The meeting revealed a clear picture: Innovation is not slowed down by a lack of ideas, but by a system of mutually reinforcing obstacles. Unpredictable regulations, weak interaction between actors, lack of test arenas, limited risk capital and insufficient mobilization of knowledge were common themes.
Regulation and risk go hand in hand
Participants particularly pointed out that fragmented regulations and differing interpretations create uncertainty and increase the risk of testing new solutions. Several called for better dialogue with authorities, more coordinated management, and flexible trials and pilot runs that can reduce the gap between technology development and approval.
Innovation culture and capital must be strengthened
Many businesses experience that innovation loses out to daily operations. Leadership anchoring, clearer prioritization, and better risk sharing between large and small players were highlighted as important measures. At the same time, there was a demand for better transition arrangements between research and the market, as well as more accurate models for risk mitigation.
Need for better interaction and testing capabilities
Weak links between industry, R&D and government mean that good initiatives are stalled. Participants want permanent structures for collaboration, clearer meeting places and a more coordinated innovation process. In addition, the need for more and more accessible test arenas was highlighted — closely linked to approval processes to ensure a faster path to implementation.
The way forward
The dialogue meeting shows that the aquaculture industry does not need more individual measures – but better connections between those that already exist. More predictable regulation, a stronger innovation culture, better financing and more targeted knowledge sharing must be seen in context. According to the participants, this is crucial to speed up piloting, reduce risk and ensure that new knowledge is actually put into use.
The inputs from the dialogue meeting are taken forward in the project Innovation Pledge, which aims to contribute to increased knowledge about barriers to innovation and provide suggestions for improvements that enable the important innovation boosts facing the aquaculture industry . Innovation in aquaculture: Barriers and solutions for improved technology development (Innovation Pledge) – SINTEF .
The dialogue meeting was a collaboration between SINTEF Ocean, Blue Planet/Stiim Aqua Cluster, the University of Stavanger and NCE Seafood Innovation.
