Mapping the Nordic mining and metal industry : for the purpose of enhancing and developing its innovative capability

• First, a descriptive overview of the Nordic mining and metal industry is provided. It shows that thereare a number of disparities among the firms in theNordic mining and metal industry, but there are alsomany similarities. Finland and Sweden both havewell-developed mining and metal industries. The geo-logical conditions are comparable and, consequently,production and outlook are in the main relativelysimilar for firms producing minerals and metals.Norway’s mineral and metal production mostlyconsists of industrial minerals, the potential of whichis promising. Greenland has great potential in its newmineral deposits. However, there are several challenges(e.g. difficulties in accessing the new mineral deposits,and problems related to infrastructure and a shortageof skilled workers) which need to be overcomebefore the mineral deposits can be explored.Key challenges for innovation have been identifiedand categorised into (a) specific challenges for keyactors and (b) cross-border challenges involvingseveral groups of producing firms in the Nordicmining and metal industry. The major innovationchallenges specific to the mining companies arein-creased production costs,atraditional and conservativemind-setanda short-term focus on exploration.Majorinnovation challenges for the metal producers areprimarilyold production plants and technology, low profitmargins and lack of employees with the right type of skills.The equipment suppliers’ foremost challenges arethe difficulties ofconducting experiments and testsandgaining access to the right type of knowledge.The analysisshows thatdemand for sustainable mining, difficultiesrelated to the exploration of new mineral deposits, a conserv-ative attitude towards innovation in the mining industry,global competition and procurement methods that emphasisepure cost concerns and the absence of pilot and demonstra-tion plantsare at this time the foremost cross-borderchallenges for innovation within the Nordic miningand metal industry.

• The Nordic countries have large mineral and metal assets stored in the bedrock and taken together they are the largest metal producer in the EU. The aim of this pre-study is to map the current situation in the Nordic mining and metal industry, together with its composition and conditions for innovation. Further, the pre-study aims to identify key challenges for innovation and suggestions for addressing them.First, a descriptive overview of the Nordic mining and metal industry is provided. It shows that there are a number of disparities among the firms in the Nordic mining and metal industry, but there are also many similarities. Finland and Sweden both have well-developed mining and metal industries. The geological conditions are comparable and, consequently, production and outlook are in the main relatively similar for firms producing minerals and metals. Norway’s mineral and metal production mostly consists of industrial minerals, the potential of which is promising. Greenland has great potential in its new mineral deposits. However, there are several challenges (e.g. difficulties in accessing the new mineral deposits, and problems related to infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers) which need to be overcome before the mineral deposits can be explored. Key challenges for innovation have been identified and categorised into (a) specific challenges for key actors and (b) cross-border challenges involving several groups of producing firms in the Nordic mining and metal industry. The major innovation challenges specific to the mining companies are increased production costs, a traditional and conservative mind-set and a short-term focus on exploration. Major innovation challenges for the metal producers are primarily old production plants and technology, low profit margins and lack of employees with the right type of skills. The equipment suppliers’ foremost challenges are the difficulties of conducting experiments and tests and gaining access to the right type of knowledge. The analysis shows that demand for sustainable mining, difficulties related to the exploration of new mineral deposits, a conservative attitude towards innovation in the mining industry, global competition and procurement methods that emphasise pure cost concerns and the absence of pilot and demonstration plants are at this time the foremost cross-border challenges for innovation within the Nordic mining and metal industry.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Övrig annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Mining

metal

Innovation

Management

Redovisning och styrning

Accounting and Control

Entreprenörskap och innovation

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Economics

Nationalekonomi

Future mining (AERI)

Framtidens gruvor (FOI)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

pop (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)