Aquamare, the strategic positioning project of The Seafood Innovation Cluster has triggered funds from the Research Council of Norway to set aquaculture as a major strategic focus area in future EU programs. This could give the cluster’s partners greater influence on relevant programs and calls, but also make Norwegian interests more relevant to the EU. Our goal with AquaMare is to help aquaculture be recognized and prioritized as an important measure that can create sustainable global food production. Led by NCE Seafood Innovation Cluster, AquaMare brought together NCE Aquatech, Blue Legasea, NCE Aquaculture and Biotech North together with our research partners, Nofima and SINTEF to discuss how we can collaborate to strategically position aquaculture and blue biotech in the European agenda while acknowledging that we will still compete for project funding and partners. The EU’s ninth framework program for research and innovation (FP9) starts in 2020. Preparatory work is already underway across the EU. In March, Norway’s Ocean Clusters sent their recommendations to the EU on a “Mission Oceans” program to create European industrial leaders and markets through sustainable exploitation of the oceans.
