Holiday in the Nordic innovation landscape
Innovations, investments, collaboration and development don’t take vacations!
So far, the first summer months have offered several fantastic contacts and requests. For me, it is clear that through a Nordic technology exchange and cooperation between entrepreneurs, innovators, academia, start-ups, large companies, municipalities and regions, we can increase our degree of self-sufficiency, present sustainable products and system solutions for the world market.
Finding the right one
What determines a successful collaboration is not infrequently that the various stakeholders must be in a somewhat equivalent development phase, and of course complement each other in jointly solving a challenge. You can certainly imagine the beautiful music that arises in the meeting of two parties who just perceive that they have ”found their perfect match”.
This is going to be good
During May-June, I have had the privilege of bringing a number of actors together. Remember that it is not only the companies that are happy to move forward in their development. Municipalities and Regions throughout Sweden receive investments and establishments that bring with them an increased and broadened labor market – as well as an increased tax base through more people in employment.
In Blekinge and Kalmar counties, the establishment of several businesses in both Aquaculture, Seafood and protein production is underway. In any case, the interest in related innovative recovery and processing of residual- and by-streams from other Nordic actors is frequent.
How about this – A billion years of evolution have endowed fungi with amazing biochemical abilities, which is being harnessed to transform byproducts from agriculture and food production into nutritious, high-value food and feed products. We use no agricultural land or harsh chemicals and can operate 24 hours a day, year-round. All at a fraction of the environmental footprint of existing protein sources. That’s why we talk about being circular by Nature: we are creating circular, regenerative solutions by thoughtful design and by working with Nature’s own circular agents, fungi. I would be surprised if a pilot plant isn´t in place in Blekinge this year.
Or listening to this – Cultivating plant-based in the sea does not require arable land, while at the same time the marine environment is improved through increased biodiversity of other species in and around the cultivations.
Large-scale seaweed farms are a climate-smart way to grow crops through their absorption of carbon dioxide and phosphorus and contribute to reduced eutrophication of our oceans.
Cooperation between companies on the Swedish west and east coast regarding processing possibilities and the cultivation of sugar seaweed at sea is gaining momentum this autumn.
The examples are many – In Kalmar County, there are well-advanced plans for a 200-hectare ”Food park” with infrastructure for a complete circular production system for both food and feed. The LOI between key players has been signed, detailed plans are underway and more partners and investors are contacted.
North of Mälardalen, well-advanced plans are underway for the establishment of significant circular food production with fish farming at the centre. We are talking here about an extensive production collaboration between a number of partners in water-energy-primary production-processing. Nothing in the entire food chain goes to waste or is classified as waste – everything is a resource and a valuable input that is further processed and ends up high up the value chain. It is truly sustainable circular production.
In Region Skåne, work continues to develop the conditions for a joint ”Circular Center for Food Production” – five municipalities in collaboration with academia and innovation hubs.
More courses are being developed and started in green industries and the food sector. Two ongoing training courses, ” Sustainable food intrapreneur” and ”Operational leader Green industries” has many applications from students. This is very important for the future, as an increased innovative and sustainable food supply requires qualified employees.
Collaboration, project development and knowledge exchange within European networks, such as Eurofish, lead to an increased understanding of sustainable production methods and new contacts between innovators and entrepreneurs.
Inquiries from Africa and the Middle East about Swedish technology companies that can be involved in developing a more sustainable society constantly arrive in the mailbox, interesting and an opportunity to export system services for the right company.
In another part of the chain, for example, Refarm-Linné works with the Small-scale primary production of fish and vegetables, as well as sustainability training for public chefs. Another important activity in the association is Biodiversity – bee hotels and butterfly restaurants are established through Refarm-Linné at schools and at real estate companies.
Bonus -traveling all over Sweden gives you the opportunity to taste fantastic dishes.
As I said, a completely normal holiday month, in a fantastic innovation landscape.
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