The alliance is one of 40 which will go on to a new evaluation round in order to be among the 10 selected for the whole of Norway. Those 10 will then go on to establish a centre for prominent research.
Comprehensive selection
Those who qualify for the second evaluation round are selected after a comprehensive assessment, during which international experts express their opinion on the scientific quality and industrial or social worth of the proposals.
Bid centres on fish nutrition research
The background for the application from Akvaforsk, NVH and NLH is the raw material supply situation in aquaculture, where the capacity for meeting future protein raw material needs is inadequate. Much research has been carried out on fish nutrition and composition of raw materials in aquaculture, but because this is a young area of technology there is nonetheless a large potential for increased basic expertise in fish nutrition and optimising of raw materials.
"We are hoping to qualify to become one of the ten to establish this centre. In any case, the fact that we are the only ones with a direct connection to aquaculture shouldn't disqualify us! We're hoping that the emphasis placed on industrial and social worth will also have a positive influence," Trond Storebakken of Akvaforsk told IntraFish.
Storebakken, who heads the alliance, has no idea why the group is the only candidate with ties to aquaculture.
"It would have enormous significance for the Norwegian aquaculture industry if we could establish such a centre. It is also a marvellous opportunity to focus research on central problems that have as yet not been solved in the aquaculture industry," maintained Storebakken.
