COP31 – From Climate Goals to Industrial Transition

The industry’s transition requires more than just reduced emissions. New technologies need to be developed, resources need to be used more efficiently, and competitiveness needs to be strengthened in a changing world. As the world’s nations gather for the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, the question of how to translate international commitments into concrete action is high on the agenda. Innovatum Science Park contributes by bringing together expertise, innovation, and collaboration to drive development forward.

Green industrialization is one of ten priority areas at this year’s meeting. The agenda includes topics such as technological development, low-emission production, and sustainable value chains. On November 16, special attention will be given to science, industry, and technology, with a focus on how innovation and digitalization can contribute to the transition. 

But technological development is only part of the solution. The transition from a promising idea to a solution that is used on a large scale remains a challenge. The industry’s transition requires investment, access to expertise and energy, but also the ability to collaborate across traditional industry boundaries. 

– This is where Innovatum Science Park plays a key role. By bringing together industry, academia, and public sector actors, we create the conditions for developing, testing, and putting new knowledge into practice. It’s not about individual initiatives, but about driving broader change where technological development, sustainability, and business value go hand in hand,” says Linda Bohlin Trajkovski, CEO of Innovatum Science Park. 

Industrial Transformation and Social Resilience 

The energy issue also features prominently at COP31. Electrification, grid capacity, and energy efficiency are key issues as the world’s nations discuss how to carry out the transition. For industry, this is not just a matter of emissions, but also of the opportunity to develop and grow. 

At the same time, the links between industrial development and societal resilience are becoming increasingly clear. More efficient energy use can both reduce the strain on the power grid and create room for businesses to grow. New production methods, such as additive manufacturing, can reduce material consumption and create opportunities to manufacture components and spare parts closer to where they are needed. This, in turn, can reduce dependence on long supply chains and strengthen industry’s ability to cope with disruptions. 

For Innovatum Science Park, this means that issues related to energy, industrial development, the blue bioeconomy, and emergency preparedness are increasingly intersecting. The need to use resources more intelligently and strengthen society’s resilience extends from industrial production and energy systems to the development of sustainable food systems, where new forms of aquaculture, circular resource flows, and collaboration between different industries can play an important role. 

“We need to get better at seeing the connections. A competitive industry, a robust energy system, and enhanced supply security are not separate issues. By bringing together expertise and perspectives, we can develop solutions that deliver benefits in multiple ways,” says Linda Bohlin Trajkovski. 

Challenge established structures 

But this transition also requires that new ideas be given the opportunity to challenge established structures. Entrepreneurs and innovative companies are key parts of the solution, not least by developing new business models and creating flexibility in how energy and other resources are used. For these innovations to have an impact, the systems surrounding them must also be able to change. 

“It is only when new technology, new business models, and changing work practices are given the space to interact that these ambitions can become a real transformation,” concludes Linda Bohlin Trajkovski.