13 campsites in 6 counties
This fall, the two partners will organize innovation camps at high schools along the entire coast of Norway, from Rogaland to Troms and Finnmark. At the innovation camps, students work on a problem from the business world and present a solution or product.
The first of 13 camps starts next week in Kirkenes and the last is planned for November 28 in Kristiansund. Fride Iversen, Senior Project Manager at NCE Seafood, says that it will be an intensive harvest, but that it is important work.
– The industry depends on new expertise to solve the problems within fish health, and to adopt new technology and become more sustainable. Not least, it is necessary to grow and exploit the opportunities that exist in the ocean, whether it is through seaweed and kelp, new medicines, or salmon and sustainable food , says Fride and adds:
– My impression is that most young people are not particularly familiar with the seafood industry and how important it is to Norway. We see that many people who have parents or relatives who work in the industry often end up in it, but otherwise it is often by chance. Innovation Camp is therefore a great way to increase students' knowledge of the seafood industry, while also being useful for the companies involved .
Building bridges between industry and students
Various seafood companies participate in the various camps. Lerøy Seafood, Grieg Seafood, Biomar, Ragn-Sells, Nutrimar, Patogen, Cargill and the Norwegian Seafood Council are among those participating.
– Innovation camps are an excellent arena for students to get to know the business world better, in addition to allowing them to test their creativity on real problems, says Torild Nilsen Mohn, Head of Pedteam at Young Entrepreneurship Norway.
This year, the Norwegian Trade Environmental Fund is also a contributor and many of the students will work on finding out how the industry can reduce its plastic consumption. NHH is also participating as advisors to the students at several of the camps, in addition to conducting a research project on the use of the tool "Start Smart".
The goal of the collaboration
The collaboration between Young Entrepreneurship Norway and NCE Seafood will help build innovation and entrepreneurship skills among young people, and will also strengthen cooperation between local employment and schools. Hopefully, the young people they meet will also gain a better understanding of the seafood industry in Norway.
About the partners
Young Entrepreneurship is a non-profit organization that works with innovation and entrepreneurship in schools. The organization works throughout the country and throughout the school year, and the work takes place in close collaboration with local businesses.
The NCE Seafood industry cluster works for sustainable growth and development in the seafood industry, and one of the most important focus areas to achieve this is competence and future talent development. Engaging young people in the challenges facing the seafood industry is a very important project for the entire industry.
Handelens Miljøfond was founded in 2017 and is Norway's largest private environmental fund. They mainly finance projects that reduce the production and use of plastic, and increase plastic recycling. Members of HMF pay a fee of 1 krone per plastic carrier bag they buy or sell in Norway.
NHH is among the leading business schools in Europe, and is triple accredited. It educates future economists and leaders who want something more for the world, who can use resources efficiently and contribute to a sustainable future.
About innovation camp
Creativity, creative joy and innovation are the core of an innovation camp.
In the program, students are given a real assignment by NCE Seafood with a defined problem to which they must present a solution, within a limited period of time. In advance, NCE Seafood provides students with the background information they need to solve the challenge and offers and guidance throughout the process to increase the students' learning outcomes. Students work on the assignment in groups and present their solutions to a jury, which selects a winner based on given criteria.
Innovation camps are often used in the start-up phase of a student business, youth business or student enterprise.
Contact person
Fride Iversen, NCE Seafood, fride@seafoodinnovation.no +47 48 21 57 77
