A dozen players in Norway’s aquaculture sector have joined together to establish a collaborative alliance focused on aquaculture technology.
The aim of the new venture, the Global Aquaculture Technology Hub (GATH) is to “create an innovative, market-focused hub of expertise for aquaculture and raise the region’s global profile,” with a focus on collaboration and increased value-creation, according to a press release from Fosnavåg, Norway-based aquaculture equipment and technology provider MMC First Process.
“Our region is home to an important group of fast-growing enterprises with deep expertise in aquaculture technology. Key players have been saying that we should focus our collective investment in aquaculture technology more sharply and that a good arena and platform are needed to support this work,” MMC First Process Marketing Director Per Helge Devold said in a press release. “The key feature of the network is that it will be industry-driven. The most important task will be to strengthen the network and promote the region, with its world-leading expertise, in the marketplace. We also wish to make it attractive for other relevant businesses to establish themselves here. This will facilitate recruitment and help to position the industry group internationally as a hub of expertise. We shall progressively build up meeting places, hold events, coordinate seminars, run local trade exhibitions, and arrange company visits for customers who wish to update themselves on the aquaculture technology being developed in the region.”
The founding members of the new group are Sølvtrans, MMC First Process, PatoGen, Cflow, Optimar, Hofseth Aqua, Artec Aqua, Rostein, Salmon Evolution, Møreforskning, Norconsult, Normex, and Atlantic Sapphire.
“The region has a long history in the fishing industry and the development of associated technology. By working together and applying the region’s cutting-edge technology, we can ensure that we are the ones who establish the framework conditions and set the trends in aquaculture policy. Sustainability and fish welfare will be at the top of the industry’s agenda in the future and we have every qualification to be the best in the world. The region has a deep reservoir of expertise, supported by a community that is well-versed in technical solutions, IT, fish welfare, documentation, and training. The alliance wishes to capitalize on these strengths and develop them,” Devold said. “
Ålesund, Norway-based wellboat manufacturer Sølvtrans initiated the concept with MMC First Process, with the goal of improving collaboration across the aquaculture industry and its associated service companies.
“The industry is continuously engaged in applying the very best technology in order to maximize fish welfare, biosecurity, and sustainability. Our region is already ahead of the field in these respects, so we in Sølvtrans build our boats locally and use local suppliers,” Sølvtrans Head of Communications Harold T. Nesvik said. “The time is now ripe for us to adopt a more international approach, in order to further promote our region and industry. We shall collaborate whenever we can and compete when we have to.”
The GATH will be organized by the Ålesund Region Chamber of Commerce, according to Devold.
"For those taking the initiative, it was natural to ask the [Ålesund Region] Chamber of Commerce to coordinate the start-up of the technology hub," Devold said. “The chamber of commerce has had an aquaculture industry group for three years and the group wants its activities to be widened and intensified. As an industry, we can see that we need to sharpen our focus on technology and the group wants to organize this through the chamber of commerce.”
Photo courtesy of MMC First Process
