Posts by The Hanseatic
Urtė Neniškytė awarded research grant
Professor Urtė Neniškytė, a distinguished researcher at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory Partnership Institute, has been awarded the prestigious European Research Council Consolidator Grant.
This highly competitive grant supports outstanding mid-career researchers and provides funding for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
The grant will fund research into the role of the glycocalyx—a unique cellular identifier that helps the body distinguish between healthy and damaged cells—in brain function and neurological diseases.
The research is expected to open new pathways for diagnosing and treating brain disorders, potentially leading to significant advancements in neuroscience and medicine.
Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre
Read MoreThis grid is an island A battery will help Bornholm get more out of renewables
One of the ironies of Bornholm’s power grid is that, even though most of the island’s electricity is generated on the island, it is not until the undersea cable linking it to Sweden cuts out that Beof, the local power company, goes into island mode. Sadly for the environment, this means decoupling the wind turbines that give the island most of its energy and firing up four diesel-powered generators. The thinking is that green ambitions are good, but the 25 megawatts of stable energy the generators can deliver are critical for keeping the grid stable.
In 2026, however, Beof will flip the switch on a 10 megawatt battery that will help maintain grid stability, and not just in the event of an emergency. Developed with Hitachi Energy, the battery addresses the fundamental challenge that arises when relying on unpredictable renewable energy to meet predictable demand. Since no-one is talking about going back to oil or coal, the only supply-side option is to come up with a way balance the two. The Bornholm battery will accomplish this by absorbing excess electricity when the wind is blowing, or the sun is shining, and then deliver it back when it is needed.
The battery’s importance extends beyond local energy needs. Energinet, the national grid operator, views such technologies as essential for future energy systems, and Bornholm could provide a model. In a world that is going green, island mode may soon become the new black.
Read MoreViola Mickos joins Interreg Central Baltic as project manager
Viola Mickos has joined the Interreg Central Baltic secretariat as its programme manager responsible for ensuring the effective capitalisation of project and programme results.
Viola is a former national Interreg contact point for Finland and has already contributed to its work.
She will be responsible for consulting project applicants and supporting projects at all stages.
Her new position will allow her to draw on her background in communication and project advisory and to promote the Baltic Sea region through cross-border co-operation.
Interreg Central Baltic Programme
Connect with Viola on LinkedIn
Read MoreJohanna Puhtila joins Interreg Central Baltic as project manager
Johanna Puhtila has joined the Interreg Central Baltic secretariat as its programme manager for the circular economy.
Johanna will be responsible for consulting project applicants and supporting projects at all stages.
Her new position will allow her to draw on her experience designing and leading international projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of firms interested in doing business in global environment.
Interreg Central Baltic Programme
Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn
Read MoreMarkus Helavuori named deputy head of CBSS secretariat
Markus Helavuori has been appointed deputy director general of the CBSS Secretariat.
He has 20 years of experience in policy and regulation at national and international levels. He has been with Helcom since 2018, and is currently the deputy executive-secretary and professional secretary, responsible for matters related to sea-based activities.
In addition working for the IMO, Markus help positions in the Finnish administration for more than seven years, contributing to legislative and policy development and representing Helsinki in international negotiations within the IMO, the EU and Helcom.
Markus holds a master’s degree in environmental and marine biology from Åbo Akademi University.
Marcus begins his new position on 1 April.
Connect with Markus on LinkedIn
Read MoreNord Stream 2 revival met with Baltic chill
Germany and its Baltic allies have flatly rejected suggestions that delivery of Russian gas via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline may resume. Rumours that such a plan are afoot emerged on Sunday, when the Financial Times, a news outlet, reported that a former boss of Gazprom, the Russian firm that operated the pipeline, was working to revive the €11 billion project.
To its boosters, the pipeline running along the floor of the Baltic Sea was a sign that Russia was securely tethered to Europe and the west. Its detractors, both those who remained unconvinced that Moscow was indeed an ally, as well as greens agitating for lower, greener energy consumption, were never sold on the first Nord Stream, let alone its sequel.
But when both were damaged by sabotage in September 2022 (by whom remains unknown), European countries, and Germany in particular, rushed to break their energy ties to Russia: today, Norway is Germany’s primary gas supplier, and, on 8 February, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania broke a power connection to Russia that dates back to the Soviet Union when they connected themselves to the EU grid.
Nothing suggests anyone is interested going back. “Independence from Russian gas is of strategic importance,” the German economy ministry insisted in its denial that Berlin was talking to Moscow about re-opening Nord Stream 2. With Europeans now looking to secure their future, it would appear that the era of Russian gas has passed.
Read MoreDanish retailer Salling overtakes Baltic chain
Denmark’s largest retailer will purchase Rimi, a Baltic retail chain, Salling Group and ICA Gruppen, the chain’s current owner, announced today. The deal makes Salling one of the largest supermarket operators in the Baltic region.
According to ICA Gruppen, the value of Rimi’s retail business in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is around €1.3 billion.
Salling will take over €500 million of Rimi Baltic’s debt, which is mainly made up of lease liabilities. The transaction will increase the company’s capital by €630 million and generate cash inflows of €810 million.
Salling said the acquisition of Rimi is the largest transaction its history. It will now own 2,100 supermarkets in the Baltic states, Denmark, Germany and Poland.
Read MoreFinland, Denmark move closer on defence, hybrid-threat response
Helsinki and Copenhagen are prepared to pool more of their resources in response to an increasingly tense situation in the Baltic Sea region, members of the cabinet from the two countries said today.
Already allied militarily through Nato and Nordefco, a Nordic defence alliance, the two countries’ defence ministers called for a deeper partnership in the Baltic and Nordic regions to deter Russian agression. Both countries make use of the F-35 fighter jet, and one proposal put forth was the Danish purchase of a refuelling plane that could service all of the Nordic countries.
Shared concern about hybrid attacks, including against computer systems in the two countries and undersea infrastructure in the Baltic, also requires authorities in both countries to be in lock step, according to a statement issued by the Finnish interior ministry and the Danish civil-defence ministry.
Today’s announcement comes as the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is preparing to publish its own union-wide strategies for civil defence, internal security and defence. All three issues were added to Brussels’ remit earlier this year.
Read MoreFinns warn of “gloomy era” of confrontation
Russia still poses the greatest threat to Finland’s national security, according to the latest National Security Overview published today by Supo, its national intelligence agency.
Supo’s report warned that Russia’s resources will be freed up once the war in Ukraine ends, and these resources could be redirected towards hybrid influencing campaigns targeting other European countries, including Finland.
The main goal of Russia’s hybrid influencing efforts, for the time being at least, is to undermine Western support for Ukraine, according to the report.
In his foreword, Juha Martelius, the head of Supo, wrote that the world has entered a “gloomy era of superpower competition and confrontation between states” which is also seeing an increase in the use of proxies.
Source: Yle
Read MoreArtis Grinbergs new chair of Latvian railways
Artis Grinbergs has been appointed chairman of Latvijas Dzelzceļš (LDz), the Latvian state railway.
Prior to starting in his new role, Artis was chair of Pasažieru Vilciens, a transport firm, and deputy-chair of Sakret Holdings, a maker of building materials.
He has previously served on the board of the Freeport of Riga and held other senior positions in private and public sectors.
Artis holds master’s in management from the Faculty of Business, Management and Economics of the University of Latvia, and is pursuing his doctoral studies in business administration at BA School of Business and Finance.
Connect with Artis on LinkedIn
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