‘Boundaries between climate policy, industrial policy, trade policy, and defense procurement have become analytically and institutionally inseparable’: An Interview with Göran Roos

In an era in which decarbonization is reshaping global supply chains, industrial policy, and economic security, understanding its implications for energy systems and critical minerals has become increasingly urgent. That urgency has been reinforced by Sweden’s mineral strategy, launched in July 2026, which explicitly positions securing access to metals and minerals as a matter of security policy and a key pillar of strategic autonomy.

Few scholars analyze these dynamics as comprehensively as Göran Roos, a Visiting Professor at Cranfield University and an adjunct professor at Adelaide University. Göran has held management roles across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, and has founded or co-founded knowledge-based companies across multiple countries. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).

In an interview with ISDP’s Tristan Eng, Göran Roos outlines how decarbonization has evolved into a central pillar of industrial strategy, economic security, and geopolitical competition. The discussion also explores the restructuring of global supply chains and Sweden’s emerging role within Europe’s industrial and resource strategy.

Note: This interview was conducted before Sweden’s new mineral strategy was announced and has been updated by the interviewee through early August 2026.