Trondheim: Representatives from the industry, academia and politics met today to discuss Norway´s role in global ocean economy.
… and there were different thoughts, questions, knowledge, both positive and negative comments and inspiration shared. Here´s some quotes from the discussion:
– We have a major turnaround needed in our country. One job in the oil industry creates as much value as 5 to 8 jobs in aquaculture, so we need to create more value creating industries and more diversity in the Norwegian economy, and that is a part of what we are trying to do at SINTEF. I think it is very clear that the ocean is one key element in the future of Norway, CEO at Sintef, Alexandra Bech Gjørv said.
In what ways Arbeiderpartiet and Høyre are different in their approach focusing on the ocean space, innovating and dealing with the industry, the Leader of the Norwegian Labour Party, Jonas Gahr Støre answered; – I told the students I met earlier today that I spent two hours yesterday listening to the debate between Le Pen and Macron, the French presidential candidates. And when I watched that terrible debate, I said to myself “Erna and I can do better”.
– The major thing going for the ocean is not an issue of disagreement. I think we have that straight. I think the difference may be the level of ambition and priority. How will the state be a partner with the private sector? How will we be promoting these new and emerging parts of the ocean industry in a broader speaking? How do we link our international engagement with what we do in terms of domestic value creation? I see this as one of several issues in which the current government has raised.
– We should salute the ability to adapt industries, we have done that before, this is not something new, but we have to continue doing so, Gahr Støre said.
The panel also discussed how to secure that the brightest minds choose the jobs we are going to create in the ocean space.
– It is very important that if we are going to create new workplaces that we get people to do technology and chose technology and natural sciences in the school. Because this is really the key if we are going to recruit children to study, so I think we need to bring more of the ocean into the learning programs in school, Director of NTNU Oceans, Ingrid Schjølberg said.
“In business second is not a good position, you either win or you lose.”
In response to Norways brand and identity Per Erik Dalen, CEO at ÅKP & GCE Blue Maritime Cluster said, – I think Norway have a good brand, but with a good brand you need to fill it up all the time. With new technology and new knowledge. You need to adapt that and you need to adapt that fast to be in the front. In business second is not a good position, you either win or you lose.
– We are a shipping nation. Our political people frighten me a little because they don’t take the consequences of what they actually are saying about ocean space. If we say we are an ocean nation, then we have to follow up and act like that, Dalen said.
– I think Norway got a fantastic brand, Canada´s ambassador to Norway, Artur Wilczynki continued. – I think the way to encourage this is through partnerships, I believe that countries such as Canada and Norway have a lot of potential to complement one another. We got a lot in common and we can build on that capacity, because the more we facilitate at least as governments, the connection between our companies, and our research institutions and between our students, the more we can leverage in terms of outcomes that are sustainable for the earth.
“We are a shipping nation”.
The annual Ocean Week conference 2017 is filled with the latest developments within ocean research. This year the focus is on automation, as well as the ecological and societal challenges.
Twitter: @InnoMag
