NCE Aquaculture
Fish farming for a global market
NCE Aquaculture focuses on value creation and innovation associated with commercial production of farmed fish and seafood for the global market. The cluster consists of companies involved in the production of fry and edible fish, processing, feed production, technology, health and environment, finance, research and training. These are key actors who by virtue of their competence and resource base will play a decisive role in the further de-velopment of Norwegian aquaculture.
Photo: Johan Wildhagen/Innovation Norway and photodisk
Background
Since the 1970s the aquaculture cluster along the coast of the Nordland region has been involved in the creat-ion of one of Norway’s most important export industries. The Norwegian aquaculture industry provides NOK 19 billion (2006) in export revenue, ensures settlement along the coast and upholds many important values in society. The cluster has been built up through the development of salmon as a farmed species, and has contributed to the development of companies and competence in breeding, technology and equipment, feed and nutrition, sales and export, R&D and funding. There is a great potential for the further development in farming of salmon, cod and other species such as wolffish, halibut, shellfish and sea urchins.
Aquaculture operators and companies related to aquaculture in Nordland have worked together closely for many years and have established an efficient cluster. The companies’ width and professional weight ensures unique access to skills and competence. The NCE Aquaculture partnership is formalized through business agreements between leading companies within the industry.
Initiatives & Projects
Activities within NCE Aquaculture are organized around seven prioritized working areas. The core of this is innovative cooperation in practice, and the further development of the relations and cluster dynamic that have been developed. The seven strategies are:
- Innovation strategy
- Marketing and customer strategy
- Industrialization strategy
- Technological strategy
- Environmental strategy
- Skills and internationalization strategy
- Cluster strategy
Strategy & Objectives
NCE Aquaculture`s objective is to become a locomotive in the further development of Norwegian aqua-culture and related activities. The further development of existing activities and the development in farming of new species are to lay the foundation for the cluster’s companies to increase total value creation by NOK 5 billion, and to create 600 new jobs in the region by 2017. The cluster has competitive advantages in both geographical surroundings and competence. One objective is for the venture to develop cod breeding as a new and important activity within the cluster. Through NCE Aquaculture, the cluster is to establish a common and nationally coordinated R&D strategy.
Contact:
NCE AQUACULTURE
Bodø Science Park
PO Box 815 • Sjøgt. 15–17 • NO-8001 Bodø, Norway
Project manager: Mr. Svenn Are Jenssen
Tel: +47 91 51 88 14
E-mail: saj@kpb.no
Website: www.nceaquaculture.com