NTNU and the Nor-Fishing Foundation announce long-term partnership

The Nor-Fishing Foundation aims to strengthen the academic foundation of Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor, through a long-term partnership with NTNU. Together, the institutions will further strengthen the exhibitions as the most important meeting places for the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

For several decades, Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor have brought together industry, research communities, technology suppliers and decision-makers. The new partnership with NTNU aims to further strengthen this position.

— We have always had a strong working relationship with NTNU. The formalised partnership gives us an even more defined, long-term foundation for developing professional programmes, sharing knowledge and building strong connections between research and industry, says Kristian Digre, CEO of the Nor-Fishing Foundation.

— Our ambition is to be the most important meeting place for the seafood industry – in Norway, and globally. With the NTNU-partnership, we are better positioned to develop both exhibitions, ensuring professional, relevant and progressive content for our visitors, says Digre.

An academically grounded meeting place

The Foundation wants Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor to be more than a meeting place for the industries. To make sure visitors can access new knowledge and take part in important professional discussions, collaborations with strong research and technology environments are essential.

Digre points out that Trondheim and the Trøndelag region have strong expertise in maritime industries, technology and research – resources the Foundation now aims to connect more closely to the exhibitions.

— NTNU is one of Europe’s leading research institutions for aquaculture and technology. The partnership enables us to further develop Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor, by strengthening the academic foundation of both exhibitions, he says.

Closer to the industry

For NTNU, the partnership is about getting closer to the industries, contributing to the development of future solutions.

— The agreement gives us a clear framework for working together on the professional programme during the exhibitions, while also allowing us to draw on the full breadth of NTNU’s expertise in a more targeted way. We also see significant opportunities in engaging with research communities and infrastructure connected to the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre, says Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, Director of NTNU Ocean and Coast.

Important for Trondheim and the region

Trondheim’s Mayor, Kent Ranum, believes the partnership also matters for the city and the region.

— The formalisation of the Foundation and NTNU’s collaboration strengthens Trondheim, as an exhibition city and as a centre of knowledge. This benefits businesses, students, and the city’s reputation as an attractive host for international events. Both as Mayor and as a board member of the Nor-Fishing Foundation, I consider this a very important and positive partnership.

An arena for sharing knowledge

NTNU emphasises that the partnership will make research and knowledge more accessible.

— Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor are important meeting places between academia and industry. During the exhibitions, we share knowledge, learn from each other and bring research closer to the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, says Toril Hernes, Pro-Rector for Research and Innovation at NTNU.

When Nor-Fishing takes place in August, it will be the first time the partnership with NTNU is fully active during the exhibition.