Opening of Sea Lab, Sintef Fisheries and Aquaculture

Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Svein Ludvigsens opening speech 9 August 2005.

Excellencies, Major,Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hereby announce this research centre as formally opened. The centre will host SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Department of Marine Environment Technology.

After years of being spread in various locations in Trondheim, the co-location of SINTEF’s marine activity will certainly benefit our national marine research. And, not surprisingly the scientists have been looking forward to this big event.

SINTEF aquaculture and fisheries is an international leading technology institute. You are an important actor in the development of a modern knowledge based marine sector .

New technology has always been crucial to the marine sector. I personally have big expectations to the new centre. The centre has a large potential in stimulating Research and technological breakthroughs also in the future. This can be in areas like logistics, new farming caves, optimising logistical solutions.The goal being to improve the industries competitiveness in accordance with their strategies.

The government has worked to improve the framework conditions and strengthened marine research. This spring I presented a White paper on marine development to the parliament. The white paper named “ The blue field” focuses on increased profitability by strengthened market understanding in innovative activities. A key issue in the paper being investments in research.

The government has also been working on improving the research system by restructuring the institute sector to the benefit of both scientists and users of research. When finalised, an alliance between agricultural and aquaculture institutes will improve the competitive power of food-industrial and marine research. In this connection the Governments goal is also to develop a close and good cooperation between the blue green alliance and the Sintef Fisheries and Aquaculture institute. This cooperation is important in order to create interaction between technological and biological research.

The government’s white paper on Research which also was presented to parliament this spring states high ambitions for research in the future. Two out of four focal areas in the Paper are on FOOD and OCEAN research.

The government also clearly states international cooperation as a cornerstone for Norwegian research. I am therefore very pleased to see so many international scientists at AquaNor this year. During spring the parliament approved the two white papers mentioned earlier, both of them with a strong focus on Research and Development to stimulate innovation in marine sector. In line with the goals in the white papers, I’m convinced that the marine sector will develop even further into the knowledge economy in the future both in Norway and internationally. It is my hope and my expectation that SINTEF Sea Lab will be one of the engine’s in this development.

Therefore my best wishes and good luck to this centre as I hereby declare Sea Lab as officially opened. And finally, good luck with the centre and the scientific work to take place here in the years to come.