In the run-up to Christmas, welcome news arrived from Brussels that three international research and innovation projects in which Matís is involved have been selected for funding by the Horizon Europe framework programme. Competition for such funding is fierce, and it is clear that only the very best projects succeed in being selected. Matís has been allocated approximately ISK 310 million and domestic partners approximately ISK 270 million. All three projects aim to increase sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture, reduce environmental impacts, and better prepare the industries to meet the challenges of climate change, as well as growing demands for companies to demonstrate that sustainability goals guide their operations. Further information on the projects can be found below.
The MarineGuardian project aims to strengthen sustainable fisheries and promote the protection of marine ecosystems in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, by advancing knowledge and developing solutions that reduce bycatch, discards, fuel consumption and negative impacts on benthic ecosystems, while increasing catch per unit of effort and ensuring improved data collection and processing for decision-making and sustainability reporting. Matís leads the project, which has received funding of ISK 1.2 billion (EUR 8 million), with a total of 21 participants, among which the Icelandic companies and institutions Trackwell, Brim, Hampiðjan and the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute play key roles. The project will also procure services from Stika Environmental Solutions. The project manager is Jónas R. Viðarsson. jonas@matis.is.
The MeCCAM project aims to develop mitigation and adaptation measures for fishing companies and other stakeholders in Europe. The project has received funding of approximately ISK 650 million (EUR 4.5 million) and is coordinated by SJÓVINNUHÁSKÓLIN in the Faroe Islands, while Matís leads a work package and case study within the project. The project involves 16 partners from across Europe, with Icelandic participants in addition to Matís being Trackwell, Brim and Stika Environmental Solutions. The Matís contact for the project is Katrín Hulda Gunnarsdóttir. katrinh@matis.is.
OCCAM is a sister project to MeCCAM, intended to support the aquaculture industry in mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The project has received funding of approximately ISK 650 million (EUR 4.5 million) and is coordinated by NOFIMA in Norway, while Matís leads a work package and case study within the project. The project involves 22 partners from across Europe, with Icelandic participants in addition to Matís being Samherji Aquaculture. The Matís contact for the project is Valur N. Gunnlaugsson. valur@matis.is.
Þátttaka innlendra aðila í alþjóðlegum rannsókna- og nýsköpunarverkefnum skiptir miklu fyrir íslenskt samfélag, enda fá þar fyrirtæki og stofnanir tækifæri til að vinna á jafningjagrundvelli með þeim aðilum sem fremstir standa í sínum greinum. Jafnframt skapar slíkt samstarf tækifæri til að miðla þekkingu, tileinka sér nýjar aðferðir og stuðla að þróun sem leiðir til nýsköpunar, aukinnar sustainability, arðsemi, fæðuöryggis og framþróunar í íslensku atvinnulífi.
