NO NL opportunities in the blue economy

JOINT DUTCH-NORWEGIAN
INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
BY SYTSE YBEMA, SUSTAINOVATE AS
SUPPORTED BY MARELIFE BIOMARINE INNOVATION NETWORK
Oslo, 05 Feb 2012
Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
“Programma Internationale Agroketens”
Assignment
Inventory of Norwegian strategies, instruments and key players that actively develop an integrated ‘BLUE ECONOMY’ and to identify areas of coop-
eration, potential partners and strategies that The Netherlands could follow to connect. More info at Sustainovate.com/norway-trade
B U S I N E S S
O P P O R T U N I T Y S C A N
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Table of content
Existing coordinated bi-lateral activities 2
Connecting to Norway’s blue ambitions is profitable 4
..............................................................................................Norwegian approach to advance the marine sector is complementary 4
......................................................................Norway is among the trendsetters by implementing ‘BLUE ECONOMY INNOVATION’ 4
......................................................................Refinement of Norwegian marine products creates opportunities for foreign players 5
......................................................................Norwegian investment in new energy is to involve aquaculture and fisheries players 5
2. Inventory of Norway’s instruments to boost the ‘BLUE ECONOMY’ 6
.....................................................................................................................Public and private business development instruments 6
...........................................................................................................................................................................Political instruments 7
3. Connection strategies for the Dutch marine industry to consider 12
.............................................................................................................Overlapping top-sectors as potential areas for cooperation 12
...........................................................................................................................Identification of suggested connection strategies 12
.............................................................................................................................Suggested actions on ‘hot toppics’ by top-sector 13
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................Cross-sector 13
...............................................................................................................................................................................................Agrifood / Seafood 14
............................................................................................................................................................................................Life Science & Health 15
............................................................................................................................................................................................Marine environment 17
.............................................................................................................................................................................................Maritime / high tech 18
....................................................................................................................................................................Horticulture (and starting materials) 18
4. Quick scan of potential partners 20
....................................................................................................................................................Most prominent scientific players 20
........................................................................................................Innovative industry players developing cross-sector business 21
6. Finance options for collaborative actions 29
........................................................................................................................................................European funding possibilities 29
......................................................................................................................................................Norwegian funding possibilities 31
..............................................................................................................................................................Dutch funding possibilities 34
Sustainovate! Joined innovation opportunities in the BLUE ECONOMY
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Existing coordinated bi-lateral activities
Strong marine histories
Norway is demonstrating that it takes the development of its marine industries seriously because marine products
(both living and fossil) form the backbone of Norway's export revenues. Two reasons are given for Norway’s large
scale and continuous investment in this industry:
1) Norway is the world's second largest exporter of seafood. Norwegian waters are seven times larger than
its land surface, and include some of the world's richest fish stocks. In addition, Norway has a long coast-
line that is very suitable for a globally growing interest in aquaculture production.
2) There is a high recognition by the Norwegian political & business society that oil & gas will run out in a
few decades. For that reason the country is actively developing their secondary marine industries. Even the
oil & gas industry itself is investing in biofuels and seeking synergy with other blue sectors.
For many centuries Norway, like The Netherlands, has focused strongly on shipping, fishing and seaborne trade. The
Netherlands is in the top 10 most important trading partners of Norway and Dutch companies have invested heavily
in the Norwegian industry among other in energy, offshore activities, oil and gas, retail and fish farming. In the scien-
tific field Norway and The Netherlands are good collaborators but limited to projects.
Joining forces on fisheries innovation
In recent years captains of the Norwegian marine industries (including top scientists) are joining forces when it
comes to major industry challenges. Calls for innovation are no longer limited to Norwegian players. This makes the
industry more transparent and accessible to Dutch producers and solution providers.
The Royal State visit of the Dutch Queen Beatrix to Norway, early June 2010, had a focus on stronger collaboration
between Norway and The Netherlands. The Norwegian bio-marine innovation network ‘MARELIFE’ was then invited
to learn more about the typical Norwegian innovation approach and to the give input to an ongoing discussion on
the development of a renewed Fisheries Innovation Platform (VIP) concept in the Netherlands. As a follow-up a
'Diner Pensant' was organized by Doeke Faber, the President of the Product Board for Fish, a semi-governmental
organization in which participate representatives of the entire seafood chain.
The Dutch government has signaled a growing interest in teaming up with Norwegian enterprises in fisheries, bio-
technology, aquaculture and seafood, mainly through branch organisations as ‘VisNed’ and ‘Vissersbond’, innova-
tion teams as ‘Klankbordgroep Visserij Innovatie’ and ‘InnovatieNetwerk’ and other thematic activities.
Going beyond fisheries: Blue Economy
Since the Royal State visit, the former Dutch fisheries attaché and MARELIFE founder Øystein Lie have suggested
coordinated efforts to improve Dutch-Norwegian collaboration additional marine sectors AQUACULTURE, BIOTECH,
ALGAE and MARITIME by following 4 strategies:
1. Optimizing PUBLIC FRAMEWORKS
2. COMMERCIALIZATION & MARKETING
3. BRANCH COLLABORATION & PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING
4. R&D BASED INNOVATION PROJECTS
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The exploratory character of this report makes it a starting point to further develop these 4 strategies. The informa-
tion and leads in this document are a logic follow-up of bi-lateral efforts of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
through its fisheries attaché.
The following people have so far provided a dynamic foundation for moving this bi-lateral activity forward:
NETHERLANDS
Reinder Schaap (Fisheries attaché)
Jelle Landstra (InnovatieNetwerk)
Gert Jan Kooij (Zeevisserijbedrijf Zeemeeuw B.V.)
Cees van den Berg (Zeevisserijbedrijf Jan van den
Berg en Zonen B.V.)
Paul van der Heijden (Mature Development B.V.)
Job Schipper (Hortimare B.V.)
Rob Banning (W. van der Zwan & Zn. B.V.)
Pieter Louwe van Slooten (Zeevisserijbedrijf
Orion B.V.)
Doeke Faber (Independent Consultant)
Willem Brands (Zeevisserijbedrijf Brands en
Zonen B.V.)
Rene Wijffels (Wageningen Universiteit)
Erwin Houtzager (Phycom BV)
Louwe de Boer & Jacob Kramer (Ekofish B.V.)
Rik Breur & Eric Pieters (Micanti B.V.)
Gijs van de Bent (Visserijnieuws)
Philip ten Napel (De Olde & Ten Napel consul-
tancy)
NORWAY
Øystein Lie (MARELIFE)
Lars Olav Lie (Liegruppen Fiskeri AS)
Olav Rune Godø (Institute of Marine Research)
Marit Valseth (Innovation Norway)
Morten Jensen (Norway Seafoods Group AS)
Pål Korneliussen (Intrafish Media)
Johan Williams (Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs)
Jartrud Steinsli (Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs)
Stine Hammer (Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs)
Jon Aulie (Norwegian Seafood Federation, MARELIFE)
Paul Mydtling (Aquamedic AS, MARELIFE)
Kevin Gallagher (Oslo Teknopol)
Business Innovation captains Research
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Connecting to Norway’s blue ambitions is profitable
Large Norwegian ambitions and associated investments and in addition a strong need for international competence
and markets are the reason for the Netherlands to take advantage and connect to the Norwegian ‘BLUE ECONOMY’
strategy.
Norwegian approach to advance the marine sector is complementary
In contradiction to the Netherlands, innovation in Norway is played with a hands-on approach by key players in the
industry and rapidly catalyzed by the arrival of industry based networks and the influential public bodies of Norwe-
gian Research Council and Innovation Norway.
There is no doubt that both countries have a strong marine and maritime tradition and a contemporary position.
Both Norway and The Netherlands understand and have the experience of collaborating across borders and sectors
and have the 'know how' to exploit and multiply the marine resources in a sustainable way; They know that global
leadership can only be maintained through enforced efforts into R&D, innovation and optimization of public frame-
works and industrial structures on a continuous basis. As Norway, the Netherlands is rapidly implementing new con-
cepts of marine innovation.
For example, where recently the strategic BLUEBOOK was presented to boost regional (coastal) development in
Norway, the Netherlands is rolling out a similar concept called BLUEPORTS. Although the ambition seems similar,
the approach is different: where the BLUEBOOK is describing roles that certain regions and keyplayers could or
even should play, some BLUEPORTS, although already in operation, seem to struggle with a lack of such strategic
and concrete vision.
In Norway it’s clearly the industry itself that defines hot-topics or main challenges to solve after which mini-seminars
of other type of national gathering is often the first concrete step forward. In recent years the Norwegian innovation
climate has developed from government driven to a strong cross-industry driven approach where it’s the industry
captains that take responsibility for the BLUE ECONOMY and set the course. In the Netherlands this could be com-
pared with a joined operation between players such as Unilever, Pelagic Freezertrawler Association, AHOLD,
Wageningen UR, BLUEPORTS and branch organisations.
Norway is among the trendsetters by implementing ‘BLUE ECONOMY INNOVATION’
After having introduced the word ‘sustainability’ to the world by the Brundtland Commission now Norway, as a ma-
rine country is rolling out a new integrated approach concerning its economic activities that involve its oceans:
‘BLUE ECONOMY’.
The idea behind BLUE ECONOMY is simple: Fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, biotechnology, offshore and energy all
operate in the same ecosystem and could benefit from joined forces such as considerable cost-saving opportuni-
ties, new dynamics in technology development and reduction of risk of costly, unplanned and unnecessary restric-
tions to operate in the marine environment.
With the introduction of this integrated approach to the Norwegian marine industries, Norway created the first step
in a new field of cross-boundary collaboration that goes beyond the traditional trio ‘Energy, Shipping and Offshore’.
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The so-called ‘BLUE ECONOMY’ covers the following traditional industries: Oil /Gas / Maritime, Seafood (fisheries-
aquaculture), Bio-technology and bio-prospecting and Energy (wind-wave-hydro)
Refinement of Norwegian marine products creates opportunities for foreign players
Fortunately the harvest potential of the Norwegian seas are high and it should not come as a surprise that the Nor-
wegian government's ambition for its seafood industry* is that Norway will be world leading nation in this field. Be-
sides producing bulk seafood historically, Norway's current goal is to create even greater value based on all their
marine resources through bio-refinery and biotechnology. This ambition requires foreign input, solutions and mar-
kets.
Maintaining a healthy marine industry is vital for securing Norway's future. Its most important future businesses are
based on living ocean resources either through fisheries, aquaculture, industrial ingredients or utilizing marine bio-
logical compounds to a number of new purposes: medicine, new materials and more.
The market pyramid reflects how the
various product segments increase
its value from bottom to top, where
Norway’s main position is and where
it wants to be (Source: exploitation of
marine living resources, global op-
portunities for Norwegian expertise,
2006).
The broad spectrum approach is also
one that the relatively new bio-marine
network MARELIFE pursues. Th net-
work of powerful industrial and R&D
players facilitates collaboration be-
tween partners in marine industries,
including fisheries, aquaculture, ingredients and marine biotech, and now even in the oil and gas, and energy sec-
tors. Though its members are dominated by industry players, MARELIFE has tight links with academia and remains
independent. It has influence at parliamentary level, for instance in budgetary and strategic decisions affecting the
development of the marine sector, and recently stepped in as peacemaker in a long-standing political debate about
fish stocks. MARELIFE is currently expanding its activities international and embraces foreign key players.
* The term ‘Seafood industry’ is defined here as food, suppliers, knowledge, bio-economy and bio-technology.
Norwegian investment in new energy is to involve aquaculture and fisheries players
Wind, wave and tidal energy have recently been added to marine resources. This makes it vital for the energy sector
to engage on ocean sustainability issues with the other sectors of the ocean business community such as shipping,
fisheries aquaculture and tourism.
Realizing cross-fertilizing industries is expected to challenge and strengthen both business and innovation heavily
since marine industries have always operated exclusively. Norway would like to see its flagship industries to develop
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in harmony and cooperation that is based on the ultimate overall competence. Norway’s world-leading fisheries and
petroleum industries must therefore collaborate with Norway’s top level marine research.
MARELIFE impression of the BLUE ECONOMY.
2. Inventory of Norway’s instruments to boost the ‘BLUE ECONOMY’
Public and private business development instruments
Marine innovation in Norway is played with a hand-on approach with the arrival of industry based networks often
initiated and facilitated by the influential combination of Norwegian Research Council and Innovation Norway. It’s the
industry itself that defines hot-topics or main challenges to solve.
Regional development clusters: Inspired by the theory of
clusters developed by Michael Porter, a team of research-
ers under the leadership of Professor Torger Reve has
analyzed 13 Norwegian knowledge hubs to address the
main economic issue in Norway:
“WHAT ARE WE DOING WHEN THE OIL RUNS OUT?”
Seafood is one of the top three clusters in Norway, along
with Oil & Gas and Maritime. All three clusters are backed
by vital services in Oslo, including finance, law, ICT and
other service industries.
Probably the most relevant for Dutch collaborative actions is the Bio-marine cluster MARELIFE. MARELIFE was
established from the biotechnology cluster and is an independent science-based marine innovation network organ-
ized on a membership basis. It is one of the few networks worldwide covering all three major industrial bio marine
fields: aquaculture, fisheries and marine by-products. At the same time the network is truly cross sector, embracing
leading international players and trend setters from industry, finance, public and private investors, universities and a
range of science and technology organizations. Stakeholders range from manufacturing and solution providers, start
ups and venture companies to R&D organizations and public sector facilitators of innovation and commercialization.
It has several Dutch members (see www.marelife.nl). MARELIFE has recently teamed up with Biomarine Convention,
an international platform that brings together executive and CEOs from marine ingredients, marine cosmetics, ma-
rine nutraceuticals, aquaculture, aquafeed, marine bio energy, pharmaceuticals and clean tech.
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We b s i t e : h t t p : / / M A R E L I F E . o rg
C ontact: Øystein Lie, General manager
Storby Marin: an organization with the objective of improving the broad framework and growth of the bio-marine
industries. To strengthen marine value creation, the organisation is to promote increased interaction between public
and private sector and research institutions.
The organisation is a result of the MARELIFE Storby project which has put regional competence together on an ag-
gregated national level to advance the marine sector as a whole. It represents a new type of clustering in which each
metropolitan region is thoroughly inventoried: research and industry go hand in hand with project owners, city coun-
cil's business plans and ambitions of the marine sector. Focusing on how Norway can communicate how to handle
major marine issues:
• Ocean resource management
• Sustainable aquaculture
• Seafood and human health
Association general manager Tanja Hoel (CEO Fisheries Forum West).
We b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. M A R E L I F E . o rg / p ro j e c t s / M A R E L I F E - s t o r b y. h t m l
Research Council funds. Always requires a strong scientific component. 50% funding (EU rules), 95% single com-
pany projects due to intellectual property rights. (Research Council collects funds by putting as levy on production &
export).
Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF). A funding scheme for industrial research and development work within
fisheries and aquaculture, and is based on a levy of 0,3 percent on the net export value of fish and fish products.
The funds shall be used for industrial innovation work for the benefit of all or part of the industry, and are distributed
in the form of grants for research programmes and major projects.
Norwegian Seafood Council. Public company owned by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs and is re-
sponsible for joint marketing measures for fish and fish products at home and abroad. The Norwegian Seafood
Council has local representatives in important markets around the world (Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (Hamburg),
France (Paris), Spain (Madrid), Portugal (Lisbon), Italy (Milan), Russia (Moscow), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Japan (To-
kyo), Singapore, China (Beijing) and the USA (Boston); chief of each office has diplomatic status). Funds are col-
lected on exports of seafood (0,75% on the net value).
Political instruments
Norway is tightly involved in EU policy, especially when it comes to the marine sector. The Norwegian government
doing everything possible to ensure a good coordination between EU and national strategies using ‘Innovation Nor-
way’ and the ‘Norwegian Research Council’ as its main instruments.
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International playing field
In its role as a coordination platform, JPI Oceans (Joint Programming Initiative for Healthy and Productive Seas
and Oceans, Coordination of scientific research within EU Member States) will focus on making better and more
efficient use of national governmental research budgets, which represent 85% of the marine-maritime funding within
Europe. Main thinking: Stimulate interaction between operators in the oceans and try to build on existing tools and
programmes in the EU framework. The platform is closely linked with HAV21, Norway’s national strategy plan in ma-
rine knowledge and management. In the research field the JPI offers an opportunity for cooperation; NL could
strengthen this link by setting up a bi-lateral platform.
JPI was established in 2011 and is driven by governmental services and not by research institutes. JPI Oceans has
a high-level management board: 2 people of each member country (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United
Kingdom.) The European Commission is participating as a non-voting member of the Management Board. Norway,
represented by the Norwegian Research Council, Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs (FKD), has taken the initia-
tive to start & steer JPI Oceans and is also coordinating the process together with Spain and Belgium (financing a
secretariat in Brussels for the first 2 years). A strategic advisory board with 17 representatives from research; indus-
try and government is to provide neutral and independent advice and assistance to the Management Board.
Key themes in JPI Oceans are European challenges that we face, but also the solutions that the oceans contain (e.g.
transport, health, food, energy). Norway has established an interdepartmental working group which will now draw a
more specific course to follow for how it involves its research, management and business into its marine strategy.
The national HAV21 comprehensive approach to marine R&D spending in Norway would help prioritize spending
efforts in the right directions and help it select the best strategies in international cooperation, such as JPI Oceans.
We b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. j p i - o c e a n s . e u
Both The Netherlands and Norway's actively participate in EUREKA, the Europe-wide network for market-oriented
industrial innovation. EUREKA’s Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be
specifically dedicated to research-performing SMEs. Eurostars stimulates them to lead international collaborative
research and innovation projects. The Eurostars mission is “To support innovation-performing entrepreneurs, by
funding their research activities, enabling them to compete internationally and become leaders in their sector.”
http ://w w w.eurostars-eureka.eu
National playing field
Norway’s vision on marine resources: in the long term Norway will be the world's leading seafood nation. Therefore
Norway invests in strategy development. In the past couple of years, the government has launched KLIMA21 focus-
ing on climate, ENERGI21 for the energy sector, and most recently MARITIME21, an industry driven project for the
shipping industry.
National marine innovation strategy facilitated by ‘HAV21’ project that points to challenges and opportunities in
the marine sector. Last year the Norwegian Government launched HAV21, a project to develop the country’s first
comprehensive national research and development strategy in marine knowledge and management of its valuable
marine resources and vast ocean areas.
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The overall goal of HAV 21 is to deliver input to a more broad based and common strategy for marine research and
development in four earmarked areas (fishing shipping, aquaculture and oil & gas in Norwegian waters). It will also
point out needs for new knowledge and technology development and help create a comprehensive mindset on ma-
rine knowledge and technology efforts by bringing the public authorities, industry and research institutions closer
together. HAV21 collects input from the industry, the research community and the authorities on four main themes –
management, aquaculture (including marine bio-technology and production of bio mass), fisheries, and food (includ-
ing bio-based industries and bio-prospecting) – for a strategic report that will form the basis for recommendations to
the government’s seafood White Paper due in 2013 (see below), Norway’s engagement in international research co-
operation, and other strategic work.
HAV21 We b site: http://www.hav21.no
More info: http://www.nortrade.com/sectors/articles/norway-launches-national-rd-marine-strategy/
White paper on maintaining Norwegian seafood competitiveness. This whitepaper (due 2013) is a strategic
document that describes a what actions are needed to maintain Norway's seafood industry competitiveness in the
future. The whitepaper is 1) value chain oriented, 2) addressing new blue markets, 3), addressing research & innova-
tion, will advise on how to attract more skilled (foreign) workers and how to interlink with HAV21 and JPI OCEANS.
The document will be discussed by the Norwegian Parliament to create a broad political agreement on direction
and approach. Not included are follow-ups in terms of budget allocation and launching new acts and regulations.
C ontact: Stine Hammer, Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
Integrated regional management plans for for example Barents Sea and seas offshore Løfoten Islands (2006).
Existing research programmes will be used as tools in these areas (such as MAREANO and SEAPOP that will moni-
tor sea bed conditions and the effects of human activities on the sea bed). North Sea regional management plan is
under construction.
National strategy on biotechnology and bio-prospecting: how biotechnology and new marine elements can con-
tribute to advance the blue sector (animal feeds, genetics, technical solutions etc.). Biotechnology is a rapidly grow-
ing industry in Norway, partly because it’s core activities concentrate in the less populated northern Norway where
the Government is rolling out its Northern Area Strategy. The strategy is being followed up with more than EUR 23
million in annual allocations for research activities under the auspices of the Research Council of Norway. This in-
cludes EUR 4.7 million for marine bioprospecting. In addition the Government intends to allocate a total of EUR 15
million over the next three years for human biobanks and health data. This will support biotechnological research
and the effort to promote better health and enhance health care services.
http ://w w w.forskningsradet.no/en/Newsarticle/First_national_strategy_for_biotechnology/1253970803092
C ontact: Marit Valseth, Innovation Norway.
A Public suggestion ‘blog’ launched by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal affairs where seafood stakeholders
can give their suggestions on how to further develop Norway’s seafood industry.
http://sjomatmelding.regjeringen.no/. Not very active (27 suggestions in 8 months).
C ontact: Jartrud Steinsli, Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal affairs.
Norwegian Research Council. The Research Council is Norway's official body for the development and implemen-
tation of national research strategy. The Council is responsible for enhancing Norway's knowledge base and for
promoting basic and applied research and innovation in order to help meet research needs within society. In 2012,
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The Research Council of Norway's total budget amounts to 1 billion EURO. The Ministry of Education and Research
and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are the most important contributors to the budget of the Research Council of
Norway.
• The Research Council serves as an advisory body on research policy issues, identifies research needs and
recommends national priorities.
• Through the establishment and implementation of targeted funding schemes the Research Council facili-
tates the translation of national research policy objectives into action.
• The Research Council serves as a meeting place for researchers, funders and users of research findings, as
well as for the different sectors and subject fields that are affiliated with the world of research.
We b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. f o r s k n i n g s r a d e t . n o
The following relevant programmes are described at the website of the Norwegian Research Council:
BIONAER - Sustainable Growth in food and bio-based industries. The BIONÆR programme will promote research
and innovation that enhances value creation in Norway’s bio-based industries. The overall thematic area of the pro-
gramme encompasses agriculture, forestry and nature-based value chains as well as seafood and marine biomass,
from the time raw materials are taken out of the sea until they reach the consumer. New areas of focus under the
programme are primarily linked to the concept of the bioeconomy and to achieving closed-loop systems.
BIOTEK2021 - Biotechnology for adding value. The BIOTEK2021 programme has been established as part of the
implementation of the national strategy for biotechnology. The strategy identifies biotechnology as a key element in
the development of the agricultural, marine, industrial and health sectors.
HAVBRUK - Aquaculture – A growing Industry. One of seven programmes under the Research Council’s Large-scale
Programme initiative. The primary objective of the programme is to acquire knowledge to achieve economically,
environmentally and socially sustainable growth in Norwegian aquaculture.
HAVKYST - Seas and coasts. The principal objective of the Programme is to encourage creative marine environ-
mental research of high international quality. A broad understanding of our marine environment form a basis for
long-term management of the marine ecosystems and their resources The Programme will bring about basic com-
petence development in order to strengthen the integrated understanding of the structure, function and species di-
versity of the ecosystem. The main aims of the Programme are:
• to reinforce Norway’s position as a leading nation in marine ecosystem related research.
• to be a central contributor to the process of generating more knowledge of the marine environment.
• to provide a research-based foundation for long-term integrated management and a basis for wealth creation
based on marine resources.
MAROFF - Maritime Activities and Offshore Operations. The new MAROFF started in 2010 and has a duration of 10
years until 2019. MAROFF will help realize the Government's maritime strategy for the promotion of innovation and
environmental value creation in the maritime industries. The program will contribute to maritime companies and re-
search institutions development of their knowledge advantage, and supports projects that are oriented towards the
research challenges that are necessary to achieve the three key innovation areas. The designated areas are chosen
10

because they both can give rise to new business opportunities for Norwegian players, besides that they largely build
on specialized expertise and experience that exists within the Norwegian maritime industry.
• Environment
• Advanced transport and logistics
• Environment-friendly demanding maritime operations.
MILJO2015 - Norwegian environmental research till 2015. The MILJO2015 programme - Norwegian Environmental
Research Toward 2015 is a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary research programme designed to generate knowl-
edge about key environmental questions and create a foundation for designating future policy. The structure of the
MILJO2015 programme consists of one overarching research area: CROSSCUT, and four specific thematic areas:
SOCIETY, LAND, WATER and POLLUTION.
NORD - Research Council's High North strategy. Efforts to develop the Research Council of Norway’s Arctic and
northern areas initiative began in 2005. It was shaped by factors of both national and international significance, such
as climate change and a growing demand for the natural resources found in and under the ocean. For instance, es-
timates show that a quarter of the world’s undiscovered petroleum reserves are to be found in the Arctic areas.
NORKLIMA - Climate change and consequences for Norway. The primary objective is to generate vital new knowl-
edge as a basis for adaptive responses by human society. The main focus is on the climate system; climate trends in
the past, present and future; direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the natural environment and society.
PETROMAKS - Support for petroleum R&D. With the introduction of PETROMAKS in 2004, the Norwegian govern-
ment gave a signal that strong public support of petroleum innovation was necessary. With this backing, the Re-
search Council of Norway has an annual budget in 2009 of 30 mill US dollars for petroleum innovation.
POLARFORSKNING - Polar research. Several of the Research Council’s other programmes also deal with polar-
related issues. The greatest polar focus is found under the Programme on Climate Change and Impacts in Norway
(NORKLIMA), but polar research is also included in the portfolios of the Space Research Programme (ROM-
FORSKNING), the Oceans and Coastal Areas Programme (HAVKYST), the Optimal Management of Petroleum Re-
sources Programme (PETROMAKS), and the Norwegian Environmental Research Toward 2015 Programme (MIL-
JO2015).
RENERGI - Future clean energy systems. The objective of RENERGI is to develop knowledge and solutions as a
basis for ensuring environment-friendly, economically efficient and effective management of the country's energy
resources, a highly reliable energy supply and internationally competitive industrial development.
Innovation Norway is the Norwegian Government's most important instrument for innovation and development
(including trade& investment) of Norwegian enterprises and industry. Innovation Norway is the Norwegian govern-
ment's official trade representative abroad. It’s represented in more than 30 countries worldwide and is closely affili-
ated with the Norwegian embassies and consulates. In a joined operation with the Research Council it provides
funding for innovation (see the above programmes).
http ://w w w.innovasjonnorge.no/Contact-us/
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3. Connection strategies for the Dutch marine industry to consider
Overlapping top-sectors as potential areas for cooperation
Norway has defined 6 top-sectors that show a surprising overlap with the 9 Dutch top-sectors.
Like The Netherlands, Norway had defined nine top sectors but in 2011 Innovation Norway (being the Norwegian
Government's most important instrument for innovation and development of enterprises and industry) has reduced
the number of prioritized sectors from nine to six. Besides ICT, also “Culture” has been cancelled as a priority, and
“Oil and Gas” has been merged with the “Maritime sector” into one priority. Below are the sectors in which the
Netherlands and Norway excel globally and are a government priority. In bold the sectors that are directly relevant to
the BLUE ECONOMY.
NORWAY THE NETHERLANDS
Seafood Agri-Food
Health Life Sciences & Health
Environment Water
Oil / Gas / maritime High Tech Systems & Materials
Energy Energy (outside of scope)
Tourism (outside of scope) Chemicals (outside of scope, biotech in Life Science)
Horticulture (includes seaweed)
Logistics (outside of scope)
Creative Industry (not relevant)
TOP SECTORS AS DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENTS IN 2012. SOURCES : HTTP://WWW.TOP-SECTOREN.NL AND
HTTP://WWW.INNOVASJONNORGE.NO/
Identification of suggested connection strategies
Cooperation between Dutch and Norwegian stakeholders at different levels is commendable, but only if the coopera-
tion at all levels starts from a single agreed point of departure.
Based on ongoing collaboration initiatives we can state that the following connec-
tion strategies require input on each of the following levels:
I. Cooperation on INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT LEVEL for example by
connecting national framework, funding schemes, facilitating network or-
ganisations or sector clusters. Stakeholders: So far, on Dutch side there is a
clear interest in collaboration by InnovationNetwork and the Ministry of Eco-
nomic affairs, on the Norwegian side The Norwegian Seafood Council, Inno-
vation Norway and the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs would be the
main stakeholders.
12

II. Cooperation on BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEVEL that would typically include establishment and connection
of reference groups, project groups (consortia), setting up bi-lateral matchmaking, building financial frame-
works, organizing mini-seminars around main industry challenges, (co-) organizing business conferences, net-
working events etc.. Stakeholders: On the Dutch side there is an interest from the advisory board fisheries
innovation (Klankbordgroep Visserij-innovatie), Masterplan Sustainable Fisheries (MDV), Maritime cluster and
BluePorts. From Norwegian side there is an interest from MARELIFE bio-marine innovation network, the Indus-
trial Biotech Network and the Maritime Network.
III. Cooperation on PROJECT LEVEL (Public Private Partnerships). Initiation of innovation projects should take
place from a central point. Such point could easily be the business communities mentioned above. Strong
scientific players in the marine playing field that would be interested in teaming up with Dutch-Norwegian en-
terprises are Wageningen University and Research center (WUR), The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific
Research (NWO), Deltares, TNO and NIOZ. Potential Norwegian counterparts or partners are described in ear-
lier chapters. Actions to consider: Following up industry requests that come from the business networks de-
scribed above: partnership identification, fund raising. Processes could be initiated and facilitated by Dutch
and Norwegian Embassies incl. Dutch fisheries attaché and advisors/network; Norwegian and Dutch branch
organisations; Norwegian / Dutch business and innovation networks.
Suggested actions on ‘hot toppics’ by top-sector
The following focus areas are selected based on ongoing coordinated efforts (funding/projects) by the Dutch Ministry
of Economic Affairs to strengthen bi-lateral collaboration between The Netherlands and Norway. The connection
strategies that are suggested below have been initiated and are supported by the industry.
Cross-sector
Setting up a business community for Innovation in the bio-marine industry with international focus
Top-down coordinated action on government level to promote and facilitate Dutch innovation in the entire marine
industry on a national and international scale following the Norwegian success formula. This platform has the aim to
fill the gap in international coordinated innovation and cross-sector collaboration, namely:
• The ‘Klankbordgroep Visserij Innovatie’ is focussed on the fishing industry solely, which limits a search for partners
for the typical cross-sector innovation projects that are needed.
• Regional ‘Blueports’ are focussed on regional and national cross-sector cooperation, which limits international
exchange of ideas, partners and project leads.
Creating the environment for Dutch enterprises to either establish a new or join an existing bio-marine innovation
platform. It is suggested that a small committee be formed – consisting of a limited number of high level policy/
strategy makers from Norway and The Netherlands, who will develop a long term industry plan for each top-sector
that embraces the seafood industry. The plan should be approved by stakeholders (incl. governments) and actors in
a half day seminar, where the plan will be presented and defended. Based on the strategic plan, projects and activi-
ties will be developed and implemented and thus be consistent with the medium and long term objectives devel-
oped in the plan.
13

Bottom-up actions on business community level: Most bottom-up efforts are found scattered throughout the Dutch
industry, many not knowing of each others existence and solely with the purpose to solve company-specific chal-
lenges. To advance the BLUE ECONOMY as a whole, the private sector could typically work along 4 major tracks:
1. Projects: Facilitating collaboration between members with emphasis on installing common research projects,
addressing challenges and potentials too big to be handled by individual members
2. Commercialization: Assisting in the commercialization of ideas and inventions, private/public finance included.
This would be a typical task for an industry umbrella organisation.
3. Financial framework/funds: Striving at optimizing and building frameworks for marine R&D and innovation
4. Business events:
• As an example the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) being the largest seafood conference in Europe.
This conference took the first ideas on joint Dutch-Norwegian efforts to an international stage, facilitated by
MARELIFE secretariat and several Dutch players. Around 30 representatives from Dutch enterprises actively
participated in the 2012 conference including Doeke Faber, Guus Pastoor, Ekofish Group, Royal Ahold, Ra-
bobank, Rode vis, Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association and many more. The Dutch cutter sector is looking for
innovations that add value to fish products and reduction of costs and thinks it can find partners and ideas
during the NASF. Another focus area can be linked to the Masterplan Sustainable Fisheries (MDV) or Blue-
ports.
The objectives of this activity is twofold:
1. Using a fast growing international platform for potential partners to attract and the North Sea fisheries
and aquaculture to showcase as powerful and innovative sector
2. Active matchmaking with potential international partners in closed business- and innovation sessions.
Important is: Early involvement of stakeholders, definition of focus areas for the Dutch marine industry
and connection to Dutch innovation topics that can be integrated both in the main conference as in
parallel sessions. The Netherlands could take the lead in parallel sessions and can contribute to topics
and speakers of the main conference in 2014. It’s important that individual industry players recognize
opportunities!
Agrifood / Seafood
Joined branding strategies for sustainable North Sea seafood
Relevance/need: Despite rising global demand for fish, prices of Dutch fish remain far behind. Norway has
a much more sophisticated marketing system that is built around farmed fish (salmon) and more recently
also for wild caught fish (cod). So encouraging a more customer-focused niche marketing and logistics
around Dutch seafood, based on Norwegian models used for cod and salmon is the aim for collaboration.
14

Salma brand Findus brand Sea Fraiche brand
Suggested connection strategy: Norway has very high brand recognition for its seafood in major interna-
tional markets such as the US. Exploratory Study to Norwegian marketing models applied by Aker sea-
foods, Leroy and several brands of fresh fish such as ‘Salma’. Focus should be on product differentiation:
freshness, convenience food, logistics, own distribution, marketing, cultural values etc. In return, Norwe-
gian partners could explore potential markets in The Netherlands for typical Scandinavian seafood. Organ-
izing targeted meeting at North Atlantic Seafood Forum where producers, consumers (retail) and potential
investors meet.
Develop pilot for new fish feeds (algae) for aquaculture to support growing need for food.
Relevance/need: Production potential of the oceans are underutilized at the same time that there is a great
need for raw materials for livestock and fish farming but also for the pharmaceutical- and food industries.
Food is becoming scarcer worldwide and aquaculture currently imposes a heavy pressure on wild fish
stocks (wild fish to feed farmed fish). In both The Netherlands and Norway, a strong activity in the field of
extraction of valuable components from algae is well underway.
Suggested connection strategy: A first Dutch-Norwegian al-
gae business meeting was held in March 2012 where the
main challenge was discussed: entering the aquaculture mar-
ket on industrial scale (contact Sytse Ybema, Sustainovate).
Several players from that meeting have indicated the need for
a more concrete follow-up. Two existing Norwegian market
scans can form the next step in matchmaking with Dutch
stakeholders. The Centre for Applied Biotechnology will re-
port on micro algae strategies in Norway (contact Hans Kleivdal); this should give insight on possible fund-
ing and collaboration opportunities with The Netherlands. Blue Bio has also produced a similar market scan
for (micro) algae business opportunities. This market analysis is based on a common interest from the Pro-
ject “Industriell Bioteknologi” Innovation Norway (IN), the Association Storby Marin (The IN Secretariat for
the analysis in Norway), the Prosject Blå Bioteknik (Interreg KASK), NIC-Project Nordic Algae Network and
MARELIFE. In dialogue with Dutch players such as WUR AlgaeParc and Phycom BV a follow-up business
meeting can be arranged for example during one of the algae business seminars held in Scandinavia in
2013.
Life Science & Health
15

Explore overlapping areas of interest between
Dutch InnovationNetwork project on seafood and
health to Norwegian Bio-technology / bio-
prospecting from marine ingredients.
Opening doors to untapped potentials and meeting
Norwegian needs for developing the growing population of elderly. As stated earlier in this memo, represen-
tatives of the Norwegian Industrial Biotechnology Network have indicated that The Dutch biotech and
chemical industry are extremely interesting to further develop the Norwegian marine biotechnology indus-
try.
Relevance/need: Functional food for the older generation seems to be a niche market where much compe-
tence lies in Norway. It meets the demand in the Dutch fishing industry to increase the value of seafood. A
growing number of elderly people increases the need for quality food and omega3 products. Norway in-
vests heavily in solutions that should lead to reduce costs for the care of elderly.
Suggested connection strategy: A first exploratory meeting and desks study to identify areas of possible
collaboration, potential partners and available fundings for bi-lateral activities. This study should focus on
fish, algae, krill and other parts of the marine ecosystem.
Bi-lateral collaboration is believed to be essential on the long run and for practical reasons preferred over
multinational collaboration. A suggested second step could be a 3 to 5 year assignment of a ‘knowledge
broker’ or matchmaker that would be responsible for identification of national companies (database) and
connection of relevant stakeholders. NB: This would be a copy of the Norway - UK approach
(http://www.indbiotech.no/british-norwegain-collaboration).
Useful contacts: Marit Valseth from Innovation Norway, responsible for NO-UK collaboration is interested in
exploring opportunities with NL. Biotechnology developments in northern Norway are lead by the Dutch-
man Ernst-Jan Kloosterman as employee of ‘Biotech North’. He believes the fisheries attache’s activities in
Norway are interesting to the entire Norwegian biotech branch.
Facilitation of matchmaking between Norwegian and Dutch Industrial biotech networks
Relevance/need: The Netherlands is extremely competent in vegeta-
tive biotechnology whereas Norway has a focus on marine biotech-
nology. Joining forces seems a logic step.
Suggested connection strategy: A connection between the Norwegian
and Dutch industrial biotechnology could be realized by copying the
approach that Norway is currently following with the UK.
In that case the Dutch and Norwegian biotechnology networks will
have to physically meet and explore complementary expertise and
industry needs.
16

As a second step a one full-time-position to could be funded to participate in bi-lateral meetings, to moni-
tor the playing field from the Dutch side (actors, regulations, innovation etc.) and to initiate and follow-up
business leads. Another investment from both governments could be the build and connection of national
databases that contain most important biotech players in Norway and The Netherlands making it easier to
collaborate with foreign partners and participate in innovation and knowledge business development
projects.
Marine environment
Cross-sector collaboration in ecosystem monitoring
Relevance/need: Given the expensive R&D costs in the ma-
rine sector, there could be major savings from combining
resources on infrastructure such as vessels and satellites.
Norway is ahead in such developments due to the often re-
mote areas of fisheries and offshore activities.
Suggested connection strategy: Identification of stakehold-
ers, (potential) markets and ongoing activities in a low budget
desk study. Joint stakeholder meeting to discuss concrete
opportunities that are suggested in the desk study report.
Useful contacts: Espen Johnsen and Olav Rune Godø from Bergen Marine Institute in Bergen;
Ecosystem monitoring IT (oil drilling, and other activities)
Relevance/need: Norway recognizes the marine sector as major market for its IT development. Norway is
currently looking at opportunities to outsource to EU countries where it can get access to EU R&D budgets!
With a rapidly changing marine environment caused by climate change and human impact the need for
robust and international monitoring systems is rapidly growing. Norway can be seen as world leader in
such technology development but The Netherlands differentiates from Norway by its leading industry in
software development and data infrastructure (IT at sea): The Netherlands ranks among the top 10 world-
wide markets in terms of application software products.
Suggested connection strategy: Describing the major Norwegian challenges in ecosystem monitoring:
Norwegian ambitions and demands for foreign IT expertise. Identification of current software suppliers for
such mega projects (fisheries research, oil industry, government obligations, European projects etc.).
Useful contacts: Bjarte Frøyland, Special advisor on Inward investment at The Oslo Region alliance; Peter
Thorner, Manager of the Wireless Future Program, Christopher Giertsen, vice president, business develop-
ment at CMR.
17

Maritime / high tech
Developing multi-functional fishing vessel or ‘future’ fishing vessel
Relevance/need: This is to broaden the economic base of the
marine fisheries (EU fisheries policy limits the number of days
to about 200 per year). Learning from Norwegian develop-
ments in this area (including bi-lateral cooperation with Swe-
den, Iceland and Denmark). The new Fisheries Policy (CFP)
has a strong focus on sustainability (less damage to ecosys-
tems, efficient fishing techniques and use of vessels for non-
fishing purposes). This requires a different type of fishing ves-
sel and novel technologies. Both in Norway and the Nether-
lands initiatives are being developed in public-private partner-
ships (in The Netherlands Ekofish BV, Quotter BV, MDV etc.)
Suggested connection strategy: A first Dutch-Norwegian
business meeting was held in March 2012 where the Dutch
idea of a multipurpose fishing vessel was discussed with
representatives from Aker Seafoods, DNV, Rolls Royce and
STX shipbuilder. The Norwegian approach seems to differ
significantly from the Dutch approach. Therefore the Dutch
initiatives should remain in close communication with Nor-
wegian stakeholders so that best practice developments are
followed.
Horticulture (and starting materials)
Macro-algae (seaweed) production and integrated fish farming (including sea farms) to develop sus-
tainable aquaculture and pioneer on this new food and energy source.
Relevance/need: Rather unknown in the Dutch marine industry
but responsible for 25% of the world aquaculture biomass.
Seaweed does not only purify the water around fish farms in
open sea, it also produces valuable protein and other com-
pounds and gives a home to natural predators of sealice, the
biggest threat in the salmon industry. Norway with its well shel-
tered fish farms could be a large potential market for integrated
farming.
Suggested connection strategy: Starting a pilot project using current expertise from ‘Northseafarm founda-
tion’ (Stichting Noordzeeboerderij) and Hortimare BV. The foundation is currently developing a test farm at
sea that produces seaweed and combines this with other activities. Hortimare BV is the main supplier of
seaweedseed in this foundation and is currently collaborating with a Norwegian fish farmer on joined pro-
duction.
18

Useful contacts: In the Netherlands: Job Schipper from Hortimare BV and Stichting Noordzeeboerderij,
producer of seed, knowledge on seaweed farming and technology. In Norway: Fjord Forsk Sogn AS pro-
vides R&D within the farming of marine species (ﬁsh and shellﬁsh). It provides services within aquatic is-
sues (environment, farming, sealice, etc). Salmon Group AS shows interest in testing integrated aquaculture
with Dutch seaweed know-how on large scale
(http://salmongroup.no/aktuelt/2012/10/fra-solund-til-nederlandsk-storavis).
19

4. Quick scan of potential partners
Most prominent scientific players
The following scientific players are involved in science-based innovation and can be linked to ongoing coordinated
activities between the Netherlands and Norway.
Institute for Marine Research (IMR) - Marine research
With a staff of almost 700 the Institute of Marine Research is Norway's largest center of marine science. Its main
task is to provide advice to Norwegian authorities on aquaculture and the ecosystems of the Barents Sea, the Nor-
wegian Sea, the North Sea and the Norwegian coastal zone. For this reason, about 50% of its activities are financed
by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. IMR has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with
Wageningen IMARES from the Netherlands.
Det Norske Veritas (DNV) - Research on improvement of business performance
As independent foundation DNV is a global provider of services for managing risk, helping customers to safely and
responsibly improve their business performance. Its history goes back to 1864, when the foundation was estab-
lished in Norway to inspect and evaluate the technical condition of Norwegian merchant vessels. Since then, its core
competence has been to identify, assess, and advise on how to manage risk. One of the most important competitive
advantages of DNV is its investment in research and innovation. Since 1954 DNV has had a dedicated research de-
partment that has enhanced and developed services, rules and industry standards in multiple fields. Many of the
technology solutions developed by DNV have helped define internationally recognized standards. Relevant project:
DNV’s future fishing vessel concept, Fish_2015 : Catchy.
SINTEF - Technical research
SINTEF is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia. The SINTEF Group is structured into sev-
eral research institutes, which have been defined in terms of value chains and industrial market clusters. Relevant to
the BLUE ECONOMY:
• SINTEF ICT
• MARINTEK (Marine Technology Research Institute)
• SINTEF Fishery and Aquaculture
• SINTEF Energy Research (focus on finding solutions related to power production and conversion, transmis-
sion / distribution and the end use of energy both onshore and offshore/subsea including bioenergy and
technology for the food and nutrition industry.)
• SINTEF Petroleum Research
NIVA - Water (environmental) research
NIVA is Norway’s most prominent environmental research organisation committed to research, monitoring, assess-
ment and studies on freshwater, coastal and marine environments in addition to environmental technology. In con-
tradiction to IMR (see above) NIVA is not financially supported by the government. In case of for example an oil spill,
20

IMR would get the task from the government to start investigating the area and potential threats to marine life
whereas NIVA would typically be asked by commercial players to perform special seawater monitoring tasks.
NOFIMA - Seafood research
Nofima was established on January 1, 2008, and is Europe’s largest institute for applied research within the fields of
fisheries, aquaculture and food. Shareholding:
• State (Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs): 56.8 %.
• The Agricultural Food Research Foundation: 33.2 %.
• Akvainvest Møre and Romsdal: 10.0 %.
BIOFORSK - Horticulture research
Also known as the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Bioforsk conducts applied and
specifically targeted research linked to multifunctional agriculture and rural development, plant sciences, environ-
mental protection and natural resource management. International collaboration is given high priority.
Universities with marine programmes
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Åss)
• University of Bergen
• University of Oslo
• University of Stavanger (petroleum)
• University of Nordland
Innovative industry players developing cross-sector business
The following industry players are involved in science-based innovation and can be linked to ongoing coordinated
activities between the Netherlands and Norway.
Oil & Gas
Norway’s hunger to learn from different industries and develop renewable energy projects has lead to a strong focus
on bridging the gap between the bio-marine and petroleum industry. StatOil is working on concrete projects (fisher-
ies, aquaculture and macro-algaeproduction) where the marine and offshore sectors can create totally new dynam-
ics for innovation, technology development and smart sustainable solutions.
Seafood (fisheries-aquaculture)
• Fisheries: As a globally integrated pelagic fishery and seafood specialist, Austevoll Seafood ASA (Stock
listed) operates through subsidiaries and associated companies, fishing vessels with licensed quotas in
three of the world’s most important fishery countries - Norway, Chile and Peru. Main activities are in fishing
fleet, fishmeal and oil plants, canning plants, frozen fish plants, salmon farming and sales. Pelagic trawlers
such as Eros, Gardar, Brennholm, Christina E, and Libas are owned by trendsetting Norwegian fishing
company that rents out their ships for a number of marine and maritime assignments such as environ-
mental monitoring, offshore assistance, fisheries surveys etc. Driven by the recent economic recession and
reduced fishing quota, new partnerships between commercial players and fishing vessel owners in Norway
have emerged over the last few years. It quickly turned out that fishing vessels can perform at much lower
21

costs (even up to 50%) than dedicated offshore and specialized research vessels; Norway Pelagic ASA is a
producer and exporter of pelagic fish, caught in the seas close to Norway. Total raw material processed is
on annual basis about 50% of total landings of pelagic fish in Norway processed for human consumption.
Norway Pelagic ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange; Fiskebåt or Fishing Vessel Owners' Association
is a professional body and employer's association for the Norwegian fishing fleet. About 90% of all fishing
vessels over 27.5 meters are a member of the association. Since January 2012 Aker Seafoods was restruc-
tured into two separate companies; Aker Seafoods ASA and Norway Seafoods Group AS. Aker Seafoods is
now a solely harvesting company and is the largest trawl company in Norway. Norway Seafoods Group is a
processing and sales company.
• Aquaculture: Norway hosts many fish farming companies but a few large one stand out: Marine Harvest
ASA, once founded by Unilever, produces Atlantic salmon, halibut and white fish. The group has a share of
between 25 and 30% of the global salmon and trout market, making it the world's largest company in the
sector. The company has an integrated value chain, with the company making its own broodstock in fresh-
water, followed by growth and maturing in seawater, harvesting, manufacturing in processing plants and
distribution. Marine Harvest also owns a 'value added processing' unit, which prepares and distributes a
range of seafood products, and a number of smaller divisions; Lerøy Seafood Group is a leading exporter
of seafood from Norway and is in business of meeting the demand for food and culinary experiences in
Norway and internationally by supplying seafood products through selected distributors to producers, insti-
tutional households and consumers. The Group's core activities are distribution, sale and marketing of sea-
food, processing of seafood, production of salmon, trout and other species, as well as product develop-
ment. The Group operates through subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, France and Portugal and through a
network of sales offices that ensure its presence in the most important markets; Cermaq ASA is a Norwe-
gian fish farm and fish feed company. The company is owned 43.5% by the Government of Norway and is
listed on Oslo Stock Exchange. With the brand name EWOS Cermaq produces fish feed in both Norway,
Canada, United Kingdom, Chile and Vietnam.
• Feed companies: Skretting is the world’s largest producer of feeds for farmed fish. Skretting is a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Nutreco feed group, which is listed on the stock exchange in the Netherlands; The
BioMar group is one of the leading suppliers of high performance fish feed to the aquaculture industry. Its
main business areas are feed for salmon and trout in Norway, the United Kingdom, and Chile, and feed for
trout, eel, sea-bass, and sea-bream in Continental Europe. Roughly one out of four farmed fish produced in
Europe and Chile are fed with BioMar fish feed. Worldwide the BioMar Group supplies feed to around 60
countries and to more than 25 different fish species. BioMar fish feed types cover the full life cycle of the
fish including larvae feed, fry feed, smolt feed, grower feed, and brood stock feed; EWOS is a business
division of Cermaq ASA.
Marine ingredients/ Bio-technology and Bio-prospecting (Marine ITP)
Dozens of companies and institutions in Norway deal with marine ingredients one way or another. The Norwegian
Industrial Biotechnology Network (currently 36 members) is an answer from the government to create structure in
this labyrinth.
22

The Network aims to stimulate innovation and knowledge sharing in the
area of industrial biotechnology* and bio-refining. Its activities bring
together academia and industry across research disciplines, industry
sectors and geography.
In February 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed be-
tween Innovation Norway and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) in
the UK. This agreement intends to foster transnational collaboration
between industries and research institutions in the area of industrial
biotechnology and bio-refining where the bi-lateral approach is pre-
ferred over international collaboration.
* Bio-technology is defined as the search for useful products derived from biological resources whereas bioprospecting describes the systematic
search for and development of new sources of chemical compounds, genes, micro- and macro organisms, and other valuable products from nature.
How Innovation Norway would like to facilitate Nor-
wegian industrial Biotech
Facilitated by the government Bi-lateral Multi-sector approach
Other networks that focus on Marine ITP are:
BioTech North is an emerging biotechnology cluster of enterprises and R&D organizations, which cooperate
closely with regional funding and development actors. As bioactive molecules and compounds from Arctic
marine resources form the basis of activities for the majority of the cluster members, BioTech North serves
as a marine biotech cluster. The majority of BioTech North’s enterprises are active within life science appli-
cations and markets. To date the cluster contains around 30 organizations from both the private and public
sector.
Omegaland network objective is to develop the great potential of Omega-3 products. Through collabora-
tion, innovation and commercialization, the industry situated on the north-western coast of Norway aims to
strengthen its position as world leader within processing of marine oils for human consumption and health
products.
FHL Maring is a cluster for the bio-marine ingredient industry based production of by-products from the
fishing industry. This is the raw material that is used both for feed production and specialized products that
apply in areas such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics production.
The Nordic Lipid Forum (1969) is a professional arena for people interested in lipids in the five Nordic coun-
tries, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. The forum should benefit both scientists and com-
panies involved by having a common meeting place and a system for exchange of knowledge. Key points
in the Nordic LipidForum activities are:
• Organize a contact network for a Nordic collaboration in the lipid area
23

• Promote applied research and technology for industrial application of lipids, fats and oils with a
special focus on the Nordic raw materials such as fish and other marine oils, rapeseed,
camelina and flaxseed oil.
• Provide information network playground for Nordic and international meetings, job opportunities in
academia, research institutes and/or industry, etc.
• Provide a forum for exchanging of ideas and information
• Increase international visibility of Nordic research and industry in the lipid field.
• To inspire talented employees to increase their competence in lipid science and development
Aker Bio-Marine ASA is an integrated biotechnology company – positioned to create value from krill har-
vesting and processing. Aker Bio-Marine co-operates closely with CCAMLR and WWF to ensure sustain-
able harvesting.
Algae (micro-algae and seaweed)
The main challenge regarding the marine sector is: Opening the aquaculture market for algae products. Algae are
seen as the largest un-exploited biomass resource, which possess vast potential as resource for an array of different
applications including ingredients for the food and feed industry.
Micro algae
The image below visualizes the micro algae playing field as suggested by key algae players in Norway. The BlueBio
project clearly focusses on commercializing scientific expertise.
At the time of writing there are three desk studies commissioned on the potentials for using micro algae in a Norwe-
gian bio-based economy:
Illustration by Sus-
24

- Microalgae, a market analysis carried out as part of the Interreg KASK IVA project: Blue Biotechnology for
Sustainable Innovations, “BlueBio”, January 2013.
- ProAlgae, Industrial production of marine microalgae as a source of EPA and DHA rich raw material in fish
feed – Basis, knowledge status and possibilities. FHF project no. 900771 (expected publication in June 2013).
- Joined Dutch-Norwegian Business opportunities in Micro algae and Nordic Aquaculture. Sustainovate AS,
May 2013.
Blue Bio commissioned this study to get a picture of the microalgae players for the Nordic countries. A brief analy-
ses has been performed on how the Nordic countries best can capitalise on its strengths in the light of current and
emerging opportunities for algal R&D, and in the context of international competition. Based on analyses, there are
25 universities and R&Ds identified working on algal topics while only 7 companies are working on commercial algae
projects in the Nordic countries. Despite the increasing demand for algae in the (shell)fish farming industry and the
increasing number of breeding initiatives it appears difficult to set up business that produces high quality algae on
an industrial scale.
The aquaculture sector recognises that algae play a potential important role, but neither party wants to become
problem owner or develop solutions for the entire sector. Thus, vital pilots that are needed for maturing this market
are being postponed. To attract funding, a significant number of the new companies that have been formed make
unrealistic claims about productivities and profits; this threatens the credibility of the field in general. Instead a long
innovative process is necessary to be able to scale up the algae production to meet the increasing demand for aq-
uaculture biomass for many different purposes. It includes technical innovations to reduce costs and increase vol-
umes significantly but it also concerns market uncertainties and commercialisation.
There might be several reasons for the lack of commercialisation of this wealth of algal expertise in the Nordic Coun-
tries:
Although aquafeed companies are willing to explore including algae (components) into their aquafeed they often do
not have the in-house competence to judge which technology or algae producing company is future proof. In this
case neutral institutions such as the Norwegian ‘Lipid Forum’ or ‘Algae Network’ might take a guiding role.
Another bottleneck in the Nordic countries put forward in the Blue Bio report is presented by the fact that research-
ers often are still not too familiar with how to take brilliant ideas, inventions and developments further
Recent Norwegian initiatives and contributions to open the market are the development of ‘Knowledge Networks’
such as the Nordic Algae Network and Algae commercialisation efforts as in the EU funded project Blue Bio and the
Nord-Østron project. In addition, numerous conferences and workshops and other business meetings actively put
the algae topic high on the agenda.
The main questions regarding opening the aquaculture feeds' market for algae derived products are:
• Which ingredients can be sourced from industrial micro-algae production?
• Which barriers and challenges need to be resolved to secure market entry both technical and business-wise?
• How to develop the market to algal ingredients?
• What is needed to start commercial algae production for use in shellfish and fish farming
• Who are potential investors in this field?
• How to reduce delay due to registration and legislation? This route is costly ad time consuming.
25

See the report ‘Joined Dutch-Norwegian Business opportunities in Micro algae and Nordic Aquaculture’, Sustaino-
vate AS.May 2013 for more detailed information and an overview of the playing field.
Useful contacts:
- Jon Aulie (MARELIFE innovation network)
- Pål Myhre (Marine Design AS)
- Hans Kleivdal (University of Bergen)
Macro algae
Norway has rich coast with many opportunities and seaweed cultivation has the potential to become an important
coastal industry in Norway. Nowadays 180 people are working in the seaweed industry. Around 45 persons harvest
seaweed, either self-employed, working for a boat owner or processing company. Why is there no commercial culti-
vation of macroalgae in Norway today, when harvesting of natural macroalgae resources constitute a well-
functioning industry? The established algal industry is based on harvesting natural resources of seaweeds for the
production of alginate, seaweed meal and extracts for use in food processing, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Cul-
tivation of seaweed opens several opportunities to produce food, fatty acids, plastics, medicine and bioenergy in a
sustainable and environmentally friendly way. To develop a functional industry for processing of seaweed products,
a sustainable production of seaweed must be developed in addition to the harvesting of natural resources.
Seaweed Energy Solutions AS (SES) is a pioneer in the development of cultivated seaweed as an alterna-
tive energy source, the cornerstone of its technology being the patented Seaweed Carrier, a large purpose-
built underwater structure for cultivating seaweed for mass production.
Statoil has agreed to co-fund SES for ongoing technology development. The agreement includes plans for
a large-scale demonstration project. SES is currently carrying out cultivation tests at various locations off
the coasts of Norway and Portugal with the support of Stolt Sea Farm, a leader in aquaculture, and Aq-
ualine, a major global supplier of flexible aquaculture structures. It also has partnerships with a number of
scientific institutions in Norway and Portugal.
http ://www.seaweedenergysolutions.com
Bioforsk and Salmongroup are Norwegian companies collaborating with the Dutch seaweed producer Hor-
timare.
26

FMC biopolymer wants to see farm-
ers increase productivity, produce
seaweed in an environmentally sus-
tainable manner and work safely.
FMC has worked closely with farm-
ers to boost their productivity
through training in Best Farming
Practices, improved farming sys-
tems, developing technology and
safety/health awareness. This has
led to a dramatic rise in production
and productivity. FMC biopolymer
that has an office in Norway. Image: Large scale seaweed production (source FMC biopolymer)
Collaboration networks around micro- and macro algae have only emerged recently and Nordic countries make an
effort to join forces:
Nordic Algae Network (DK, NO, SE, IS)
This project is a network project with focus on a majority of industrial partners in dialogue with research
institutions. The network will increase the ability of the involved industries to evaluate their business oppor-
tunities for production based on algae raw materials, and the network will strengthen the cooperation and
sparring between the Nordic partners. In addition the newsletters and the website will give a large network
for algae activities in the North Atlantic hemisphere including England, Scotland, Ireland, Faroe Island,
Greenland and the east coast of Canada.
Nord-Ostron project is a cooperation between Universitet i Gøteborg, Skjellsenteret i Danmark , Norwegian
University of Life Sciences and an oyster producer. Its task is to find a good way to produce micro-algae as
food for oyster larvae.
Relevant Events:
• ‘Alger 2012’ in Bodø, May the 23rd -24th 2012 (http://www.alger2012.no)
Useful contacts:
- Øystein Lie (MARELIFE innovation network)
- Ole Jakob Sørdalen: former sector head of Energy and Environment at Innovation Norway.
Marine renewable energy (wind-wave-hydro)
SINTEF is by far the most important player when it comes to R&D and innovation in marine renewable energy. It op-
erates in several energy sectors:
27

Solar energy: Among important areas of utilization is drying agriculture/
seafood products
Wind power: The wind power industry has changed considerably in recent
years. The direction of development is towards larger wind turbines and
larger wind parks. The development of ever-larger wind turbines is likely to
continue, and the biggest turbines and parks will be erected offshore. This
large scale development potentially creates opportunities for integrated
fish farming/seaweed farming.
Ocean energy: Not relevant yet for fisheries or aquaculture; factors like
immature technology, large technological challenges and high costs mean
that no commercial ocean based power plant can compete with conven-
tional power production without strong support. Other important short-
comings are value chain functions, infrastructure, legislation and stan-
dardization.
An overview of markets and stakeholders can be found at http://www.renewableenergy.no. The purpose of this site
is to present a concise overview of the progress of technology, economy and market in relation to renewable energy.
It will also present examples of Norwegian companies that deliver relevant technology.
Useful contacts:
- Bergny Dahl (Innovation Norway) : responsible for environmental technology programme (energy from
waves, wind & biomass)
- Ole Jakob Sørdalen: former sector head of Energy and Environment at Innovation Norway.
28

6. Finance options for collaborative actions
The implementation of the integrated concept of BLUE ECONOMY in Norway gives Dutch enterprises easier access
to Norwegian industries and funding sources that come with this cross-sector concept. For example, a Norwegian oil
company will be encouraged to obtain non-oil related EU funding to develop a pilot project with a Dutch seaweed-
or fish farming company that looks for sustainable applications of their production.
European funding possibilities
The European Union possesses four key funding opportunities to support BLUE ECONOMY innovation: the 7th
Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration activities (FP7), the Competi-
tiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), the Structural Funds (SF) and the European Fisheries Fund
(EFF).
SF - Structural Funds
Structural Funds (SF) are the European Union's basic instruments for supporting social and economic development
in EU member states. They account for over a third of the European Union budget. A good example is the Interreg
initiative that is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the European Union. Typical
projects under INTERREG would be the formation of frameworks or BLUE ECONOMY stakeholder networks.
http ://e c.e uropa.eu/regional_policy/cooperate/cooperation/crossborder/index_en.cfm
FP7 - The Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) and Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)
FP7 with a total budget of over €50 billion for the period 2007-2013 is the EU instrument specifically targeted at
supporting research and development. Norway can participate in FP7 programs on equal terms with EU member
states.
It provides funding to co-finance research, technological development and demonstration projects based on com-
petitive calls and independent peer review of project proposals. It is important to underline that FP7 is not just for
researchers in research entities or the education sector. Across the range of activities supported by FP7, companies
may also participate (see: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/sme_en.html). The Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partner-
ships and Pathways (IAPP) scheme is specifically designed for commercial enterprises. Enterprises are also the
main players in the European Technology Platforms (ETP - http://cordis.
europa.eu/technology-platforms/home_en.html) and Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI - http://
cordis.europa.eu/fp7/jtis/home_en.html ).
Horizon 2020 is the name of the follow-up programme of FP7 (Framework Programme 7). It addresses the economic
crisis and people’s concern about the environment. The aim is to simplify and increase SME participation, which
opens up new possibilities for cross-sectoral collaborations and possible financing. The new programme for re-
search and innovation will run from 2014 to 2020 with a total foreseen budget of € 80 billion. On 30 November 2011
the European Commission released their proposal for this new programme. According to this document a budget of
29

€ 4,1 billion is earmarked for food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bio- econ-
omy.
P ractical g uide: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/practical-guide-rev3_en.pdf
CIP - The competativeness and innovation framework programme (2007-2013)
The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) aims to encourage the competitiveness of Euro-
pean enterprises. With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its main target, the programme will support
innovation activities (including eco-innovation), provide better access to finance and deliver business support serv-
ices in the regions. It will encourage a better take-up and use of information and communications technologies (ICT)
and help to develop the information society. It will also promote the increased use of renewable energies and energy
efficiency. CIP will last from 2007 until 2013 and has a total budget of over €3.6 billion: €2 .170 million for Entrepre-
neurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) (of which more than €1 100 million for financial instruments and €430 mil-
lion for promoting eco-innovation). Calls for proposals: The IEE programme and the ICT-PSP programme allocate
their funds mainly through calls for proposals.
http ://e c.e uropa.eu/cip
EFF - European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013)
The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) aims to support the common fisheries policy. Although Norway cannot partici-
pate in the EFF it can be partner of EU member state projects.
Funding is available for all sectors of the industry – sea and inland fishing, aquaculture (the farming of fish, shellfish
and aquatic plants), and processing and marketing of fisheries products. Particular attention is given to fishing
communities most affected by recent changes in the industry. The EFF has a budget of €4.3 billion for 2007-2013. In
this framework, a limited number of projects can include research and innovation.
The Member States decide how to allocate the financial support between the priorities of the fund. Each Member
State creates a National Strategic Plan regarding the implementation of the EFF, presenting an overall strategic vi-
sion and the medium term development policy of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It also handles applications:
http ://www.hetlnvloket.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie/dossiers/dossier/openstellingen-subsidies
Applicants should carefully read the instructions published in the National Administrations websites, fill the pre-
scribed forms and present them and the requested accompanying documents within a set deadline to the National
Authorities of the Member State in which they are established.
The EU-funding-guide provides a good overview of typical topics, principles and example projects that can be
funded through the Fund.
http ://cordis.europa.eu/eu-funding-guide/annex05_en.html# 01
30

Norwegian funding possibilities
The Norwegian funding system is mainly made for funding companies registered in Norway. Applicants from abroad
must as a rule have a formal affiliation with a Norwegian institution to be eligible to seek Norwegian funding.
The main public/private funding opportunity is the 1) The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, a funding scheme
for industrial research and development work within fisheries and aquaculture, and is based on a levy of 0,3 percent
on all exported fish and fish products.
The three main public actors are 2) Innovation Norway, the 3) Industrial Development Corporation of Norway
(SIVA) and the 4) Research Council of Norway. Funding instruments provided by Innovation Norway seek to pro-
mote industrial development that is profitable in both commercial and socio-economic terms. The focus is on entre-
preneurial activities, growth in companies and innovation communities. SIVA’s instruments are designed to promote
industry incubation and to create viable value-creating communities based on national and international infrastruc-
ture for innovation. The Research Council’s innovation-oriented instruments are designed to realise the potential for
value creation of R&D activities and to use research to promote innovation.
There are also possibilities to get funding from the Counties (along the coast line of Norway) – some of the counties
are doing coop very well with Innovation Norway and Research Council of Norway and SIVA, a few of the counties
might improve their coop for optimal use of governmental money.
The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF).
The funds shall be used for industrial innovation for the benefit of all or part of the industry, and are distributed in the
form of grants for research programmes and major projects. The fund is organized as special entity under the Minis-
try of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs but financed 100% by the industry. It takes 0,3% duty on export and had 214
MNOK (about 28 mill EUR) budget in 2012 .
Strategic focus areas:
• Sustainability
• Documentation of health effects (human nutrition)
• Use of total marine raw materials (bi-products)
• Competitiveness and efficiency
• Quality
• Market research
• Insight into framework
• HSE (Health and Safety)
Innovation Norway
IFU. In 2012, Innovation Norway invested over NOK 300 million (40M EUR) in new industrial and government re-
search and development contracts (IFU/OFU). For Dutch -Norwegian business relations the so called ‘IFU’ program
is relevant. Important priority areas are offshore oil and gas, environment, maritime business development, as well as
marine business development and energy. There is also a considerable focus on the health sector and other areas
that involve large-scale public procurement
Innovation Norway offers this support program that makes grants available to Norwegian companies (especially
small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)) that are developing new products or services for foreign (or other Nor-
31

wegian companies). The support program may cover up to 60% of the development costs incurred by the Norwe-
gian companies.
The outcome of an IRD project may vary, but these results are typically:
• A product or prototype as the first version of a unit that can either be marketed as a product in its own
right or as a component of a larger system.
• Software for which there is an independent business idea and that can be marketed as a separate prod-
uct or service.
• A system integration, with significant new capabilities.
• A new production process.
The IRD program can support development projects from the pre-study phase up to and including the industrial
prototype/pre-commercial phase. It may also include testing and monitoring of whether the prototype meets specifi-
cations, including a 0-series production. This is in accordance with European Union (EU) regulations for research,
development, and innovation.
More info at ‘2012 Guideline for IRD cooperation’ available on the Innovation Norway website.
Marine Value Creation Programme. With marine wealth creation program, we want to raise the competence of Nor-
wegian seafood producers, and ensure that they deliver what customers want. The goal is to increase profitability for
businesses and industry through market-business networks and supply of market expertise and strategic compe-
tence.
This program helps with:
Grants for networking. Do you want to go into a committed relationship with other seafood businesses? We
give grants to promising projects.
Grants for market orientation. Planning a market-led development of seafood your company? We provide
grants to projects that can give your company lasting competitive advantage.
Courses - market expertise for Norwegian seafood industry. Norwegian seafood companies can increase
profitability by better knowledge about the market. Interesting? Join our practical courses on strategy, mar-
keting, branding and communications.
Trainee - learn about the market, the market. Want to learn more about the market around the world so that
you can help to improve profitability in your business? We offer young people in the seafood business a
stay of 4-12 months as a trainee in an international market.
Build networks abroad FRAM Seafood Market. Will you sell seafood on the international market? We pro-
vide strategic assistance and networking in multi-business program "FRAM Seafood Market".
Aquaculture programme. Innovation Norway can help fund projects that are innovative and tailored to market needs.
It also advises on marketization and internationalization. When it considers the projects, it emphasizes that the Nor-
wegian applicant thinks holistically, and look the project location in the value chain.
Projects of the following type are given priority:
32

Salmon and trout
“We give priority to projects that increase the product's value through the supply chain, often by building
brand or product differentiation. We also fund good projects in areas such as sustainability and technol-
ogy.”
Cod and new marine species
“Norway should be a custom provider of fresh Atlantic cod, given our great natural advantages in fisheries
as well as aquaculture and capture-based aquaculture. We are looking for projects with profit potential,
with solid ownership, competence and equity. In projects involving aquaculture and capture-based aquac-
ulture requires a substantial commitment from owners and substantiation of market relations and agree-
ments.”
Crustaceans and molluscs
“Here we assume that the project is located in the regions with the best natural conditions, including with
respect to toxic algae. New reception will be evaluated against already established receiving structure.”
SIVA - The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway
Is the governmental corporation and national instrument founded in 1968. SIVA aims to develop strong regional and
local industrial clusters through ownership in infrastructure, investment and knowledge networks as well as innova-
tion centres. The goal is improvement of national infrastructure for innovation. SIVA’s main objective is to contribute
to the achievement of the Norwegian government's policy goals in remote areas, and within this framework contrib-
utes to unleash innovation capability and increase wealth creation in all parts of the country. The enterprise is organ-
ized in main areas Real Estate, Innovation, Industry and International.
Research Council of Norway (RCN)
The Research Council occupies a key position in the Norwegian research and innovation system as an advisory
body on research policy issues and a research funding agency. The Research Council seeks to promote research
and innovation in all types of enterprises that have R&D potential. Funding enterprises from abroad will only be
available when these enterprises take part in joint R&D projects where the research component is purchased from a
approved Norwegian organisation.
Under the SkatteFUNN scheme, business enterprises engaged in research and development activity on
their own or in collaboration with others may apply for a tax deduction. The scheme is legal-right based
and regulated in the statutory framework, and is open to all branches of industry and all types of compa-
nies - regardless of size. To be eligible for a tax deduction, business enterprises must be subject to taxation
in Norway, although they do not have to be currently liable for taxation. SkatteFUNN not support operations
or investments.
The project must be targeted and limited, so it is possible to distinguish the project from the company's
normal business; aim to generate new knowledge or new skills or use existing knowledge or skills in new
ways or areas, and the development of new or improved goods, services or production processes; benefit
the company and buy services from from a research institution that is pre-approved by Innovation Norway
and Research Council.
More info: http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Funding/SkatteFUNN/1210046496812?lang=en
Apply for funding: http://www.forskningsradet.no/en/Apply_for_funding/1138785830985
33

Dutch funding possibilities
The information below is incomplete; the focus has been on mapping Norwegian funding options. The below men-
tioned Dutch public bodies have (limited) financial resources available to initiate or facilitate collaboration with Nor-
wegian counterparts although that does not belong to their core business. As soon as there is a Norwegian counter-
part that expresses the need and willingness to co-finance such collaboration any of the Dutch public stakeholders
could fund a strategic business meeting.
EFF - European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013)
Two main innovation funds are currently in place that aim at strengthening the Dutch fisheries and aquaculture in-
dustry.
1. ‘Collectieve acties in de visketen’; Within these projects the fishing industry works together and in
many cases also include a social organization.
2. ‘Innovatie in de visketen’; Projects should focus on the development and testing of innovative tech-
niques of fishing and aquaculture more sustainable and economically more profitable.
Innovation Network
Innovation Network does not provide funding but it can facilitate in the development and implementation of ground-
breaking ideas. This usually happens in the early stages of the development of an idea. For the implementation of
already well developed ideas it would be more relevant to use innovation instruments of the Ministries of Economic
Affairs. When knowledge must be developed, Transforum Green could be an interesting partner.
More info: http://innovatienetwerk.org/en
Innovation Credit
A scheme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs performed by NL Innovation. In 2012, the budget for the Innovation
Credit was around EUR 95 million. Applications can be submitted throughout the year. They are assessed in order of
receipt.
The money is a risk loan, on which interest is calculated. The rate depends on the risk profile and is 4, 7 or 10%. The
loan is intended to finance promising innovative projects that lead to new products within a few years. This may re-
late to the technical development of a new product or a project where a pilot study is required. With the Innovation
Credit up to 35% for SMEs and 25% for non-SMEs of the development costs of a project (own labor, materials,
subcontracting costs, patent costs) are funded to a maximum of 5 million euro. If the project fails in a technical
sense, the money provided can be waived. If the project succeeds then the loan including accrued interest is to be
repaid within ten years.
More info: http://www.agentschapnl.nl/programmas-regelingen/innovatiekrediet
34

Programma Internationale Agroketens (PIA)
A scheme A scheme of the Ministry of Economic Aﬀairs performed by the ﬁsheries or agricultural attaché. Limited
funding is available for improving the competitiveness and innovativeness of Dutch agribusiness structurally by fur-
ther expanding international, sustainable food supply chains (production and trade). A clear condition for getting
access to this funding is that the demand follows a certain pathway:
35

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