Test, develop, scale—environments for blue innovations

A good idea is a start. But for new solutions to make a real difference, they also need to be tested, developed, and demonstrated under the right conditions.

A mirror-smooth sea and bright sunshine set the tone as companies, municipalities, and innovation stakeholders from Sweden and Norway gathered in Hvaler. The study visit was organized by Blå Samverkan in collaboration with Testarena Skagerrak, with the goal of exploring new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and business development in the marine industries.

“There is so much potential and expertise among the companies along our coasts. Our role is to create meeting places where different stakeholders can connect, test ideas, and jointly develop solutions that strengthen the blue bioeconomy,” says Sonja Andrén, project manager at Innovatum Science Park.

Kristineberg, a place where marine research meets innovation
The Kristineberg Marine Research Station features advanced research infrastructure, marine laboratories, and access to various marine environments. Here, Innovatum Science Park works alongside partners at the Kristineberg Innovation Center to make expertise and infrastructure more accessible to companies.

For smaller companies, the leap from a promising solution to testing in a relevant environment can be a significant one. By connecting companies’ needs with research, testing opportunities, and innovation support, more solutions can be developed and validated, thereby bringing them one step closer to the market.

Tjärnö and Testarena Skagerrak use the sea as a testing environment

The Tjärnö Marine Laboratory on the Koster Sea offers research expertise, laboratories, vessels, and equipment for experiments both in the lab and at sea.

Tjärnö is also a key location within the Interreg project “Testarena Skagerrak,” where Innovatum Science Park, together with Swedish and Norwegian partners, is working to develop opportunities to test and demonstrate marine innovations. By bringing together test environments, expertise, and stakeholders, barriers for companies can be lowered, development risks reduced, and the path from idea to application and market shortened.

“We see that many companies get stuck in the transition from development to commercialization. Test and demonstration environments can reduce that risk by providing access to the infrastructure, expertise, and networks needed to take the next step,” says Sonja Andrén.

Nuntorp is testing and developing land-based fish farming

At Nuntorp Farm, a test and demonstration facility for small-scale land-based fish farming has taken shape. The first fish have been introduced, and the facility is creating new opportunities to develop knowledge and solutions related to recirculating aquaculture systems in practice.

Here, for example, farming techniques, feed, fish species, and circular flows can be explored while knowledge, business models, and value chains are developed. The goal is to create an environment where companies, farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders can test and learn together. In doing so, they can also contribute to expanding opportunities for Swedish fish farming and food production.

Environments for What's Next

These environments vary in character and offer different opportunities. What they have in common is that they create spaces where researchers, companies, and other stakeholders can come together to address specific needs and develop solutions.
For Innovatum Science Park, testing and demonstrations are about connecting ideas and needs with the right expertise, environments, and stakeholders. Today, we’re running several “blue” projects in and around these environments.

At the same time, we see great potential for what might come next—which we believe could include new tests, collaborations, and projects that leverage the infrastructure and knowledge already in place.