The forum, called the SEAFOODplus Research Platform, was officially launched at a meeting in Brussels on March 26 attended by representatives from institutions and companies from 14 different European countries.
"SEAFOODplus was so successful that it has become an established brand name within seafood research. This forum expands on that work," says Joop Luten, Vice President of SEAFOODplus Research Platform and EU Business Developer/Senior Scientist at Nofima.
Luten is a member of the four-person working party that has developed the new concept.
New members
Research institutions, companies and organisations may join the research platform, says Nofima. Just two weeks after its launch, 35 institutions had already joined.
"Our goal is to be the preferred forum for everyone working with seafood research and who receive financial support from the EU. This forum enables scientists to discuss issues with colleagues from other countries. This will enable us to speak with one voice to those who will determine the future research priorities," says Luten.
International collaboration
The forum aims to arrange an annual international conference as well as workshops. In May, the forum will participate in the EU conference "Research connection 2009" in Prague.
"We want to encourage trans-border interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists throughout Europe, so that European seafood research will be recognised as the world leader," says Luten.
SEAFOODplus, which concluded at the end of 2008, was the largest research programme on seafood ever implemented by the EU.
Around 200 scientists from 68 universities, research institutes and companies in 17 countries participated in the programme.
