Nordic Innovation and the Nordic Council of Ministers will invest 45 million Norwegian kroner in the Nordic marine industry. A total of 15 projects have received funding, and participants in the projects have to find new solutions to everything from a new standard for exclusive Nordic caviar to "bootcamps" for students in marine sciences.
The Marine Innovation Programme is the first joint Nordic innovation boost to the marine industry.
The total budget for the programme is NOK 109 million and there are participants from all the Nordic countries, as well as Canada and Russia. There are especially many participants from Iceland and Norway, and the Icelandic Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Jón Bjarnason, considers the programme as a boost for Iceland.
"The marine industry is of key importance in the Nordic countries, and with the Nordic Maritime Innovation Programme we will get a boost that will give Icelandic companies the chance to put new ideas and initiatives into practice across country borders", says Bjarnason.
Altogether, there are 15 Nordic innovation projects with about 100 participants involved in the programme, and the topics range from everything the Nordic answer to Russian caviar to new ways of recruiting young people into the marine industry and developing new methods for the removal of fish bones.
The common denominator in the programme is a contribution to strengthening the Nordic marine industry by increasing its value or competitiveness. Either directly, as in the example of removing fish bones. If it works it could lead to an increased production of 2-3 % of cod loins, which would again give a huge financial gain and a competitive advantage to Nordic companies. Or indirectly, for example through various recruiting initiatives which would ensure a future workforce for the industry.
International co-operation gives access to new knowledge and experiences with technology, markets and leadership. This can work as a catalyst in the innovation processes, and a Nordic platform may also serve as a springboard into the world for those involved.
"Through the Maritime Innovation Programme Nordic companies will be able to co-operate on innovative solutions, products and business models, and acquire knowledge from the whole region. The participants from the various projects represent the whole of the marine value chain, from the catch to the table", says Ivar H Kristensen, CEO of Nordic Innovation.
To receive funding through the maritime innovation programme the projects must have participants from at least three Nordic countries.
Nordic Innovation is also working with Innovasjon Norge, AVS, AG-Fisk (the Nordic Fisheries co-operation) and the institution NORA under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and the participants must also co-finance the projects.
Further information and an overview of all the projects which have received funding can be seen on
www.nordicinnovation.org.
Contact people in Nordic Innovation: Head of Communications Melita Ringvold Hasle: +47 95121983 Senior Innovation Adviser Sigridur Thormodsdottir: +47 91576577