Lighthouse maps out maritime research and innovation in the Nordic countries

Lighthouse has been given a task from the Swedish Maritime Administration to map out and analyse maritime research and innovation in the Nordic countries. The result shall, among other things, enable increased collaboration between the countries.

- We are pleased with the Swedish Maritime Administration's confidence in Lighthouse and that our position as a national maritime competence centre makes us fit for the task. It is a very interesting mission that creates opportunities for closer cooperation with new actors, both within and outside Sweden, Åsa Burman, Director at Lighthouse, says.

The assignment involves a survey of the Nordic countries' respective research, innovation, and development specialisations within the maritime area 2015-2016 and the main actors engaged in research and innovation in academia, industry and business and the public sector. Lighthouse is project manager for the project and the mapping is being conducted in close cooperation with the maritime cluster.
In addition to the project team, a reference group with participants from the Swedish Funding Agency for Innovation (Vinnova), the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, the Swedish Shipowners´ Association, Swedish Maritime Technology Forum (SMTF), Chalmers University of Technology, and the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg and Ports of Sweden participate.

The reference group is to ensure the final report's relevance and quality so that it will benefit the authorities, industry and R&D practitioners in Sweden.

- It is extremely important that the outcome of our work is useful for stakeholders in the maritime sector in Sweden. That authorities, industry associations and academia are involved in the reference group is central in order to reach the goal of the project. I am glad that we have a reference group with such a broad expertise and great commitment, Carolina Kihlström, coordinator at Lighthouse says.

The final report will be delivered to the Swedish Maritime Administration mid-February 2017.