Record number of entries for Aqua Nor Innovation Award

A record number of entries have been received for the Aqua Nor Innovation Award, organiser Nor-Fishing Foundation has said.

This year, a total of 58 applications were received, compared to 29 in 2023. This marks a record since the Innovation Award was established in 2003. Of the applicants, 32 are from countries outside of Norway, and 20 nations are represented in total.

“This is a milestone for us and a clear sign that the aquaculture industry is engaging entrepreneurs and development environments all over the world,” said Kari Steinsbø, exhibition manager at the Nor-Fishing Foundation.

The Innovation Award winner is chosen by a jury and presented at the biennial Aqua Nor fish farming trade show in Trondheim, Norway.

An important platform

Nor-Fishing said that in recent years, the Innovation Award has solidified its position as an important platform for forward-thinking and sustainable solutions in aquaculture. With a growing need for efficient, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced food production at sea, the Award draws interest across the spectrum – from emerging startups and research environments to established industry players with innovative concepts.

“The aquaculture industry is undergoing a transformation driven by technology, climate change, and the need for more sustainable food. This opens up space for innovation - and that is exactly what this award highlights,” said Steinsbø.

Past winners have included Dundee-based fish farming technology innovator Ace Aquatec, which took the prize for its pre-slaughter in-water fish stunner in 2017, and UK-registered aquaculture biotech company Benchmark, which was awarded the prize in 2019 for its CleanTreat system used to filter water from lice bath treatments. The system was developed at Ardtoe, Scotland.

The finalists for this year’s contests will be announced at the end of June and the winner will be presented during the opening ceremony at Aqua Nor on Tuesday, August 19.