Entries open for top aquaculture award

Companies or individuals from all over the world that supply equipment or services to the aquaculture industry are invited to apply for the award, which comes with a NOK 100,000 prize, as are companies and individuals outside the industry. The award is given to the most innovative product or service for the industry.

The last two winners of the award have both come from the UK, with Dundee-based aquaculture technology developer Ace Aquatec winning in 2017 for its humane electric fish stunner and Benchmark Holdings winning in 2019 for its CleanTreat purification system that removes medicines from water in which salmon are treated for sea lice.

Stimulating R&D

The Nor-Fishing Foundation, which runs Aqua Nor and chooses the award winner, said in a press release that it wishes to stimulate R&D activities in companies and among individuals. Consequently, research institutions are not considered to be eligible for this innovation award, however, cooperation with institutions such as for product testing is allowed.

Applicants must represent innovation that bring the industry, or parts of the industry, forward and leads to significant advantages for the environment, fish and ocean, fish health, safety of crew, facilities and vessels or gains in economy, efficient operations and market development. The level of innovation is important.

Criteria for the application

The project that forms the basis of the application must be owned by the applicant. The deadline for applying for the Innovation Award is May 15, 2021, but Nor-Fishing is happy to receive applications as early as possible.

The application must include:

• Applicant’s name/company name, address, e-mail address, web address, telephone and contact person
• A brief description of the applicants/company’s activities
• A description and best possible documentation of project, product, process or service. Please highlight the innovation aspects of the project.
• Documentation of expected effect/result and market for applied project or service.

Note that there is no dedicated form for the applications.

Applications should be sent to:
innovation@nor-fishing.no or by mail to:
The Nor-Fishing Foundation
Postboks 1251, Torgård 7030 TRONDHEIM

Please mark mail or envelope: Aqua Nor Innovation Award 2021

Applicants with questions regarding their applications are asked to contact the secretary to the jury, Odd Berg, at odd9berg@gmail.com or by telephone on +47 901 19 942.

Aqua Nor 2021 will be a hybrid exhibition – meaning it will consist of a physical exhibition as well as a digital version. The physical and digital versions run parallel to each other and match each other in content and format so that people from all over the world get the optimal Aqua Nor experience. The announcement of the winner will be made at the exhibition for both physical and digital attendees.

In June, Nor-Fishing will announce the three short-listed candidates for the award.

The organisation points out that if applicants have plans for a patent, the patent application must be submitted before the technology is published at any exhibition, conference, magazine article or similar.