchers from partner institutions: Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and the Swedish National China Centre of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. Over the coming years, the group will develop joint publications, policy notes, and workshops across the Nordic region, aiming to strengthen knowledge-based governance in this rapidly evolving field.

Workshop in the NordForsk-funded project Critical minerals in the Arctic: Challenges and perspectives for the Nordic countries (CRIMINA)