Author: admin

There will be many interesting things at an introductory meeting about the Icelandic Ocean Cluster which will take place on Thursday 17 November at 15-16: 30 (more here). There will be a discussion on value creation in biotechnology, but Hörður G. Kristinsson, Matís 'research director and Matís' director of biotechnology and biochemistry, will be on the panel.

The meeting will present opportunities that include hundreds of small and large companies in the ocean cluster and how it is possible to increase collaboration and make the most of the opportunities.

Agenda

• Birna Einarsdóttir, CEO of Íslandsbanki and Sigsteinn Grétarsson, Deputy CEO of Marels, open the meeting.
• Þór Sigfússon from the Icelandic Ocean Cluster presents the scope and goals of the cluster.
• Sveinn Kjartansson, chef, shows how the Icelandic sea cluster appears in Icelandic cod.
• Guðmundur Kristjánsson, CEO of Brims, discusses the Icelandic ocean cluster from the point of view of a shipowner and how the entire cluster can be strengthened.
• Árni Oddur Þórðarson, Chairman of the Board of Marels, delivers an address and encouragement.

Nine individuals will also be introduced who are part of the ocean cluster in Iceland and work on such diverse projects as scuba diving on the seabed, exports of grated haddock, international financial services in the fisheries sector, redness as a medical product, biotechnology that can create great value, technology that improves ship equipment and much more.

Following the meeting, TM will host a corporate conference in the lobby of Marels' headquarters.

The ocean cluster

More information at www.sjavarklasinn.is/

In the introduction and in an episode about Hreindýrafélagið in Kastljós on 14 November. sl. stated that the Chief Veterinary Officer and Matís had objected to reindeer being transported to the Westfjords. It can surely be considered here that Matvælastofnun (MAST) and Matís ohf are being confused.

Matís is a knowledge and research company that works on development and innovation in the food industry, biotechnology and food safety. Matís provides advice and services to companies and individuals in the fisheries and agriculture sectors, as well as the Icelandic state. For example, Matís is involved in the development of new products and processes for large and small companies and has an important role to play in terms of food quality and safety. Matís is not subject to general supervision, whether it is food or animals. Matís therefore does not have an opinion on whether it is suitable or desirable to transport reindeer in the Westfjords.

If reindeer are transported to the Westfjords and hunted there, Matís can help hunters and others in the local community to create valuable products from the animals. For example, Matís can assist in establishing suitable food processing for reindeer meat processing. Many well-known products are made from such ingredients, fresh reindeer meat is a festive food that everyone knows, raw sausages made from reindeer meat are made in Norway and chowder and pâté are made from the meat or liver of the animals.

For further information Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson, marketing director of Matís.

Elementary school children solve climate problems in a LEGO design competition. Up to 100 kids aged 10-15 have registered to play in the LEGO design competition for primary school children, First Lego League, which will be held tomorrow, Saturday 12 November, at Háskólatorg.

The aim of the competition is to arouse primary school students' interest in science and technology as well as to build their self-confidence, leadership skills and life skills. Each year, the competition is chosen a specific theme that is high on the agenda in the world. This year the theme will be food security. Ólafur Ögmundarson is Matís' representative on the jury and does well as he knows the value and transport chain of food very well.

It can be said that the competition consists of five different projects. In the first task, the contestants build a robot from a computer-controlled LEGO-i that is programmed to solve a specific puzzle. Second, competitors must conduct a scientific study of a particular subject. This time the project is about food factor and the participants have to move a certain product from one place to another in the most efficient way. Thirdly, the contestants keep a detailed diary of preparations for the competition and fourthly, they are to present the original entertainment. Fifth, the teams have to explain how they programmed their robot, which tests the participants' knowledge of their own equipment.

Nine teams from the same number of schools across the country have registered for the game and there are between 6-10 people in each team along with one adult team manager. All teams were sent a track and competition shirt eight weeks before the competition to prepare.

The program of the competition starts at 9 on Saturday morning and it is expected that the winners will be crowned at 15. The winning team has the opportunity to compete in the European First Lego League. In addition to prizes for winning the competition, prizes are awarded for the best solution in robot design and programming, the best research project, the best diary, the best entertainment and the best team. All participants receive a FLL medal in recognition.

The competition has taken place in this country for the past 6 years and has always attracted a lot of attention. The proportion of people with a vocational and technical education is sometimes used as a measure when examining how well prepared nations are for the future. If the number of people with such an education in Icelandic society is to increase, it is important to increase interest in technology and science among the country's youth. The LEGO design competition is an innovative way to do this.

The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland manages the competition and its sponsors are Nýherji, the Icelandic Society of Engineers, the Confederation of Icelandic Industries and Matís.

Everyone is welcome to watch the competition at Háskólatorg.

Further information about the competition is provided by Ingi Rafn Ólafsson, Marketing and Promotion Director of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, ingirafn@hi.is and GSM: 772-1400.

_{News taken from the website of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland.}

Recently, the Tanzanian government and Matís signed a co-operation agreement on a project worth around ISK 40 million related to research on fish, fish processing and an assessment of the social status of fishing communities on Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

This is a collaborative project between Matís, VJI consultancy, Ráðgarður ship consultancy and GOCH engineering company in Tanzania. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

For further information Oddur Már Gunnarsson at Matís.

Matís is a regular participant in development cooperation projects around the world. This co-operation contributes, for example, to the development of knowledge in the food industry in developing countries through Matís' co-operation with the Icelandic Development Cooperation Agency, the United Nations University and others working on development co-operation. For example, Matís has been to Kenya and held courses for fisheries inspectors under the auspices of the United Nations University School of Fisheries and in Mozambique, where Matís staff have carried out audits of a laboratory in Maputo and assisted and guided the laboratory's quality team in preparing for accreditation. Mozambique in the development of official quality control in the fisheries sector. Working on the quality issues of the laboratories in Maputo, Beira and Quelimane is part of that collaboration.

Knowledge and experience of Matís' quality system is used to finalize procedures and documents belonging to quality systems, and it is then decided what steps are necessary to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to apply for accreditation.