Bilde fagskole Activities for meeting industry needs, is based on interviews with cluster members that has pointed out a need to re-design the educational programs in vocational technical colleges in RAS (closed and semi-closed systems) as well as increasing the R&D capacity and relations between industry and academia.
Our efforts are initiated in cooperation with Western Counties and vocational school, and are combined with the exciting Cluster projects KABIS (Kapasitetsløft for bærekraftig sjømatproduksjon) and Ocean Innovation Norwegian Catapult (OINC).
1,5 MNOK to develop vocational education
The Cluster has received funding of 1,5 MNOK for preparing the development of new vocational education programs in RAS (closed and semi-closed systems) aiming to meet the industry need for highly skilled personnel. The project period is 2 years and the funding comes from Hordaland County, Sogn og Fjordane County, Rogaland County and Møre & Romsdal County.
The project will focus on developing the plans for the following work packages:
A national training program for teachers in upper secondary schools
Continuing and further education and course for aquaculture and the supplier industry
A new vocational school offer in new production technologies
Mapping creative and innovative digital learning platforms for use in teaching
Increased capacity for sustainable and innovative seafood production (KABIS)
The projects KABIS aims to contribute to new education programs, new knowledge and more innovation in closed production technology for the aquaculture industry (RAS and Semi-Closed Containment System, C-CCS). The aim is to achieve further sustainability and cost-efficient production of salmonids.
The Cluster’s contribution has been fundamental for the success of receiving 55mNOK from the Research Council. This funding enables our Cluster to increase our capacity in developing new educational programs and foster more joint innovation projects between industry and R & D within closed production technology.
«KABIS delivers on two of the cluster’s strategic focus areas, knowledge and innovation. We have great expectations that the project will contribute to a faster green transition of the seafood industry and look forward to having a central role in the further development of the project”, says Benedicte Skogen in The Seafood Innovation Cluster
Highlights:
KABIS Impact Forum has been established and has led to increased cooperation between research, academia and industry.
Strengthening of existing study programs: UiB has achieved a significant strengthening of the teaching and guidance capacity (2 PhDs, 3 masters and 2 bachelor projects). This capacity will be used to prepare a new study material for the courses to the newly established master program at UiB. The capacity increase is important to achieve the goal of 25 new master students per year in aquaculture in the time to come.
Increased cooperation with national and international R&D institutions: Establishment of international student exchange between the University of Bergen, the University of Western Norway, Stirling University, UK, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. The student exchange starts September 2019.
Student’s Corner during the Aqkva conference: A platform for disseminating student works (bachelor and master projects) towards the industry. The concept was tested in January 2018 and is further developed in 2019.
Ocean Innovation National Catapult – faster from idea to product with new test center
Ocean Innovation Norwegian Catapult (OINC) is a national center for testing, simulation and visualization for effective prototype development and verification of new solutions for blue growth and green conversion in the marine industries. OINC will be an important infrastructure to strengthen the Cluster’s work on sustainable salmon farming and will support our work with KABIS and RAS facility in ILAB.
The total OINC budget is 84 million NOK. This funding will be used for new joint infrastructure and competence development related to:
3D printing
Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
Digitalization
OINC makes the testing, simulation and visualization of innovative solutions easier. By involving interdisciplinary cooperation and user expertise across professional environments and industry, OINC will help companies to move faster from idea to market. The target group is especially small and medium sized businesses across the country, but also larger companies and research and development environments.