Together with the energy transition, digitalization and automation are two major drivers of industrial change in the maritime sector. This chapter explores this current wave of innovation. In particular, it studies the socio-economic tensions stemming from digitalization and automation. First, it explores the state-of-the-art of technological development; subsequently, it addresses tensions stemming from the in-creasing use of new technologies in both areas. By reviewing cases of innovation and their consequences, the chapter highlights the insufficient attention towards their social consequences. In particular, the text points out possible implications of the ongoing transition for labour markets and the power dynamics between different stakeholders. Finally, the chapter addresses possible implications for shipping indus-tries around the world

Smart and sustainable cities entail inherent complexity, spanning various issue domains from resilience and sustainability to quality of life and social equity, bringing together multiple subjects and disciplines. This chapter elaborates on the meaning of cross-disciplinary research, which has become increasingly recognized as vital for tackling a growing number of contemporary societal issues. Nonetheless, work across disciplines remains challenging due to philosophical, conceptual, and skill differences but also collaboration. Therefore, understanding barriers to working across disciplines and issue domains is crucial. The study draws on a focus mapping literature review, addressing challenges of cross-disciplinarity, and on three interviews, respectively with two early-/mid-career scholars and the head of the University of Stavanger, and explores the research questions: What are the challenges entailed with cross-disciplinary research? How may these challenges be overcome with special regard to early-career researchers and to the smart city? The analysis identified common themes and obstacles encountered by novice researchers. The findings highlight challenges for early- and mid-career researchers in entering fields of various kinds of cross-disciplinary collaboration. The chapter advocates for the creation of more inclusive and supportive academic environments for early- and mid-career professionals and highlights ways of approaching this goal in the smart city.

The Baltic Sea Region is a European energy frontier. In this geographical area, renewable energy is replacing fossil fuel faster than elsewhere in Europe. The innovation potential of the Baltic Sea countries is an important prerequisite for these developments. Yet, as a consequence of the war in Ukraine, this region is currently also witnessing increasing geopolitical tension. The potential of renewables to improve energy security may result in new opportunities for the energy transition. At the same time, geopolitical conflicts may increase concerns about security and sovereignty. The deployment of new energy technologies may therefore face new security requirements in order to move forward. To provide a better understanding of how geopolitics is shaping the energy transition in the Baltic Sea Region, this chapter explores the trade-offs among energy innovation, security, and sovereignty. Based on the Impossible Energy Trinity, we ask whether energy innovations have security implications that are likely to hinder progress towards a higher level of sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region. We conclude with an outlook on the prerequisites for a successful energy transition in the Baltic Sea Region.

This article looks at cement production in Norway, Poland, and Germany. Cement is an important factor for reaching environmental sustainability. There is considerable differences, yet also a number of similarities in the approach of the three countries to cement production. In particular, the role of CCS differs across the three cases.

This chapter asks how the transition to renewable energy affects geopolitics. The focus is on industrial competition. While the energy transition could be seen merely as an economic shift, the chapter holds that green industrial policy has a strong geopolitical dimension. Renewable energy and green growth have the potential to greatly affect domestic industrial structures. Moreover, they have an impact on international trade. From a geopolitical point of view, it is therefore important to understand which countries gain from the energy transition in terms of industry, and which countries will not profit in the same way. Different indicators can be used to come to such an assessment. Industrial competition received surprisingly little attention in the literature, but some of the more recent discussion in the field of the geopolitics of renewables emphasises the importance of manufacturing, industry, job development, export markets, and technological innovation. This chapter contributes to this literature by systematically sketching the field of industrial competition and by shedding light on renewable energy as a factor that is currently shaping industrial competition and development.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) refers to the concept of integrating new mobility services electronically, thereby enabling users to access various public and private transport services via a single digital platform. Through MaaS, service providers aim at developing an integrated service that caters to various demands by mobility users. Personal data such as travel behavior is key in this context, because it allows the development, customization, and personalization of mobility services. Hence, for MaaS to become successful, service providers need to collect users' personal information, and users need to accept data collection. In turn, privacy concerns represent a potential hurdle for the success of MaaS. Therefore, understanding privacy concerns from the users' side can help MaaS providers to increase the users' willingness to share their information. This study aims to add on to earlier research findings on privacy concerns by shedding light on new dimensions emerging from the MaaS service. Understanding privacy concerns from the users' side is key in that regard, as it may enable improved service and system development. A sequential mixed-methods approach is used to collect, analyze, and “mix” both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The primary findings are as follows: (1) Privacy concerns specific to the mobility data collection context exist; (2) users are not necessarily personally worried about their privacy even though they claim privacy is an issue; (3) in contrast to traditional privacy thinking, users' trust in mobility service providers may override their privacy concerns. The study’s results indicate trust is the key to MaaS adoption. Policy recommendations are explored in the end.

The economy's expansion stresses energy demand, while climate change pushes this demand toward renewable solutions.  Water is a vital source of many economic activities, and hydropower is considered a clean alternative to fossil fuel. These two trends drive hydropower expansion, which is predicted to increase by over 70% in developing countries over the following decades. However, this development may be paradoxy to sustainability. For example, hydropower plants can influence an ecosystem that sustains a livelihood and food supply. Further, hydropower plants can cause geopolitical tensions in transboundary rivers. This chapter aim to increase understanding of diverse aspects of sustainable paradox in such a case.