Seattle and the Nordic nations have sturdy ties — from Norway’s first astronaut launching on a SpaceX mission to Scandinavian firms supporting the efforts to affect the area’s ferries. And people connections stretch again greater than a century when John Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant, co-founded an eponymously named shoe retailer in Seattle’s downtown.
“As we glance in direction of the longer term, we construct on our historical past and in addition our heritage. However at this time, we attain for far more. We’re companions in innovation, from excessive tech within the AI revolution to constructing extra safety initiatives,” mentioned Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway’s ambassador to the US.
On Tuesday night, Huitfeldt helped kick off the annual Nordic Innovation Summit, held in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood on the Nationwide Nordic Museum.
The occasion continues by means of Wednesday and options audio system and panelists discussing clear vitality matters akin to knowledge heart operations, microgrids and recycling; cyber safety initiatives; innovation in biotech; and sustainable transportation.
“We’ve seen improvements come out of the summit,” mentioned Seattle Metropolis Councilmember Dan Strauss, talking Tuesday. “The flexibility to combine know-how into new enterprise practices is one thing that has occurred right here earlier than, and I’m excited to see it happen right here once more.”
Different audio system on the opening session included College of Washington Nobel Laureate David Baker, who shared new analysis printed since he acquired his award from the Swedish establishment one yr in the past. Baker is main efforts that harness AI to create proteins that can be utilized in well being care, environmental cleanup and different challenges.
Norwegian Astronaut Jannicke Mikkelsen livestreamed a presentation from Oslo to share the story of her journey to area, which started at age 10 when she had a devastating horse using accident. Throughout a five-year restoration, Mikkelsen grew to become obsessive about NASA — even calling the company’s Johnson House Heart in search of employment as a 12-year-old.
“It price us a fortune,” she mentioned. “My dad can’t afford to drive his automotive to work for per week as a result of we will’t afford gasoline as a result of I known as the U.S. and I utilized for a job.”
Mikkelsen in the end pursued a profession in 3D pictures and 3D filmmaking, residing in Svalbard, a frozen tundra that ranks as one of many world’s northernmost inhabited areas.
“It is a place that geared up me the very best to change into an astronaut, as a result of it’s kind of fear-based studying,” she mentioned. “As quickly as you permit city, any mistake you make may doubtlessly kill you. It’s exceptionally chilly. There is no such thing as a communication to the skin world as you permit city.”
In March of this yr, Seattle-based SpaceX launched Mikkelsen and three different non-governmental astronauts on the primary crewed orbit over the Earth’s polar areas. The Fram2 mission spanned 3½ days. The astronauts carried out scientific analysis, together with knowledge assortment on the Northern Lights, that are lovely however poorly understood and might destroy satellites.
Mikkelsen highlighted the significance of the collaboration between nations.
“We have now 4 non-American astronauts on board an American spaceship. This, to me, simply exhibits nice belief that the U.S. confirmed in us,” she mentioned. “But it surely’s additionally American know-how that flew the primary Norwegian astronaut into area.”
Audio system taking part within the summit on Wednesday embody Mathias Sundin, founding father of the Warp Institute Basis; Douglas Kieper, director of the Paul G. Allen Analysis Heart; Nick Huzar, co-founder of OfferUp; Sunil Gottumukkala, CEO of Averlon; Petri Hautakangas, CEO of Tupl; Maiken Møller-Hansen, director of vitality and sustainability for Amazon Units; and different company, authorities and educational leaders.
