New national arena for marine research and innovation to be created
Photo: Kristineberg. Photographer Eduardo Infantes.
The first steps towards creating a national arena for marine research and innovation are now being taken through a new collaboration project involving five strong research stakeholders. An agreement has been signed to develop a unique research and innovation environment for blue growth to be called the Kristineberg Marine Research and Innovation Centre.
“We are moving ahead now to create a hub for marine research and innovation. There is huge potential in developing sustainable marine industries in Sweden but in order to be successful, marine research must be linked to trade and industry and the innovation system,” says Lena Gipperth who is chair of the group that is coordinating the Kristineberg Marine Research and Innovation Centre.
Kristineberg’s marine research station in the county of Bohuslän is one of the oldest marine stations in the world for research and education. As of 2008, it has been under the management of the University of Gothenburg. To develop its activities and take on the challenges of the future, five strong research stakeholders (University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and RISE), with support from Lysekil municipality, have decided to create a joint research and innovation centre.
“This initiative will strengthen the maritime innovation climate at regional, national and EU level. It is also completely in line with Sweden’s undertaking regarding global efforts with sustainable development goal 14 for oceans, seas and marine resources,” says Jessica Hjerpe Olausson who is a maritime expert at Region Västra Götaland.
The centre will have advanced marine infrastructure, testbeds and demonstration environments, facilities that are increasingly in demand by trade and industry and the public sector. Testsite Akvamarin is an example of a testbed, the purpose of which is to support the development of new innovative marine foods focusing on circular systems for the cultivation of fish, shellfish and algae. Another example is the development of Testsite Skagerrak where it will be possible to perform sea-based tests and demonstrations for marine energy and technology.
The Kristineberg Marine Research and Innovation Centre will be under the joint management of the six partner organisations. The facility is currently owned by the University of Gothenburg.
For more information or if you are interested in collaborating with the centre, please contact:
Lena Gipperth, University of Gothenburg, tel. 0768-581227, email: lena.gipperth@gu.se
Ida-Maja Hassellöv, Chalmers, tel. 0704-781849, email: ida-maja@chalmers.se
Fredrik Gröndahl, KTH, tel. 0706-363150, email: fredrik.grondahl@abe.kth.se
Thomas Angervall, RISE, tel. 010-5166674, email: thomas.angervall@ri.se
John Munthe, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 010-7886806, email: john.munthe@ivl.se
Anne Gunnäs, Lysekil municipality, tel. 0523-613154, email: anne.gunnas@lysekil.se
Photo: Kristineberg. Photographer Eduardo Infantes.