The Iceland Ocean Cluster was formed to help solve some of the biggest challenges in the blue economy by bring startups, industry and researchers together to make good ideas happen. Alexandra Leeper's presentation focused on the importance of collaborative innovation to meet these challenges.
The core idea is to create added value within the blue economy by maximizing the utilization of byproducts. There is significant potential to extract substantial value from a single fish. This concept of doing more with less requires a shift in perspective, encompassing everything from policy changes to a new mindset among fishermen.
Leeper advocates for leveraging existing knowledge and making incremental process changes to identify "low-hanging fruit" opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration. She provides examples of valuation processes and highlights the importance of sharing success stories to build momentum and inspire further innovation. With the most notable success story being Iceland´s first unicorn – Kerecis that created a new cross-sectoral partnership to use cod skin as skin grafts for burns and sores. A big win for both sectors and the 100% fish movement aiming to use the whole fish and produce no waste, where such a success story is transforming the narrative of seafood – and why there is no such thing as waste.
The presentation emphasized the need for increased partnerships between research, industry, and innovation. The Iceland Ocean Cluster's model demonstrates the value of such collaborations. Building trust and understanding among stakeholders with often-conflicting interests is crucial. Leeper suggests starting by identifying a shared challenge and then working together to find mutually beneficial solutions.
The presentation concludes with the assertion that initiatives driven by policymakers, such as those in Iceland, can be effectively implemented through bottom-up solutions involving producers and researchers.
Leeper's presentation offers a compelling vision for the future of the marine industries in the Nordic Ocean space, emphasizing the potential for sustainable growth and innovation through collaboration and a focus on mutual value creation.