Chile
When Nofima Marin established the company AVS Chile in 2007 in collaboration with SINTEF and VESO, a clear aim was that Norwegians would learn from Chile and that the Chileans would learn from Norway. Pablo Ibieta is a Chilean with a PhD from Heidelberg, Germany. He is at Nofima Marin's research station at Sunndalsøra to improve his competence on feed and nutrition as part of the trainee programme at the subsidiary company AVS Chile. They offer applied research of a high quality to clients particularly in Chile.
"The trainee programme enables me to work with scientists in my field, learn about project work in Norway and about research methodology that Nofima Marin use in the field of fish nutrition," says Ibieta. "When I return to Chile, I will be able to combine this knowledge with my previous experience from research work and applying for projects in Chile, and create fresh opportunities for projects between Chilean companies, AVS Chile and Nofima."
Australia
A teaching programme has just started where Norwegian breeding scientists will contribute to improving the competence at management level and at an operational level to Australians working with breeding. Australia farms several marine species including barramundi, abalone and yellowtail kingfish, and breeding programmes are underway for several of these species. The teaching programme is financed by Australian actors and is being co-ordinated by Senior Scientist Nick Robinson of Nofima Marin, from his office in Melbourne:
"It's not only Australians who benefit from learning from Nofima Marin's experienced scientists within the field of breeding and genetics," says Robinson. "Nofima is also getting a unique opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge about the aquaculture industry in Australia, to participate in new large projects with Australian partners and to market Norwegian competence."
Serbia
Carp farming is a traditional industry in Serbia, which now has a more systematic focus than previously. Nofima Marin has had a close collaboration with the University of Belgrade for several years, which was originally financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the projects has been to establish a breeding programme for carp. Funding from an EU project has enabled six students to come to Nofima Marin at Ås to learn about breeding, genetics, nutrition and feed technology. Doctoral student Suzana Stjelja is here for three months.
"At the University of Belgrade, where I work, I lecture on breeding and genetics. At home there are fewer opportunities for practical research work, but here at Nofima there are good facilities and it's a steep learning curve. This stay is providing me with many new suggestions to teach the Serbian students, and I am learning to use tools that I need for the research."
